The day the Packers reclaimed the North? The Lions have won the NFC North in each of the last two years, and the Packers have not achieved a division title since 2021, with the Vikings claiming the crown in 2022. Green Bay has finished third in the division in two of the last three years, but Thursday might have been the day they declared their intentions to reclaim their throne. The loss on Thanksgiving essentially ended Detroit’s chances of winning the NFC North in 2025, and dropped their playoff odds to just above a 50/50 chance. If the Packers beat the Bears next week, they could be in the box seat to restore order to the division. Matt LaFleur outdoes Dan Campbell on 4th down LaFleur deserves huge credit for recognizing what it was going to take to beat the Lions in their house. He put his foot all the way down on the gas pedal and never let up, including going for it on 4th down whenever he reasonably could have, including the game-sealing final play. The Packers went 3 for 3 on 4th down, with the Lions going 0 for 2. In a game that looked remarkably close on the stat sheet, that was ultimately the difference. Green Bay’s willingness to be aggressive downfield and early in the game got them out to a lead which meant Detroit was chasing for the rest of the afternoon, and that set the Packers defense up for success. It was a signature win for LaFleur on Thursday, and one of his most important as Packers head coach. Devonte Wyatt injury hurts  It has now been confirmed Wyatt is expected to miss the rest of the season with a fractured ankle, and his absence will pose a real challenge for Green Bay’s defense, specifically their front. Karl Brooks will now be the elder statesman of the group, with the Packers relying on Colby Wooden, Warren Brinson and Nazir Stackhouse to step up and help replace Wyatt in the aggregate. There has been some cause for optimism that the arrow is pointing up for the trio, with Wooden being reliable on defense all year and Brinson and Stackhouse steadily improving, but they will need to grow up quickly now. This was always the risk in trading away Kenny Clark, and although the Packers would do it again in a heartbeat, they now look a little shaky on the defensive interior. Dontayvion Wicks reminds everyone of his talent Wicks had a career day on Thanksgiving, catching six passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns, and making the biggest play of the game in converting a 4th and 3 to end it. He is an extremely naturally gifted receiver, and the drops have been less of an issue this season after a nightmarish campaign in 2024. Injuries have hampered him at times this year, but he reminded everyone of what he is capable of when given the chance on Thursday. Offensive line finding its groove? The Packers did not allow a sack on Jordan Love in Thursday’s win, and their offensive line looks to be improving as the season is going on. Aaron Banks now has a 68.7 snap-weighted PFF grade in pass protection in the last eight games, while new center Sean Rhyan had a 70.7 grade in pass pro, and a 70.4 grade overall. Zach Tom has returned to lockdown form after getting healthy following a tough start in that regard, and Green Bay was also able to run the ball effectively against Detroit, one of the better run defenses in the league coming in. The run blocking is still something of a work in progress overall, and Anthony Belton is trying to settle in after seemingly winning the right guard job, but there are positive signs from the Packers’ big guys. Filed Under: FeaturedGreen Bay PackersMark Oldacres   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Mark Oldacres is a sports writer from Birmingham, England and a Green Bay Packers fan. You can follow him on twitter at @MarkOldacres __________________________ NFL Categories: Detroit LionsGreen Bay PackersTags: Packers newsPackers LionsMatt LaFleurDontayvion WicksJordan Love Like 0 points

The Green Bay Packers scored a big win Thanksgiving day against the Detroit Lions, but they also suffered a big loss. During the game, they lost defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt to what appears to be a season-ending injury. The former first-round pick out of Georgia will be a difficult player for the Packers to replace as they head into the stretch drive of the regular season and aim to win a championship. Wyatt provides the Packers with pressure from the interior of the defensive line. He creates penetration and can utilize his quickness to disrupt opposing offenses and get quarterbacks off their game. Thus far, Wyatt played 10 games for the Packers and had 27 total tackles including six tackles for loss. He also recorded four sacks, seven quarterback hits and knocked down two passes. The injury took place in the fourth quarter on a play where Micah Parsons recorded a key sack. Rookie Warren Brinson accidentally rolled up on Wyatt and caused the injury. Head coach Matt LaFleur was visibly upset when asked about Wyatt’s situation. “It doesn’t look good, guys,” coach LaFleur told reporters after the game Thursday. “I’m sick for him, I’m sick for us. I mean, that’s a critical loss for our football team, for our defense, obviously. I can’t say enough great things about him in terms of watching him mature not only as a football player but as a person. I’ve got a lot of love for Devonte Wyatt, and I think the whole locker room does, too. So, it’s a little bittersweet, I would say… We’re happy about the win but we’re sick about what happened to him.” The injury leaves the Packers with precious little depth at defensive tackle. Currently, they have veterans Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks, and rookies Nazir Stackhouse and Brinson. Wooden has played well against the run but provides very little in the way of pass rush. He has no sacks and just two quarterback hits all season. Brooks has struggled with injuries of his own. He has half a sack and five quarterback hits on the season. The Packers signed Stackhouse as an undrafted free agent for his ability to occupy blockers and help stop the run, but he’s a nose tackle, not a pass rush specialist. That leaves Brinson as the most likely candidate to try to fill Wyatt’s shoes. He’s played in just six games so far this season but has come on in recent weeks. Brinson played more extensively against the Vikings and recorded a half sack in that game. He also led the team with five pressures. For the season, Brinson has half a sack and one quarterback hit. As far as Pro Football Focus is concerned, Brinson has the closest pass rush grade to Wyatt, albeit in limited action. The sixth round pick out of Georgia has shown flashes of pass rush ability, but in the NFL, he has yet to show he can play well on a consistent basis. Another possibility on the current roster is Lukas Van Ness. The former first round pick out of Iowa played defensive tackle at times in college and may be able to provide some pressure from the interior of the defensive line. Unfortunately, Van Ness has been dealing with his own injuries. He did return to the lineup against Minnesota, but he seemed to aggravate his injury after just a handful of plays and then missed the Lions game on Thanksgiving. If he’s not healthy enough to play, he can’t help replace Wyatt. Van Ness would only move inside in obvious passing situations. He provides strong run stopping ability as a defensive end, but as a tackle, he has yet to prove he can stop the run at the NFL level. Another option would be James Ester who has spent this season on the Packers practice squad. While he played well in the preseason, Ester has yet to take a snap in a regular-season NFL game. The Packers and defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley will have to find a way to replace the productivity that Wyatt provided. Parsons himself has been a big fan of Wyatt and admitted how much the team missed him earlier in the season when he was out of the lineup. He may have summed it up best after Thursday’s game when he said, “You guys see the difference he makes when he got back out on the field. He’s a player you can’t replace, and we’re going to have to ask a lot of young guys to step up. It’s going to be challenging but we’re going to have to really dial into our details, our fundamentals to try to replace someone that’s unreplaceable.”  The first challenge will be next Sunday when the Packers face the Bears with first place in the NFC North on the line. If they hope to win this season, they’ll have to figure out how to do it without Wyatt. Filed Under: FeaturedGil Martin   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ You can follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers __________________________ NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersTags: Green Bay Packersdevonte wyattLukas Van NessWarren BrinsonKarl Brooks Like 0 points

