Lions: To stop Packers, we have to stop run

“He’s running well, but they’re blocking well”, Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said. The Packers head to Detroit, Michigan to take on the 4-7 Lions at Ford Field. Three weeks ago, the Lions won 18-16 at Lambeau Field and the Packers have done nothing but continue to crumble since then. The Packers averaged 29.0 points against everyone else during that stretch. The Lions rank next to last in turnover ratio at negative nine, and that is because they only have 12 turnovers on the year while Stafford has thrown 13 interceptions and the team has fumbled the ball eight times. Gabe Wright, Glover Quin and Lance Moore are questionable.

After the Bears defeated the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving night, the Bears made a decision to reward Fox with a game ball.

“Not in the run game”, McPhee said when asked how much pride he takes in the defense’s role in Chicago winning four of its past five.

The Packers used to be able to routinely put a check box next to the Lions’ name on the schedule and count it as a victory.

But in the rematch, they gained 61 yards rushing on their first drive alone, and finished with 152 for the game.

“Anytime there’s a fundamental that is not performed, at practice you obviously heighten the emphasis for it”, McCarthy said, via ESPN.com.

Rodgers, who alsi dealt with a shoulder injury at some point during Green Bay’s slide, reportedly said he experienced lost feeling in the fingers on his left hand in the second half against the Bears. He required a career-high 61 pass attempts just to accumilate 333 yards, and his passer rating was a measly 83.6.

“It definitely heightens the confidence a little bit, but like I’ve said time and time again, confidence in my play was never in question, my skill set was never in question, it was just me being healthy”, said Porter, who missed the first two games of the season with a hamstring injury. “So we got to make sure we stop the running game”. Whether they can get it done is still up for debate, but it certainly makes for an interesting December.

Up next (Packers): The Packers will travel to Detroit on Thursday night as they look to right the ship and stay within striking distance for the division lead.

After a sluggish start to the season, Detroit’s rush defense has been on a roll.

On Thanksgiving, the Lions held Philadelphia to 68 yards – the Eagles’ worst ground performance since Week 2.

The biggest plus in the remaining five games is that they are all against NFC opponents, meaning that if the Bears win out, they are assured of a better record than Detroit, Tampa Bay and Washington.

Quin gave credit for the improving run defense to the offense, which has begun sustaining drives since Jim Bob Cooter replaced Joe Lombardi. “Forget about it. But it’s hard, especially when I really care about it. You try to, but I’m trying to do my best to, so I can go out there and have a great year”.

At least the Packers’ run game has returned from the witness protection program – or fat camp – we’re not sure.