Packers playing their best football ahead of matchup with mighty Lions….Read More

The Green Bay Packers played what could be considered their two best games of the season in back-to-back weeks ahead of Thursday night’s showdown with the mighty Detroit Lions at Ford Field.

By no means are “grades” from Pro Football Focus the be-all, end-all when it comes to evaluating performance, but the Packers received their highest overall grades of the season as a team during a 38-10 win over the San Francisco 49ers and 30-17 win over the Miami Dolphins over the last two weeks. Most importantly, the grades match the eye test.

In both games, the Packers dominated the line of scrimmage on offense, defended the run well and tackled well. The passing game was more efficient and wasted fewer opportunities in the red zone. Most of the lingering issues preventing the Packers from ascending from good to great finally smoothed over.

After needing to escape with last-second wins over the Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears, the Packers won comfortably against two talented teams in the span of five days.

“We’re being physical in every phase of football,” coach Matt LaFleur said following the Thanksgiving Night win over the Dolphins.

The challenge now will be keeping momentum going against arguably the NFL’s premier team in 2024. The Lions got a pick-six and cruised past the Packers in their first meeting at Lambeau Field. Dan Campbell’s team is now an NFL-best 11-1 after winning 10 straight games.

Again, PFF grades aren’t everything. But the Lions are entering Week 14 with the top overall grade and the No. 2 overall grade on offense and defense. This is an elite team.

Yet no team wants to peak too early. The regular season is a marathon, and teams want to hit full speed in December and January. The Packers limped at times through the early part of the season, in part due to injuries at the quarterback position, but wins over the 49ers and Dolphins are examples of the Packers gaining steam and nearing cruising altitude with an important part of the schedule approaching.

With a win over the Lions, the Packers can not only virtually guarantee a playoff spot but also jump back into the NFC North race. And next week, the Packers will go to Seattle to face the NFC West-leading Seahawks in primetime. The season concludes with division games against the Minnesota Vikings and Bears.

The Lions are dealing with injuries on both sides of the football, and Campbell’s team just needed a dramatic escape against the reeling Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving. The Packers just played their best two games of the season. Is this an opportunity for LaFleur’s team to keep rolling against a Super Bowl contender?