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  The Packers elevated DB Jaylin Simpson and LB Jamon Johnson from the practice squad.  The Packers released Kicker Lucas Havrisik and signed WR Will Sheppard directly to the 53-man roster.  The inactive players due to injury were CB Nate Hobbs, WR Matthew Golden, LB Quay Walker, WR Savion Williams, Edge Lucas Van Ness and DL Karl Brooks.  OL Donovan Jennings was a healthy scratch. Simpson and Sheppard did not play. Devonte Wyatt got rolled up on from behind and left the game and was carted off the field.  He reportedly has a season-ending ankle injury.   OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Player Snaps % STs Tom 63 100 5/21% Rhyan 63 100 5/21% Walker 63 100 5/21% Banks 63 100 5/21% Belton 63 68 5/21% Kinnard 14 22 5/21% Morgan 0 0 5/21% Monk     5/21%   The starting five appears to be clear.  There was no rotating in this game.  The five normal starters played every snaps and Kinnard got a substantial number of snaps as a 6th offensive lineman.  The run blocking was fine.  The line had some wins and some reps that they lost, but they managed a +0.02 EPA per play.  The Packers gained 125 yards on 30 carries for a 4.17-yard average, with a long of 29.  The running backs averaged 4.41-yards per carry.  Pro Football Focus indicated that the Packers gained 1.1 yards before contact per carry after getting just 0.3 yards before contact last week.  1.1 yards is nothing to write home about (Detroit posted 1.8 yards before contact per rush) but it is a big improvement.  The Packers only allowed one tackle for loss for minus 2 yards.   The Packers did not allow a QB hit or a sack.  That is very good.  Love did get flushed and he did not have all day to throw, but he had good time.  Still, PFF indicated the Packers had a passing EPA of 0.58 yards per play, which is in the 97th percentile.  Per PFF, the Packers allowed just 18 pressures after allowing 14 last week.  Love had 2.90 seconds on average to throw.  Rhyan and Tom each allowed a hurry.  Banks allowed 2 hurries and Walker allowed 3 pressures.  Belton allowed 5 hurries.  PFF gave Zach Tom an initial grade of 81.1.   RUNNING BACKS:   Player Snaps % STs Jacobs 34 54   Brooks 18 29 13/54% Wilson 12 19   Josh Jacobs gained 83 yards on 17 carries (4.88-yards/carry) with a long of 29.  Without the long run, Jacobs 54 yards on 16 carries (3.375-yards/carry).  Jacobs caught 1 pass for 8 yards.  With Jacobs back, Emanuel Wilson finished with only 14 yards on 4 carries (3.5-yards/carry).  Chris Brooks had no carries but caught both of his targets for 9 yards.   QUARTERBACKS: Player Snaps % STs Love 63 100   Willis DNP       Love completed 18 of 30 (55.56%) for 234 yards (7.8 yards/attempt), with 4 touchdowns and no interceptions.  His passer rating was 124.2.  Love had 2 throwaways and 5 passes were broken up: he was definitely throwing into some tight windows and the receiver made also made some contested passes.  Love went deep on quite a few attempts and completed 4 passes 20 yards or more downfield, including a 51-yard touchdown pass to Watson.  Love looked much improved, physically.  PFF gave him a tremendous 93.9 grade.     TIGHT ENDS: Player Snaps % STs Musgrave 37 59   Whyle 32 51 7/29% Fitzpatrick 15 24     Musgrave caught his only target for 23 yards.  Whyle and Fitzpatrick each were targeted once but caught no passes.  PFF gave the tight ends better blocking grades than I would have in week 11 and 12, so they are seeing something I am not.    WIDE RECEIVERS: Player Snaps % STs Doubs 53 84 2/8% Watson 46 73   Wicks 31 49   Heath 11 17 5/21% Melton 11 17 9/38%   Watson caught 4 of his 10 targets for 80, a 20.0-yard average with a long of 51.  Doubs caught 4 of his 4 targets for 20 yards, including a short touchdown pass.  Wicks caught 6 of his 7 targets for 94 yards with 2 touchdowns.  He also made several contested catches, including the dagger play on 4th and 3 to get the Packers to kneeling down.  PFF gave Wicks a 93.1 grade.  He definitely came up big in this game.     DEFENSIVE TACKLES:   Player Snaps % STs Wyatt 45 71 3/12% Wooden 38 60 4/17% Brinson 32 51 6/25% Stackhouse 5 8 1/4% Wyatt had 4 tackles (3 solo) with a tackle for loss.  His loss will be felt for the rest of this season.  Brinson had 1 solo tackle.  Stackhouse had 1 assisted tackle and Wooden batted down a pass.  Wyatt had 2 run stops and Brinson and Stackhouse each had 1.  Wyatt had 1 hurry on 21 pass rushing opportunities.  Brinson and Stackhouse had no pressures of any type on 17 and 16 pass rushing opportunities.  Stackhouse had no pressures in his 3 pass rushing snaps.   DEFENSIVE ENDS: Player Snaps % STs Parsons 57 90   Gary 44 70   Enagbare 27 43 8/33% Mosby     19/79% Sorrell 7 11 7/29%   Parsons had 8 tackles (4 solo tackles), 4 quarterback hits, and 2.5 sacks.  PFF listed him with 6 pressures (3 hurries, 3 sacks) in 27 pass rushing snaps, a 22.2% success rate.  He had no stops on run defense and he lost contain on a couple of runs by Jahmyr Gibbs.  Gary had 2 tackles (1 solo), 2 QB hits.  PFF listed Gary with 1 hurry on 23 pass rushes, a 4.3% success rate, plus 1 run stop.  That is a very quiet game from Gary, if one does not describe it as invisible.  Enagbare had 1 assisted tackle, a QB hit and a half sack.  PFF listed him with 2 pressures (a QB hit and a sack) on just 13 pass rushing opportunities, giving Enagbare a respectable 15.4% pass rushing success rate.   So far this season, at least one other defensive player has stepped up in each to produce some pressure to help Parsons.  Sometimes it has been Enagbare and some times one of the defensive linemen,  The loss of Wyatt is important lest the Packers go back to the days where one player is the whole pass rush.  The return of Karl Brooks could help with pressure up the middle.      LINEBACKERS: Players Snaps % STs McDuffie 63 100 6/25% Cooper 62 98 3/12% Hopper 17 27 19/79% Welch 1 2 14/59% Johnson     11/46%   McDuffie had 12 tackles (7 solo), with 2 tackles for loss.  He had 5 stops and a QB hit, per PFF.  He allowed 2 of 3 targets to be completed for only 7 yards.  McDuffie has been playing so much better than I ever imagined he was capable of.  Cooper had 8 tackles (2 solo) plus a QB hit.  He allowed all 3 targets to be completed for 56 yards and a 118 passer rating allowed.  Cooper had 5 stops including 4 tackles for no gain.    Hopper had 3 assisted tackles and 1 stop.  He allowed 1 target to be completed for 9 yards.    DEFENSIVE BACKS: Player Snaps % STs McKinney 63 100 10/42% Williams 63 100 8/33% Valentine 63 100 4/17% Nixon 63 100 4/17% Bullard 43 68 6/25% Anderson     15/62% Olapado     13/54% Hadden     2/8%   Mckinney had 5 tackles (3 solo) with a pass defensed and a QB hit.  PFF assigned 1 pressure, 1 stop and allowing 2 completions for 40 yards, good for a 158.3 passer rating allowed.  Evan Williams had  8 tackles (3 solo)  PFF assigned 3 completions on 4 targets for 18 yards and an 83.3 passer rating allowed. He had 3 stops and 1 pressure per PFF.  Nixon had 7 solo tackles and a tackle for loss.  PFF credited Nixon wtih allowing 4 of 5 passes to be completed for 61 yards and a 117.5 passer rating.  He was committed a penalty.  Bullard had 4 tackles (2 solo) and allowed 2 of 3 targets to be completed for 5 yards.  Valentine had 2 solo tackles.  PFF listed him as 2 of 3 passes to be completed for 48 yards and allowing a 148.3 passer rating.   He missed a tackle.   The Packers held JJ McCarthy to a 34 passer rating.  He completed 12 of 19 for 87 yards, 2 interceptions and he took 5 sacks.   SPECIAL TEAMS: Whelan punted 2 times and averaged 67 yards but a net of 460.  McManus made all of extra points and his only field goals, a 45-yarder.  OL: 5.22 (high but get used to high OL numbers) RB: 1.02 TE: 1.33 WR: 2.41 DT: 1.91 DE: 2.14 LB: 2.27 DB: 4.68   Photo courtesy of David Regink of Imagn Images. Statistics coutesy of NFLgsis and PFF.       Filed Under: FeaturedGreen Bay PackersJames Reynolds   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ NFL Categories: Detroit LionsGreen Bay PackersTags: Packers Snap CountsGreen Bay PackersDetroit Lions Like 0 points

