GREEN BAY – The Packers opened their 2025 season with a 27-13 victory over the Lions on Sunday at Lambeau Field.
Here are five takeaways from the impressive triumph:
- The Packers got the fast start they wanted and needed.
An 83-yard touchdown drive, followed by a three-and-out, and then a quick field goal gave the Packers an early 10-0 lead.
It was the type of start that eluded Green Bay against the Lions and other top opponents last year, but the Packers flipped that script in this one.
"Our guys were dialed in," Head Coach Matt LaFleur said. "Locked into the game."
QB Jordan Love added: "It was a big goal for us to come out there and start fast. And we did exactly that. Came out opening drive and scored points, so it's exactly how you want to start right there."
Love finished that first drive with a 15-yard TD pass to tight end Tucker Kraft on third-and-9, fitting a pass over the middle into a tight window.
It was the third of four straight third-down conversions on the first two drives, completing four passes to four different targets for 68 yards as Love was on his way to a 128.6 passer rating (16-of-22, 188 yards, two TDs, zero INTs). He was protected well all day and was never sacked.
"Those money downs," LaFleur said of the early conversions. "He definitely delivered in those clutch, critical situations."
After the Lions answered with a long, nearly 10-minute drive for a field goal, the Packers took a couple big swings by covering 65 yards in just two plays for another score – a 17-yard strike to Jayden Reed right after a 48-yard deep ball to Romeo Doubs.
"That's what you want," Love said. "You want to be able to go out there and make those big, explosive plays. It's a big momentum swing, getting that momentum back on our side."
- The head coach and QB both used the same word to describe the defensive performance.
That word was "dominant." Four sacks of Lions QB Jared Goff. Five additional tackles for loss, for nine total. Three red-zone stops – two that forced field goals, and an interception by safety Evan Williams.
Detroit didn't find the end zone until the final minute of the game, when the Packers were in command at 27-6, and it took a circus catch on fourth down by rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa to do it.
"It just goes to show you how good of a defense we've got, because that's a pretty good offense on the other side," Love said.
The Lions were the NFL's top scoring offense a year ago, but the combination of pressure on Goff and coverage on the back end relegated him to taking short, checkdown throws all game. He completed 31 of 39 passes but racked up just 225 yards, barely more than seven yards per completion.
Rashan Gary had 1½ sacks, including one back near Detroit's own goal line in the second half that helped five Green Bay a short field that turned into a touchdown. Devonte Wyatt had a fourth-down sack later in the fourth quarter that set up a field goal.
"Just our style of play was exactly what we wanted," LaFleur said.
- Newcomer Micah Parsons made his presence felt in limited snaps.
Used mostly on third downs early, Parsons was a factor, and Goff seemed to be aware of him at all times.
On Detroit's opening three-and-out, Parsons pressured Goff into a dump off pass on third down that lost two yards. He beat right tackle Penei Sewell for a pressure that led to Williams' INT. He also was in the mix on a sack that was split by Gary and Lukas Van Ness.
"He definitely has an aura about him," LaFleur said of Parsons, who was able to practice four times the past week after arriving via trade from Dallas. "They all benefit from that."
Parsons got a sack of his own in the fourth quarter, chasing down Goff from behind. That roar from the crowd, along with the one in pregame when he came out of the tunnel as the final defensive player introduced, were two of the louder Lambeau moments in this one.
"It just shows you his motor," Love said of Parsons' sack chase. "I just feel like his presence out there was different."
- The Packers eventually got their ground game going, but the Lions never did.
Josh Jacobs had just eight yards on six carries in the first half, yet the Packers led 17-3 at intermission. Detroit came in determined to stop the run, but Green Bay was beating the man coverage played behind that loaded box to score early.
Jacobs found more success as the game wore on, rushing for 58 yards on 13 attempts in the second half, including a mid-fourth-quarter TD that gave the Packers a three-score lead for the first time at 24-6.
Meanwhile, the Lions' two-headed rushing attack of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs was bottled up. On 20 carries, they combined for just 44 of Detroit's 46 total rushing yards, and they didn't find much room on those checkdown passes, either. They combined for 14 receptions but gained just 49 yards on those.
"The key to the game was just holding this offense to 46 yards rushing," LaFleur said. "That's typically how they operate. They're a tough team to stop the run against. That's just great run defense and … sets you up for a lot of success."
- No rest for the weary.
Like the Lions, another 2024 playoff team in the Washington Commanders visits Lambeau in just four days for Thursday Night Football.
Offensive linemen Zach Tom (hip) and Aaron Banks (ankle) both left the game with injuries, while reserve defensive lineman Brenton Cox Jr. (groin) also exited. Tom was replaced by newly acquired Darian Kinnard, and Jordan Morgan took Banks' spot at the end of the game.
There's not much time for them to heal, but such is life in this league.
"I told the guys, you can enjoy this for about five minutes, or five hours," LaFleur said. "We've got a quick turnaround."
