On Thursday night, the Green Bay Packers faced a pivotal “contender or pretender” test against the NFC North leaders, the Detroit Lions, at Ford Field.
While the Packers ultimately fell short against the Lions, who remain the frontrunners for the NFC’s top seed, Green Bay pushed Detroit to the brink. A dramatic, last-minute play-call by Lions head coach Dan Campbell secured Detroit’s 12th win of the season, a thrilling 34-31 victory.
After the game, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur emphasized that his team would have to “earn the right” to return to Ford Field, hinting at a potential Divisional Round rematch if Green Bay can secure a playoff spot and advance past the Wild Card round.
A Loss That Feels Like Progress for Green Bay
Despite the defeat, the Packers left Detroit with plenty of optimism. It was a hard-fought contest, and without a few critical mistakes—such as a costly fumble by receiver Christian Watson—Green Bay might have pulled off the upset.
Veteran defensive lineman Kenny Clark echoed that sentiment and issued a bold statement to the Lions, as reported by Matt Schneidman of The Athletic:
“We’re definitely going to be back here,” Clark said. “And we’ll be excited to play them again once we do.
While LaFleur struck a more measured tone, emphasizing the work required to earn another shot at the Lions, Clark’s confidence underscored the belief within Green Bay’s locker room.
Packers’ Continued Struggles Against Top Teams
Though Thursday’s game was a strong showing, the Packers’ season has been marked by struggles against elite opponents. All four of their losses have come against teams with 10 or more wins: the 12-1 Lions (twice), the 10-2 Eagles, and the 10-3 Vikings.
The Packers’ inability to notch victories against top-tier teams raises questions about their Super Bowl aspirations. Their best win of the season came against the 8-5 Houston Texans, a team many believe is still a few pieces away from being a serious playoff threat.
Signs of Growth Amid Adversity
Despite these concerns, there are reasons for optimism in Green Bay. The run defense has shown marked improvement, and quarterback Jordan Love continues to progress after battling early-season injuries and turnover issues.
With Thursday night’s narrow loss to Detroit, the Packers proved they can compete with the league’s best. Whether they can turn that competitiveness into wins remains the biggest question as they push for a playoff berth.