  Dan Campbell’s ultra aggressiveness on fourth down has undoubtedly been his coaching identity as the head man for the Detroit Lions. The decisions seem to have worked out in Detroit’s favor more often than not the last four-and-a-half years, even the seemingly absurd ones.  Matt LaFleur is no turkey himself, and LaFleur fed Campbell multiple servings of his own recipe for Thanksgiving Thursday in a 31-24 Green Bay victory. The Packers were 3-for-3 on fourth down; the Lions were 0-for-2.  “We came in here with an aggressive mindset and I think that’s one of the ways you have to play against these guys, knowing that you’re going to have to defend four downs,” LaFleur said via packers.com. “It’s a really good football team. They’ve been one of the premier teams in the league for the last few years now . . . I thought the only way you come into this place – which is not an easy place to play – is you have to be aggressive.”  LaFleur’s first fourth-down decision occurred at the 14:19 mark of the second quarter from the Lion 22-yard line. Up 3-0, Jordan Love only needed three yards for the conversion. Instead, he matched his coach’s aggression and opted for Dontayvion Wicks up the left sideline.  Wicks had one defensive back trailing as he wheeled towards the end zone, while another flew across the field to meet him as the ball arrived. Love zipped the ball to his third-year pass catcher just in time, and Wicks made a jumping catch while managing to tap both toes in bounds for the 10-0 lead.  The Lions answered – as they would for much of the game – with their own touchdown drive, 10-7. Love then engineered another long drive, moving the ball to the Detroit two-yard line on fourth down, and only needing one yard to convert. The gunslinger connected with the outstretched hands of Romeo Doubs on a speed out at the goal line to push the lead back to 10 points, 17-7.  Detroit answered again with a touchdown as the teams entered the locker room with a 17-14 score. The Lions started the second half with the ball, and the Packer defense delivered a fourth-down play of its own.  To no surprise, Campbell elected to go for it from the Green Bay 47 on a fourth-and-3 early in the third quarter. The Lions tried an inside handoff to the electric Jahmyr Gibbs from the shot gun. Isaiah McDuffie provided the stuffing to force a turnover on downs. McDuffie – starting for an injured Quay Walker – made a similar play on the preceding third down as well, and led the team with 12 tackles.  Two plays after the turnover on downs, Love hit Christian Watson on a high, deep pass down the right sideline for a 51-yard score, 24-14. Watson toasted his man as he caught the ball in stride, similar to his long Thanksgiving score in Detroit two years ago. Watson again led Packer pass catchers in targets (10), and caught four of them for 80 yards.  The Lions answered – again – rather easily, going 71 yards in five plays, 24-21. The Packers didn’t need to pull from the fourth-down menu on the next drive. Love went back to the speed out pass at the goal line, this time teaming with Wicks, 31-21.  Green Bay gave thanks for a fortuitous bounce three plays before the score. Doubs caught a slant inside the 10-yard line and had the ball punched out from behind. Fortunately, it bounced right up off the turf to Rasheed Walker’s belly. The left tackle displayed some soft hands in securing the possession for his offense.  The Lions – again – crawled their way down the field with an 11-play, 53-yard drive. As expected, Campbell kept the offense on the field for a fourth-and-3 from the Packer 21 with 10:55 remaining. Jared Goff was flushed to his right and had an open Jameson Williams breaking out with him. Goff left the ball inside and Williams dropped the sure-fire conversion.  The drop proved to be a critical mistake by the Alabama speedster, who otherwise ran away from the Green Bay secondary for most of the game. Williams finished with seven catches for 144 yards and a touchdown after his running mate, Amon-Ra St. Brown, left the game early with an injury.  A missed pass interference call allowed the Lions to quickly get the ball back for what would ultimately be their final drive. Micah Parsons, in his closer role, sacked Goff twice on the drive. His second sack ensured Detroit would only get a field goal to make it 31-24. It also gave him 12.5 on the year, making him the first player in NFL history to have at least 12 sacks in his first five seasons (sacks became an official stat in 1982).  The Packers needed one more fourth-down play to win the game, and their star quarterback delivered. Love and the offense faced a fourth-and-3 from the Detroit 45-yard line. The Lions had spent their timeouts and with the clock under two minutes, a first down would seal the victory.  Love, unable to step into the throw due to pressure, still managed to put enough sauce on a pass over the middle to an in-breaking Wicks. Wicks, the Packers’ star receiver for Thursday, secured the high throw and the win despite losing a shoe and safety Brian Branch draped all over him.  “I’d rather go down swinging,” LaFleur said. “Sometimes it can bite you, absolutely. You just have to deal with the consequences.” Wicks, who is finally healthy after battling injuries for most of the season, had six catches on seven targets for 94 yards and the two scores.  “I can’t say enough great things about Wicks. He’s been injured quite a bit, he’s been in and out of the lineup. But he made critical plays all game. I’m just really proud of him and his mental toughness to stay with it,” LaFleur said.  Love continued his Thanksgiving Day excellence. He completed 18-of-30 passes for 234 yards and four touchdowns, good for a 124.2 quarterback rating.  Despite the problems with Williams, the Green Bay defense had the Lions’ ground game in a food coma all afternoon. Gibbs finished with 68 yards on 20 carries while David Montgomery had 32 yards on eight rushes.  The Packers (8-3-1) are now a half game behind the Bears in the division (8-3), who play the Eagles tomorrow. The NFL’s oldest rivalry will reconvene next Sunday at Lambeau Field, and then again two weeks later in Chicago.    Other Notes * Devonte Wyatt had his left ankle rolled up during Parsons’ second sack and had to be carted off the field. LaFleur said it doesn’t look good.  * “I’m sick for him, I’m sick for us. That’s a critical loss for our defense, obviously. I can’t say enough great things about him in terms of watching him mature, not only as a football player but as a person. I’ve got a lot of love for Devonte Wyatt and I think the whole locker room does too,” he said.  Filed Under: Packers NewsFeaturedJocelyn Hopkinson PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Jocelyn Hopkinson is a contributor for CheeseheadTV and can be found on Twitter at Jh0p_4 __________________________   NFL Categories: Detroit LionsTags: WicksloveParsons4th Down Like 0 points

