Lions @ Packers
Final Score: Lions 34, Packers 20
Writer: Brian Hartman (@TooMuch_Brian on Twitter)
In an electrifying Thursday night showdown, the Detroit Lions roared into Lambeau Field and left their mark with a commanding 34-20 victory over the Green Bay Packers. The Lions’ offense found their rhythm early, with Amon-Ra St. Brown scoring the first touchdown on a wide-open 24-yard pass, exemplified by his eye-catching 5 receptions for 56 yards, which propelled him to a fantasy finish of 16.6 points. This set the tone for a game that saw the Lions surge ahead, thanks to a triumphant return from running back David Montgomery, who bulldozed his way to 121 rushing yards and three touchdowns, stamping his authority in the NFC North. However, it was clear that Montgomery wasn’t alone in the backfield spotlight, as Jahmyr Gibbs had a somewhat disappointing outing, amassing just 11 yards on the ground. Gibbs seems to be playing second fiddle to Montgomery, as evidenced by Montgomery’s impressive 70% snap share compared to Gibbs’ 38%.
On the other side, the Packers, led by the promising Jordan Love, made a valiant second-half effort, but their first-half struggles proved insurmountable as they trailed 27-3 at the break. Montgomery’s power-packed performance and the Lions’ relentless first-half dominance extended their winning streak against the Packers to four games, setting the NFC North abuzz and leaving Packers fans yearning for the days of old. Despite glimpses of hope from Love and receiver Romeo Doubs, the Packers couldn’t dig themselves out of the early hole. With thrilling plays and historic feats, this matchup showcased the unpredictable beauty of Thursday night football.
Three Up
- David Montgomery – If you played him, this guy carries smiles and good vibes into Sunday’s matchups. Volume, check. Goal line work, check! Controlling and dominant offensive line, check!
- Sam LaPorta – This rookie is on pace to do something we rarely see from the position at such a young age. Talent and opportunity will make this guy a weekly starter for your team.
- Romeo Doubs – After seeing 13 targets tonight, we see that Love has an eye for the 6’2″ receiver.
Two Down
- Jordan Love – Gross, gross, gross! Love does not look comfortable even when his pocket is clean. A rushing touchdown really saved his day here.
- Jahmyr Gibbs – Gibbs looks pretty good out there, but there are too many times between the tackles that he is swallowed up. It’s hard to start Gibbs as anything other than a Flex right now.
Detroit Lions
Quarterback
Jared Goff: 19/28, 210 yards, TD, INT | 2 carries, 10 yards
Jared Goff, the Lions‘ signal-caller, faced a pivotal moment early in the game as he threw an interception on the Lions’ first drive. This marked his third consecutive game with an interception, starkly contrasting to the previous ten games where he maintained a pristine record. Nevertheless, Goff displayed resilience, managing the game effectively while the Lions’ ground attack thrived and their defense held strong. The spotlight may not have been solely on him. Still, Goff made several pivotal throws, including the opening touchdown pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown for 24 yards, showcasing his poise and ability to lead the Lions to victory. In a game where teamwork prevailed, Goff’s contributions played a vital role in securing a remarkable win for Detroit.
Running Back
Jahmyr Gibbs: 8 carries, 40 yards | 5 targets, 4 receptions, 11 yards
Jahmyr Gibbs, the electrifying rookie running back selected 12th overall by the Lions, didn’t require a significant number of touches to make an impact, as his efficiency and explosiveness were readily apparent. However, the volume of touches he received in this game might leave fantasy managers with raised eyebrows, even with a healthy David Montgomery in the backfield. Gibbs showcased versatility by reeling in 4 receptions, but his 20 yards from those catches fell short of the explosive plays he was known for in college. While the Lions appear to be wisely managing his workload, the fantasy landscape might need to adjust to a dynamic backfield duo with Montgomery and Gibbs, each offering a unique set of skills to the Lions’ offensive arsenal.
David Montgomery: 32 carries, 121 yards, 3 TD | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 20 yards
David Montgomery did things that fantasy managers dream of seeing in their lineups. Coming off an injury and missing time, one had to speculate what his workload would be before kickoff. After pulling in 35 opportunities, we saw a bruising performance by the back. Montgomery took advantage of the work he was giving inside the 5-yard line and came away with three touchdowns. Montgomery saw 70% of snaps and was the one in this one, two punch the Lions have. He finished the game with 113 yards after contact and looked healthy doing so.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Amon-Ra St. Brown: 7 targets, 5 receptions, 56 yards, TD
Amon-Ra St. Brown is as steady as they come. Only a couple weeks removed from a toe injury that some thought would hold him back, St. Brown broke the night open on a 24-yard touchdown. He continued to pick apart of the defense through most of the first half when the Lions offense did the most damage, but with a commanding lead early the Lions clearly decided to go with the ground and pound approach instead of airing it out.
