The Detroit Lions begin the road to win a third straight NFC North title traveling to Lambeau Field to face the Green Bay Packers.
The two opponents are widely considered the frontrunners to take the division this season, so kicking off the 2025 season with a victory against the other could be very important.
The Lions have had the Packers’ number lately, winning six of the last seven meetings, including both of last season’s games.
Detroit will look to get their NFL leading offense going again and reintroduce edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson to the league after missing most of last season with an injury.
Green Bay is getting plenty of hype with an offense led by rising quarterback Jordan Love and the recent acquisition of All-Pro edge Micah Parsons.
Here are score predictions for Sunday’s season-opener from MLive’s beat writers:
Ben Raven
I’m rolling with the Detroit Lions to beat the Green Bay Packers to open the season on a very high note. Yes, there will be growing pains and needed adjustments with two new coordinators. But the situation, in my opinion, has been overblown, with national analysts and media members overlooking Dan Campbell’s finger on the pulse of this team and how masterfully he’s handled personnel and coaching decisions.
Micah Parsons is as legit as an addition as a team can make. But with Kenny Clark out of the picture and Parsons working through a back issue while getting accustomed to his new digs, I’m expecting the Lions to run the ball a lot and very effectively. Give me the Lions. Prediction: Lions 31, Packers 20.
Kory Woods
The Packers made one heck of a move by landing Micah Parsons, and even a not fully healthy version of him can definitely help their defense. But from top to bottom, the Lions are still a better team.
With no Kenny Clark to make things difficult inside, I expect the Lions to pound the rock for most of the game. Anything less than 125 yards on the ground between Gibbs and Montgomery would be shocking. Prediction: Lions 28, Packers 21.
Jacob Richman
The Packers are going to be up for this one in a way they weren’t last season. Slow starts doomed them in the past and the Lions always managed to shut the door. I think Jordan Love and Josh Jacobs can get Green Bay in the game a little faster this year — but I still don’t think it will be enough to keep pace with the Lions.
Detroit’s offense can exploit a weakened interior D-Line and I’m taking Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker to keep Micah Parsons relatively quiet in his Packers debut (even if he is limited) to pave the way for the Lions offense to pace this game and keep their distance until triple zeros. Prediction: Lions 35, Packers 31
Here are some additional predictions from national media for the Lions-Packers game:
Pick: Packers
“These are two of the better teams in the NFC, which is a great way to open the season. The Lions have two new coordinators on offense and defense, which is something to watch. The Packers appear to be all-in with the move to get Micah Parsons from Dallas. How much can he impact this game without taking part in camp is a big question. This has the look of a game with a lot of points with Jordan Love pulling it out late.”
Pick: Lions (majority)
Pick: Lions (majority)
“To be honest, I’ve gone back and forth on this contest a million times. I know this game is at Lambeau Field, and that Detroit is rolling with two new coordinators, but I just have this gut feeling that I am sleeping on the Lions. After being the darlings of the 2024 offseason, it’s been awfully quiet over there the last six months. Dan Campbell’s team has had its head down prepping for REVENGE SZN, and it begins with a fourth straight victory at Lambeau."
Pick: Lions
“The Lions have won their last three games against the Packers at Lambeau Field. Jared Goff will make it four straight with a big win in Week 1.”
Pick: Lions
“Will Micah Parsons make his Packers’ debut? This a strange line seeing as though the Lions have won the last three meetings at Lambeau Field, and Dan Campbell is 6-2 against the Packers. Jordan Love (thumb) will be available, and he has a 1-4 S/U record with a 62.5% completion in five starts against Detroit. How much will rookie Matthew Golden help? The Lions get Aidan Hutchinson back, and the Packers will have to prove they can slow down David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.”
Pick: Lions (majority)
“Too much hype for the Packers following the Parsons trade. Too many people hopping off the Lions bandwagon. I ride with Dan Campbell.”
Pick: Split
“The trade for Micah Parsons could give the rest of the Packers a lift. The front office sees them as a potentially elite team. They get a chance right away to prove it — and to end a three-game home losing streak to Detroit."
Pick: Lions (majority)
“We don’t yet know if Parsons will play for his new team on Sunday. Even if he does, he may not be fully fit. Jordan Love is also battling an injury and/or wearing a protective brace of some kind for the foreseeable future.
The strong, post-Parsons trade vibes of the Packers, and opening at home, are still very real, and the Lions have had questionable vibes surrounding them much of the offseason, but I won’t bite.
The Lions are getting points, and that won’t happen often, so we’re taking them..."
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