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What would the holidays be without Green Bay Packers' football? The Packers have played on at least Thanksgiving or Christmas each season for the last five years. Today, it's another visit to Detroit for turkey day with the Packers taking on the Lions at 12 PM CST. On Sunday, the 7-3-1 Packers pulled off a 23-6 defensive drubbing of the Minnesota Vikings to kick off their divisional matchup streak. The 7-4 Lions were also victorious, but they just barely pulled off a 34-27 OT win over the New York Giants, where some questionable decisions late by the Giants likely saved Detroit. Today is a huge game that will undoubtedly have playoff implications in the end.  The last time these two teams met was week 1 on September 7th, when the Packers basically shocked the league with a 27-13 victory over the Lions that wasn't as close as it looks. The Packers held Detroit out of the endzone all game long until the Lions finally scored a TD with 55 seconds left in the game in what was essentially garbage time. Jordan Love went 16/22 for 188 yards and two touchdowns. Josh Jacobs had 19 carries for 66 yards and a score, but the main show was put on by the defense, sacking Jared Goff four times and Evan Williams getting an interception. Things have changed since these teams last met, but the Packers will be looking to put on a similar performance today.  On Sunday, the Packers finally played a game with contributions from the offense, defense, and wefense (special teams). The defense absolutely suffocated Minnesota's offense, only allowing 145 total net yards. The Packers' running game actually netted more yards than the entire Minnesota offense, with 146 yards rushing. Special teams forced a turnover on a punt for the first time in ages, which may have been the play of the game. Many have complained that the offense was not aggressive enough. I agree that in a game against a rival like the Vikings, as a fan, you just want to step on their throat all game long and run up the score. But from a Matt LaFleur perspective, I understand being conservative. We are unsure of the status of Jordan Love's left shoulder. The last thing we need heading into today's game is an even further banged-up Jordan Love or even no Jordan Love. So, I understand LaFleur not wanting to put Love in harm's way with the defense basically shutting down the Vikings' hopes of a comeback.   It's our third straight game on Thanksgiving, let's go get some more turkey legs.  What to See on Offense In week 1, when I wrote about this matchup, I noted that everything Packers fans had heard about Micah Parsons could also be said about Lions' pass rusher, Aidan Hutchinson. Well, in week 1, Hutchinson was quiet. But he is back to form now with 8.5 sacks so far this season. Detroit also has a trio of linebackers high on the sack totals list, with Al-Quadin Muhammad holding 6 and Jack Campbell tying with Derrick Barnes at 4 apiece. Detroit has three more sacks total than the Packers this season. So, the Lions are no slouch when it comes to getting after the quarterback. In week 1, the Packers' offensive line did a great job of protecting Jordan Love, not allowing a single sack. They're going to need more of that today. Things have changed since week 1, but the offensive line will need to be prepared today for a possible siege on their quarterback.  The Packers are banged up at wide receiver. Okay, fine, the Packers are banged up almost everywhere. But WR in particular has a long list. OUT today will be Savion Williams; Matthew Golden is questionable. Golden missed Sunday's game with a wrist injury after returning to the lineup the previous week. Given the fact that the Packers were playing another game four days later, it's hard to tell if Golden was held out to give him a little more time to heal up for today or what the situation was, but it would be nice to see him return to the lineup today. Another return that everyone has been waiting for at that position is Jayden Reed. Reed could really help open up the passing game a bit more when he returns to the field, but we will have to wait another week as Reed is OUT today.  The Lions' defense ranks towards the middle of the pack in passing yards allowed on average so far this season. Safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph are still a formidable pair in the secondary, with Joseph leading the team in interceptions with three. However, this secondary is a bit banged up itself, with Joseph OUT today with a knee injury and CB Terrion Arnold questionable with a concussion. If Love can stay out of harm's way, he may be able to exploit the Lions' secondary a bit. This could be a big game for Christian Watson. The Lions have been giving up some good games to WRs as of late, and even though the Packers spread the ball around a lot, Watson seems to have become the more reliable threat. I'd be looking for him to exploit the Lions' secondary today if given the chance.  On to the running game. Josh Jacobs was held out on Sunday, and Emanuel Wilson had a coming-out party. Packers fans already knew Wilson could run the ball pretty well, but the league surely wasn't ready for it. He's absolutely carved out a spot amongst the NFL's best #2 running backs after that performance. My biggest takeaway from Wilson's first extended action was his patience in waiting for running lanes to develop. That's something you love to see from a running back.  Josh Jacobs' status for today is still up in the air. Much like my previous comments regarding Matthew Golden, it's unclear whether Jacobs was held out on Sunday to give him a little more time to heal up for Thursday. Jacobs has said that he's definitely playing, so we'll go with that he'll be on the field today.  Anthony Belton replaced Jordan Morgan at right guard on Sunday, and the returns seemed to be fruitful in the running game. We'll have to see how they rotate today, but the Lions are ranked 11th in rushing yards allowed per game and will be a bit more of a challenge than Minnesota's defense was. We'll have to see if, perhaps, with the emergence of Wilson as a formidable running threat has him split carries a bit more with Josh Jacobs and see how the running game responds.  What to See on Defense On Sunday, the Packers' defensive front likely inserted itself into JJ McCarthy's future nightmares. Outside of the five sacks, they hit McCarthy ten times; one of those hits ended up in an Isaiah McDuffie interception as Rashan Gary got McCarthy's arm, changing the trajectory of the football. When the Lions and Packers last met, Micah Parsons was that shiny new toy in his first game as a Packer, and despite being on a controlled snap count, he still harassed Jared Goff several times and picked up his first sack of the season.  One of the biggest keys to today's game for the defense is to get in Goff's face again. The Lions' offensive line has kept Goff pretty clean since that game, only giving up just under two sacks per game on average. The Packers will need to do much better than that today to put pressure on Goff, as if they don't, he can make them pay. They may have a little help in that category as the Lions' OL is banged up with Graham Glasgow OUT with a knee injury, and the rest of the offensive line, minus Kayode Awosika listed as questionable. The Lions will also be without tight end Sam LaPorta, who is out for the season with a back injury, but they still have receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, who are big-play threats. Keisean Nixon left Sunday's game with a neck stinger and was replaced by Kamal Hadden, who was able to hold his own, mainly aided by the pass rush, but if Nixon is unable to go, Hadden could be tested often today.  The Packers need a repeat of Sunday's game from the pass rush to counter Detroit's passing game.  