Josh Reynolds: 6 targets, 3 receptions, 69 yards
Josh Reynolds had a decent night. He came away with a decent yardage total, but the field usage was not enough that you want to see him on your roster.
Kaylif Raymond: 1 carry, 40 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, -2 yards
The Lions busted out a bit of trickery with the handoff to Raymond; he was able to rip off a nice long 40-yard run. That was all there was to see from him tonight, though.
Marvin Jones: 1 target
Sam LaPorta: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 56 yards
Sam LaPorta, the Lions’ rookie tight end, made his presence felt in the game, contributing to the team’s success. With five targets, he secured four receptions for 56 yards, demonstrating his reliability as a pass-catching option for Jared Goff. LaPorta’s performance showcased the potential of this young player, offering a glimpse into the Lions’ evolving offensive weaponry. As the season progresses, his role and impact in the Lions’ passing game could become increasingly significant, adding another layer of intrigue to their offensive strategy.
Green Bay Packers
Quarterback
Jordan Love: 23/36 246 yards, TD, 2 INT | 2 carries, -2 yards, TD
The Packers’ young quarterback, Jordan Love, faced a challenging task on Thursday night. While the first half was a struggle for the Green Bay offense, Love displayed glimpses of potential as the game unfolded. He threw for a touchdown and added a rushing score, illustrating his determination to rally the Packers in the second half. Love’s stat line featured 23 completions on 36 attempts for 246 yards, although he did face two interceptions. Despite the early adversity, Love’s resilience and flashes of talent may not leave the right mark for Packers fans, but he’s doing just enough to keep his fantasy managers from losing all hope.
Missed Opportunities
- Several missed opportunities for Love tonight with his passes, but with offensive linemen missing, he wasn’t given a lot of time in the pocket.
Running Back
Aaron Jones: 5 carries, 18 yards | 2 targets, 1 receptions, -4 yards
The stat line says it all. This was not a game you felt comfortable playing him coming off an injury, and the Lions run defense played really well, keeping him completely in check.
AJ Dillon: 5 carries, 11 yards | 1 reception
With a negative game script early, the ground game was all but abandoned for Green Bay. Not that Dillon has done anything to warrant your attention this season…
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Romeo Doubs: 13 targets, 9 receptions, 95 yards
Romeo Doubs, the Packers’ electrifying receiver, showcased his dynamic presence in the game, becoming a preferred target for quarterback Jordan Love. Their connection was on full display as Doubs hauled in 9 receptions for an impressive 95 yards, proving his knack for making big plays. While the night wasn’t without its challenges, with Love missing him once 12 yards deep, it was clear that Doubs’ role in the Packers’ passing game was central. His fantasy performance, accumulating 18.5 points, underscored his importance as a key contributor to the Green Bay offense. Doubs’ ability to stretch the field and his growing rapport with Love point to a bright future for the Packers, signaling the emergence of a new star in the post-Aaron Rodgers era.
Christian Watson: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 25 yards, TD
In his first game back, we didn’t get much from Christian Watson, but he continued the trends of his rookie season and scored on one of his two catches. The lack of his involvement would have a lot to do with Love’s inability to throw the ball deep due to the collapsing pocket. If the O-Line woes continue, the Packers must find ways to get him as involved as Doubs has been.
Jayden Reed: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 55 yards | 2-point conversion
Jayden Reed had a shot at a touchdown tonight but couldn’t get his feet in bounds. The 2-point conversion adds an extra boost we love to see on the finishing stat line for fantasy, but with three receivers fighting for a role in this offense, it’ll be interesting to see how many can stay fantasy-relevant.
Dontayvion Wicks: 1 target
Samori Touri: 1 target, 1 reception, 35 yards
Luke Musgrave: 1 target, 1 reception, 1 yard
After some stream hype over the first three weeks, Luke Musgrave was as close to a dud as possible. He has been in the top 10 in receptions and yards so far, but his deep plays have been where his chances have excelled, and Love didn’t have any of these plays tonight.
Josiah Deguara: 4 targets, 4 receptions, 34 yards
Tucker Kraft: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 5 yards
Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)