Packers Wire staff predictions: Week 2 vs. Detroit Lions

The Green Bay Packers (0-1) will play the team’s first primetime game and first divisional game of the 2021 season when the Detroit Lions (0-1) arrive at Lambeau Field for “Monday Night Football” in Week 2.

Here’s how the staff at Packers Wire believes the Week 2 showdown with the Lions will go down:

Zach Kruse (0-1): Packers 30, Lions 21

The Packers are 6-0 after losses and 11-1 against the NFC North under Matt LaFleur. Monday night’s primetime showdown provides a great chance for the Packers to start washing away the taste of Week 1’s embarrassing effort. LaFleur’s team is far more talented and has a decisive advantage at quarterback. Can the Packers start fast, dominate upfront, take advantage of matchups in the passing game and play with more energy? The guess here is yes. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Packers have to win an ugly game, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if they control the game from start to finish and win comfortably. The Packers should get to 1-1. It’ll be very concerning if they don’t.

Jack Wepfer (0-1): Packers 27, Lions 24

I’d love to predict a big blowout here, but my earlier bullish stance has been shocked by reality. The warning signs were there, but what I didn’t necessarily count on was an Aaron Rodgers egg. Rodgers played outstanding football last season but was pedestrian the two years prior. If the Packers get more of 2018 or 2019 Rodgers and not 2020 Rodgers, it could be more of an uphill battle this year. As a result, I think the Packers win as they have a better overall team, but I’m guessing it won’t be the blowout most would hope. Perhaps the Packers bounce back in a big way–Rodgers sure does love those narrative-busters, and they tend to happen against lackluster teams, so this win could be decisive. Nonetheless, look for the Packers to rebound with a solid-if-unspectacular win on Monday night.

Brandon Carwile (0-1): Packers 31, Lions 24

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense bounce back this week. Once again, Detroit has a sub-par defense, which allowed 41 points to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1. Expect a big day out of Davante Adams and Green Bay’s ground game if Matt LaFleur commits to running the ball. Defensively, the Packers will continue to experience some growing pains. They will do just enough to get off the field this week for timely stops. It won’t be pretty, but Green Bay leaves week two 1-1.

Joe Kipp (0-1): Packers 27, Lions 17

Matt LaFleur has never lost back-to-back regular season games as head coach of the Packers, and I don’t expect that to happen for the first time on Monday night. We should see a much more motivated Green Bay team after last week’s drubbing against the Saints. The spotlight will be on Aaron Rodgers to deliver. Thankfully for him, Rodgers has historically dominated the Lions. In 22 games, he’s thrown for 5,662 yards, 46 touchdowns and 8 interceptions with a 106.2 passer rating. This is the perfect bounce-back spot for Green Bay to get back on track against one of the league’s weakest teams.

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