On to the running game. In week 1, Green Bay's defense shocked everyone by holding Detroit to just 44 yards on 20 carries on the ground. Last week, Minnesota was able to run the ball effectively against the Packers' defense with Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason before the Vikings had to play catch-up and throw the ball. Jahmyr Gibbs has been great this season, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, and is only 49 yards away from hitting the 1K mark on the season. Behind him, David Montgomery is also having a good season as RB2, averaging 4.4 yards per carry with 511 yards on the season. If the Lions are able to run the football effectively, they can impose their will. The Packers rank 7th against the run, and the defense seems to rise to the occasion when facing a formidable running attack.  You usually hear the quote that sometimes your best offense is a great defense. Well, this is often true, especially with the way the Packers' defense has played so far this season. But today, the offense may also have to be a great defense. If the offense can extend drives and put up points early and often, that will help the defense stay rested and force the Lions to rely on their passing game.  Extra Notes No, you did not have to adjust your television set; the Packers' special teams actually forced a turnover. After an early third quarter, Daniel Whelan's punt bounced inside the Vikings' 10-yard line. The ball took a backward bounce, right back into the Vikings' return man, who was trying to block Zayne Anderson from keeping the ball out of the end zone. Anderson recovered what ended up being a fumble, and the Packers took over on offense with first and goal. Those are the types of plays gunners on special teams dream about. This led to a Packers' touchdown and essentially sealed the game early as the Vikings did not recover. Whelan remains one of the top punters in the league, and that particular play could help boost his resume for All-Pro this season.  My only question is, when I hit a backspin punt in Madden, why can't it turn out that way? Instead, it bounces like 10-15 yards backwards in the opposing team's favor. Detroit's punter, Jack Fox, ranks toward the bottom of the league at 24 with 45.9 yards average. Their kicker, Jake Bates, has had a few struggles this season, going 15/19 on field goals and 37/39 on extra points, but he has a long of 59 yards.  On the Packers' side of the kicking spectrum, for once, I didn't have to take a shot of whiskey before writing about it. Brandon McManus was a perfect 3/3 for field goals and 2/2 for extra points, accounting for 11 of the Packers' 23 points this past Sunday. We can only hope that success continues, because as I've said before, the last thing we want dominating our headlines is our kicking game.  Jacob Saylors is Detroit's main kick returner, averaging 26.9 yards per return with a long of 39 yards, but Saylors has been dealing with a back issue lately. It didn't seem to hamper him this past Sunday, so it may not be an issue today, but with a short week, it's something to keep an eye on. Returning punts is Kalif Raymond. Raymond averages 7.3 yards per return and has a 65-yard PR TD to his credit this season. Luckily, we have a punter like Whelan to deal with Raymond to ensure he doesn't become a factor today.  The Packers' return game has continued to be questionable. Kickoffs are about average with Savion Williams each week. With Williams OUT today, I'm assuming we'll see a lot more of Bo Melton on kick returns. Punt returns with Romeo Doubs are often, let's say, less than interesting. Doubs is likely out there to just be the sure-handed catch and nothing more than that. Watching him take two seconds to figure out where he's going to run after that catch can be maddening, but I have to admit, it could be worse. I'd rather have a sure-handed catch with no return than compare our punt returner to Amari Rodgers' issues holding on to the ball a few years ago.  In the End I'm going to say it. Tradition be damned, I'm so tired of Detroit and Dallas having the early and mid-afternoon games on Thanksgiving every single year. The NFL added the prime time game that the Packers have now hosted twice, so we actually get to see some different teams play on the holiday, but having to look at the inside of Ford Field/Pontiac Silverdome, and AT&T/Texas Stadium every single Thanksgiving for as long as I can remember has gotten old. It'll never happen, but I would love to see the NFL finally say, "No, we're letting other teams host this season." We've had two Thanksgiving victories in the last two years. In one of them, Jordan Love was robbed of his coveted turkey leg, and it set the world ablaze. Last year, he finally got his turkey leg from Leroy Butler, and all was (somewhat) right in the world. But this year, we return to the scene of the previous crime. Let's go get that revenge turkey leg. After a somewhat of a mini-bye week, the Packers will be at home against the Chicago Bears for the last of this three-divisional game stretch. Hopefully, we head into it with a lot of momentum. Go Pack Go.    Filed Under: FeaturedGreen Bay PackersGreg MeinholzPreview and PredictionGameDay PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Greg Meinholz is a lifelong devoted Packer fan. A contributor to CheeseheadTV as well as PackersTalk. Follow him on Twitter @gmeinholz and Bluesky @gmeinholz.bsky.social for Packers commentary, random humor, beer endorsements, and occasional Star Wars and Marvel ramblings. __________________________ NFL Categories: Detroit LionsGreen Bay PackersNFCNFC NorthTags: Green Bay PackersJordan LoveMicah ParsonsJosh JacobsChristian Watson Like 0 points

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Few things can change the entire makeup of a football game like pressure and turnovers. Look no further than the last two games for the Green Bay Packers. Two weeks ago, they were nursing a one-score lead against the New York Giants when Evan Williams finally got his hands on an interception and ended the threat. A few plays later, a Micah Parsons strip-sack recovered by Rashan Gary ended the game, and the Packers sent the fans home happy. This past week against the Minnesota Vikings, the Packers managed not 1, not 2, but 3 turnovers, which helped put pressure on an already struggling young J.J. McCarthy. The biggest play in that game was a fumbled punt by Minnesota that gave the Packers the football in the Vikings’ red zone, and that was all that was needed to put Green Bay in front for good. A swarming pass rush led to two other turnovers by the Vikings and contributed to the Packers’ utter defensive domination against their division rival. With Green Bay right in the middle of a three-game divisional gauntlet, Thanksgiving against the Lions in Detroit will likely be the toughest matchup of the three. Even with the Lions currently on the outside of the playoff picture, they are still a very good football team that doesn’t lose at home or on Thanksgiving very often. It’s a big reason why they continue to be the early game on our TVs every year. There’s no understating what this game means for Green Bay. A season sweep would give them a head-to-head edge and would make next week’s game against the Bears a first-place matchup. If the Packers are going to win Thursday, they’ll need to steal a possession via a turnover. Now, that’s easier said than done, of course. The Lions are currently a +5 in turnover differential, which is good for 7th in the NFL. On the season, they have 5 giveaways via interception and 3 via fumble. The Packers have struggled for much of the season with takeaways but have started to gain traction the last few weeks. Against the Eagles, they had one fumble takeaway. Against the Giants, the aforementioned Evan Williams pick and the Parsons strip. And then against the Vikings, the punt fumble and 2 interceptions by McDuffie and Evan Williams sealed the game for good. Even with the uptick in turnovers, the Packers are only middle of the pack this season with 11 total. The best way, of course, to force turnovers is pressure. Jared Goff is quick to get the ball out of his hand, and when the Lions’ offense is in rhythm and he’s got time, there are few better in the league. However, the book on Goff is out: he’s a different quarterback when he’s pressured versus when he’s kept clean. If the Packers can win quickly and get pressure, they can force Goff into mistakes. If they can do that with just four up front, then even better. Potentially playing without Keisean Nixon, it would do wonders for their secondary not to have to bring blitz help to get home to Goff. Look no further than Thanksgiving 2023 when the Packers marched into Detroit and turned their season around with a huge win. They pressured Goff all day to the tune of three sacks and twelve total pressures. That pressure resulted in a career-high three fumbles by Goff, one of which was returned for a touchdown. Rashan Gary said after that game how that pressure helped create those game-changing turnovers: “Making him feel uncomfortable and making him throw the ball a little bit earlier than what he thought, that helped us today.” The Lions’ offensive line heading into Thursday is pretty beat up, which could aid Green Bay’s efforts. Center Graham Glasgow has missed both estimated practices with a knee injury. Both of their stalwart offensive tackles are limited this week as well—Taylor Decker with a shoulder injury and Penei Sewell. Both are likely to go, but having them limited in any form or fashion would be a welcome sight for Packers fans. In the Week 1 matchup this season, the Packers again pressured Goff all day and forced him into a mistake via an interception. They had four sacks and hit Goff a total of nine times back in September, holding his passer rating to a mediocre 88.6. If the Packers can repeat last week’s performance—where four players combined for 5 sacks (with Gary adding a strip-sack/interception)—then they can make it a very unjoyful holiday for this Lions offense. The Packers enter this game riding a hot streak of takeaways, and if they can continue that trend for a third straight week and steal a possession or two from Goff and the Lions, then Green Bay will be well on their way to tripling their divisional wins from a season ago. Filed Under: FeaturedGreen Bay PackersDan Saia -Dan Saia NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersTags: Thanksgiving footballNFC NorthPackers vs. Lions Like 0 points

The Green Bay Packers face their two biggest rivals for the NFC North crown in their next two games. First, they’ll face the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, followed by the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field. In these two games, the Packers can use an underutilized weapon to surprise two familiar opponents. Even if it’s for just a series or a handful of plays, the Packers offense can make use of backup quarterback Malik Willis to keep their opponents off balance. Willis made his first two appearances of the regular season in the team’s last two games. He replaced Jordan Love against the Giants when the starter injured his shoulder while scrambling for a first down. He led the Packers downfield, gaining 16 yards to pick up a crucial first down on 3rd-and-8 before finishing the drive with a touchdown pass to Christian Watson. That drive was crucial in the Packers eventual 27-20 road win. Willis gave the Packers offense some jump. The players clearly responded when he was put into the game, and the result was a big touchdown. After that, Love returned. “I can't say enough great things about him,” head coach Matt LaFleur said after the game. “I don't even think, just looking into his eyes and talking to him, it was like, ‘Alright, here we go.’ It was like practice. I don't even know if his heartbeat rose at all. He was calm, cool and collected. He did a hell of a job, and I was really impressed with his performance.” Willis possesses a different skill set than Love. He is much more dangerous as a runner. In fact, in 2024, LaFleur had to redesign the offense in the two games Willis started when Love was out with an injury. The Packers ran an option-based offense with a lot more runs than passes. It worked well and set up Willis to be effective when he did throw the football. Willis has a strong arm but he’s not nearly as accurate as Love is. While there is no doubt that Love is the Packers starting quarterback, LaFleur has some options to use Willis in different ways to keep opposing defenses off balance. This would be especially helpful against teams like the Lions and Bears who are so familiar with LaFleur’s game plans. First, LaFleur could bring Willis in at quarterback for a series or two per game. This would force defenses to prepare for a completely different style of offense. Willis can run the football himself, or he can hand off or pitch to Josh Jacob, Emanuel Wilson or whoever the Packers want to give the football to. They can also fake end arounds or jet sweeps and utilize Willis to throw a short pass behind the line of scrimmage after defenders have already committed to the run. Another option would be to put both Willis and Love on the field at the same time for two or three plays per game. They could utilize Willis as a running back or a receiver to get him the ball in space. Or they could lateral to Willis and have him throw the ball downfield. Willis could also serve as a decoy on some plays and then get the ball or throw the ball on others. There is an obvious risk to having both quarterbacks on the field at the same time. You don’t want either to get injured of course and Willis’ ability to run the football would expose him to contact. But if we’re talking about two or three plays per game, the risk isn’t significant. The different formation with two quarterbacks adds an element of surprise the first time you use it and forces opposing defenses to prepare for it after that. In addition, LaFleur could do what he loves to do in that formation: run different plays out of identical formations. Again, this would keep the defense guessing and open up the possibility of a splash play or just an effective gain on a run or pass. Love is the starter, and Willis is a quality backup. But his distinct skill set could give the Packers some different options on offense IF LaFleur is willing to explore them. Filed Under: FeaturedGil Martin   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ You can follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers __________________________ NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersTags: Green Bay PackersMalik WillisMatt LaFleurJordan Love Like 0 points

Packers Wide Receiver Christian Watson had 5 catches for 94 yards and a touchdown in the Week 12 game in 2023. The Green Bay Packers continue their stretch of three straight NFC North games with a showdown between the two-time defending division champion Detroit Lions on Thursday. If the Packers are to continue a quest for their first division championship since 2021, defeating the Lions for the second time in three years on Thanksgiving will go a long way toward achieving that goal. The Week 13 NFC North matchup between the Packers and Lions will be the 8th game on Thanksgiving between the two teams since 2001. In the previous seven games, the Packers hold a 5-2 advantage over their neighbors from the west.   Today in 2009: Packers roll to 34-12 Thanksgiving win over Lions. Aaron Rodgers throws three TDs and Donald Driver racks up a game-high 142 yards and a score. Defensively, Charles Woodson posts seven tackles, a sack, and two INTs -- including the game-clinching pick-six. pic.twitter.com/mPNuTdAKbZ — Packers History (@HistoricPackers) November 27, 2024   In all seven of those seasons, the Packers would go on to make the playoffs. Two of those meetings featured games where both the Packers and Lions would qualify for the playoffs, with the Packers being victorious in both games (2011, 2023). Packers at Lions on Thanksgiving since 2001 Year Winning Team Losing Team Score Packers QB Stats 2001 Packers Lions 29-27 Favre 18/26, 252 yds, 2 tds 2003 Lions Packers 22-14 Favre 23/37, 296 yds, 2 tds, 3 ints 2007 Packers Lions 37-26 Favre 31/41, 381 yds, 3 tds 2009 Packers Lions 34-12 Rodgers 28/39, 348 yds, 3 tds 2011 Packers Lions 27-15 Rodgers 22/32, 307 yds, 2 tds 2013 Lions Packers 40-10 Flynn 10/20, 139 yds, 1 int 2023 Packers Lions 29-22 Love 22/32, 268 yds, 3 tds Two years ago, the Lions came into the game with an 8-2 record and a four-game lead over the second place the Packers. The Lions would eventually win the NFC North and be close to their first Super Bowl appearance, before blowing a 17-point lead to the 49ers. In the 29-22 win, the Packers set the tone immediately with a 53-yard pass from Jordan Love to Christian Watson on the first play of the game. Green Bay jumped out to a double-digit lead in the first quarter, leading after the first 15 minutes by the score of 20-6. Love had two touchdown passes to Jayden Reed and Tucker Kraft, followed by a fumble return from Jonathan Owens. Love and Watson connected on a touchdown pass in the third quarter, as the Packers held off the Lions late en route to a 29-22 win. The last time the Lions hosted Green Bay on Thanksgiving went VERY well for Love and Co#Packers pic.twitter.com/fYuK3XLiGq — BGPG (@BleedGreenPGold) November 24, 2025 By getting out to a quick lead, the Packers were able to get after Jared Goff, finishing the game with three sacks and three forced fumbles. In last year’s game in Detroit, the Lions were the team who led early, leading at halftime by a score of 17-7. They converted on 4 of 5 fourth downs and were able to protect Goff, giving up just one sack. The formula from the game two years ago has been the same as the formula this season. When the Packers are able to get out to a bigger lead, they are able to unleash Micah Parsons, Rashan Gary, Devonte Wyatt and company. In the first five games of the season, the Packers were able to get out to double-digit leads in each game. However, in the last six games, they only led by 10 points or more in two of the games. Game Opponent Biggest 1st half lead Biggest overall lead Result Final Score 1 Lions 17-3, 2nd Qtr 27-6, 4th Qtr W 27-13 2 Commanders 14-0, 2nd Qtr 27-10, 4th Qtr W 27-18 3 Browns 3-0, 2nd Qtr 10-0, 4th Qtr L 10-13 4 Cowboys 13-0, 2nd Qtr 13-0, 2nd Qtr T 40-40 5 Bengals 10-0, 2nd Qtr 24-10, 4th Qtr W 27-18 7 Steelers 7-3, 1st Qtr 35-19, 4th Qtr W 35-25 11 Vikings 10-3, 2nd Qtr 23-6, 4th Qtr W 23-6 In games where the Packers led by at least 10 points or more, their record this season is 5-1-1. In games without a double-digit lead, their record is 2-2. If the Packers are to win for the second time in Detroit in three years, playing from ahead will be an important element on their path to victory. Put the pressure on Goff and force the Lions to go away from Jahmir Gibbs and David Montgomery on the ground. Filed Under: FeaturedMitchell McLaughlin PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Mitch McLaughlin is a Packers fan and shareholder residing in Sacramento, California. He will be writing Packers stories each week on Cheesehead TV. He can be found on Twitter: @McLaughlinMitch __________________________   NFL Categories: Detroit LionsGreen Bay PackersTags: Jordan LoveAaron RodgersBrett FavreThanksgiving Like 0 points

After re-watching the Packers game, here are three plays that made me go hmmm, for various reasons. In general, I either focus on a theme, more nuanced observations, or just things I didn't notice watching live. These can be but are less likely to be "highlight" plays. I present these to you with a short explanation why I picked them and then let you readers discuss the plays. Morgan Whiffs - As I'm sure you know, Jordan Morgan started the game at right guard. After the first series, Anthony Belton came in for a series and then Morgan returned for the next series. It seemed like yet another Packers guard rotation was in the works, but after that series, Morgan was benched and only saw a few special teams snaps the rest of the way. Obviously, the coaches were not happy with his performance but would you like to see some specific visual evidence? Well you're in luck, because here it is. You're getting the bonus of a three-pack of Morgan in run blocking in this video. The first clip is the very first play of the game, where Morgan doesn't seem to know his assignment and ends up blocking no one. The second clip is the last play of that same series where Emanuel Wilson is forced to run over unblocked LB Blake Cashman for the touchdown, which luckily he does. Morgan either blocks the wrong player, or more likely, was supposed to fall off his help block and move to the linebacker. I believe Morgan over commits to the help block getting his head out over his skates and is in a bad body position to even get a hand on the hard charging Cashman. One of the beat reporters was silly enough to ask LaFleur if that Viking player was supposed to be there. LaFleur could have ridiculed the question but instead took the high road and just said, "ideally, he would be blocked." The final clip is from the second series Morgan was in and as you can see, it's another complete whiff from Morgan as he's not able to adjust his path on the run. In fairness to Morgan, his pass protection was fairly good, but against the run - woof!    Doubs punt return - There are two things here. First, I've been thinking about this for a few weeks now. The players the Packers are using as their kick returners (Romeo Doubs and Savion Williams) seem to be more interested in avoiding contact than they are gaining yardage. They are always seen running away from opportunities to "go for it" in favor of taking what's right in front of them. Savion Williams does this almost every time - stopping his forward progress and veering sideways at which point he is enveloped by a cadre of would-be tacklers. Romeo Doubs has quite an interesting approach to punt returns where he tends to catch the ball and then pause instead of taking off. If you stop the clip below right at the point Doubs catches the ball, what do you see? He catches the ball at his own 40 yard line. At that point, the Vikings' two gunners are being double-teamed by Packers blockers, and there are only three Vikings players on his side of the hash marks. Two are being blocked downfield and there is one unblocked Viking approximately 20 yards from Doubs. Instead of staying on that side of the hash marks and taking his chances on the one-on-one with the free running Viking, he decides to go to the other side of the field where the other 8 Vikings players are bearing down on him. At the very least, he would have gained 10-15 yards by going right at that free runner and maybe he's able to avoid him for a much bigger gain. But Doubs doesn't want to take a potential big hit and runs away (my opinion). The second thing is, what the hell is he doing holding the ball away from his body with one hand like a quarterback about to throw a pass on the run? I sure hope SOMEONE had a long talk with him about both these things when he got to the sideline.   3rd and 1 - So nothing spectacular (good or bad) happened on this play itself. It's not being featured to show you what someone did well or poorly. The reason I'm including this is the situation and the defensive alignment chosen is what made me go hmmm. The Vikings have a third and one on their own 26 yard line with 1:20 left in the half. On the Vikings' previous possession, the Packers brought in their short yardage defense and proceeded to successfully stop the Vikings on both third and one and fourth and one. The Packers brought Stackhouse in and tightened up their alignment with McDuffie filling the A gap. So why didn't they do the same thing on this play? If they at least try and stop them there, they get the ball back with plenty of time to try to get more points before the half and double up. I asked on twitter why the Packers would just concede a short yardage first down here and naturally, some knucklehead responded that it was because the Vikings were in two minute offense and it's not so easy to sub then. Well, I had to inform the poor soul (who naturally was not heard from again) that the Vikings actually ran 30 seconds off the clock before running that play, so um, plenty of time to sub. Therefore, I have to assume it was what Hafley decided to do and I'm just curious why. Filed Under: FeaturedJersey Al Bracco   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ "Jersey Al" Bracco is the Editor-In-Chief, part owner and wearer of various hats for CheeseheadTV.com and PackersTalk.com. He's a lifetime Packers fan living in the land of the Giants (and Jets). Follow Al on twitter at @JerseyalGBP.  __________________________ NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersNew York GiantsTags: packersGiantsplaysvideo3 playsfilmCoaches Film Like 0 points

ALT: a gray alien with big eyes is sitting in a chair with holes in it

It was a run-of-the-mill week in the North. The Vikings were embarrassing. The Bears got a lucky last-minute one-score win. And the Lions took the Giants to OT. Wait, the Giants are bad? Hmm. Vikings The Packers handled the Vikings, 23-6.  Game Notes * Let's start with the Vikings' take-down. We've been talking since the off-season about the monumental decision the team made to drop Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones and go with second-year QB JJ McCarthy. At the beginning of the off-season, it seemed like it could work out. After all, McCarthy was a first-round pick, and Darnold fell apart at the end of the season, and Daniel Jones had never been good. Turns out it was, quite possibly, the worst ever QB decision in the NFL. Darnold and Jones are both playing better than they ever have, and McCarthy is the clear worst QB in the league. I know we talk about this every week, but it's insane how badly this is going for the Vikings.   * We need a second bullet point to get this all out. McCarthy was 12/19 for 87 yards and two picks today. Horrific on every level. Once the Packers went up two scores, the Vikings couldn't do anything on offense. McCarthy had negative yards in the second half and the two interceptions. So, what's next? Fortunately (for us), it's going to have to be patience. Currently, the Vikings are $24 million over the cap for 2026. That means they need to shed $24mm just to get to $0 and sign their draft picks. Part of that will be their 2025 space, which is at around $16mm now and will carry over. They can also save $14mm by cutting right tackle Brian O'Neill, who will be on the last year of his deal and got toasted today.  After O'Neill, the next 14 (14!) players by salary cap number would be a net reduction on the cap if cut before June 1.  * Let's go to a third bullet point. There's certainly no money for a new QB and you can't use another top draft pick on one two years later in a bad draft. That means they probably go with McCarthy next year and either have to commit to O'Neill, who is fine but not great, on another $20mm+ per year deal to get his cap number down, or cut O'Neill and hope they find a good tackle to protect their bad QB. It's a rough situation. Last year, the Vikings were one of the top 3 teams in the NFC, no doubt. If Darnold hadn't fallen apart, they could've gone to the Super Bowl. Now it looks like the best plan for their organization is basically to piss away the 2026 season and hope they can a good QB in the 2027 draft. Will Kevin O'Connell, once thought of as the best young offensive-minded head coach in the league, survive? Will Justin jefferson demand a tarde? You have to think Brian Flores will be out after this season.  * Speaking of first-round picks, Dallas Turner had a clean-up sack and it reminded me of how O'Connell said he was the best pass rusher in the draft last year, and then he got no snaps last season. Honestly, I forgot he existed, so I wanted to check in on his progress. He has a 61.3 PFF grade, good for 71st among edge rushers and he has three sacks on the season, good for 47th. The Vikings traded up for McCarthy and Turner. They spent what Bill Barnwell calculated as the first overall pick in value for Turner and traded up into the top ten for McCarthy. They hit home runs with Justin Jefferson and Kevin O'Connell and then ruined it with one draft.  * Anyway, back to the game. Blake Cashman had 16 tackles because Emannuel Wilson kept getting to the second level. They did have five TFLs as a team, but I think basically all of those can be credited to a Packers missed block or Brian Flores. Justin Jefferson had 4 catches for 48 yards and Jordan Addison had no catches.    Vikings: “JJ we need you to stop throwing interceptions” JJ McCarthy: pic.twitter.com/G9CODonqqE — GhettoGronk (@GhettoGronk) November 23, 2025 Bears The Bears outlasted the Steelers (without Aaron Rodgers), 31-28. Game Notes * How do the Bears keep doing this??? Caleb Williams was 19/35 for 239 yards. Not extremely exciting, but he had three touchdowns and 21 yards on the ground to go with squirreling out of several sacks. He's definitely doing enough right now.  * It was an interesting day on the ground for the Bears against the stout Steelers defense. This time, D'Andre Slow was the back to average under two yards per carry and Monangai had 12 carries for 48 yards. Altogther, they were held under 100 yards (and remember 21 of those yards came from the QB) for just the second time since week 4.  * Not the best showing by the defense, which was facing journeyman Mason Rudolph. Rudolph had 171 yards and one each touchdown and interception, and the Steelers accumulated 186 rushing yards on 36 carries. Have to think they win this with Rodgers at QB. To be fair, the Bears were playing with several players out on the defense.    Caleb Williams during Bears 4-game win streak: 932 passing yards 163 rushing yards 8 total TDs 0 interceptions pic.twitter.com/l03cz7I1tq — Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) November 23, 2025 Lions The Lions survived the Giants, 34-27 in overtime.  Game Notes * The Loons withstood the might of the new-coach Giants thanks to a career game from Jahmyr Gibbs. Gibbs had 219 yards on the ground and another 45 through the air. Fellow supertar the Sun God, who we questioned last week, was back in the groove with a 149-yard performance. Altogether, Gibbs and the Sun God combined for 413 of the Lions' 494 yards. The Lions' performance was the catalyst for the Ginats to fire their DC after the game.  * 494 yards is a lot of yards, notwithstanding the extra quarter that the team played, but it was 23 yards short of the 517 that the Giants amassed. The Giants moved the ball mostly through the air, with Jameis throwing for 366 yards and catching a 33-yard TD. To be fair to the Lions, it's hard to defend a QB who is willing to throw up 50/50 balls on basically every play. We saw it just last week. And the Lions did come down with one fo those 50/50 balls. We can only hope that watching this film will tempt LaFleur into being aggressive on Thanksgiving.  * Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary's combined 109 yards on 34 carries didn't come close to the efficiency that Gibbs had. They should've just thrown the ball more.  I could watch this 1000000 times and not get sick of it pic.twitter.com/y5MH1sxeN0 — Honolulu Blues (@HonoluluBlues_) November 23, 2025 Filed Under: Packers NewsFeaturedGreen Bay PackersMike PriceAround the NFC North   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Mike Price is a lifelong Packers fan who recently moved from Utah to Stoughton (a Madison suberb). You can follow him on twitter at @themikeprice. __________________________ NFL Categories: Chicago BearsDetroit LionsGreen Bay PackersMinnesota VikingsNFC North Like 0 points