The Lions were ravaged by injuries last season — many of them season-ending — and the toll finally caught up with them in their Divisional Round loss to the Washington Commanders.

Green Bay dropped both of its matchups with Detroit last year, but they’ll have a shot at redemption right away in Week 1. Opening the season against the Lions works in the Packers’ favor.

Even though Detroit returns a bulk of the roster that powered their 15-2 run and earned the top playoff seed, they’ve undergone big changes on the coaching front.

Ben Johnson, who designed Detroit’s dynamic offensive attack, departed in the offseason to take the head coaching job in Chicago.

Aaron Glenn, the mastermind behind their aggressive defense, left his post as defensive coordinator to become the head coach of the New York Jets.

John Morton is stepping in as offensive coordinator, and Kelvin Sheppard will take over the defense. Regardless of public messaging, both units will face a transition before things fully click.

Morton has emphasized that he intends to keep the core of Johnson’s offensive system intact. At the same time, he plans to inject some concepts from previous stops in his coaching career.

From a talent standpoint, Detroit’s offense still looks elite: a dominant O-line, a strong RB duo, two explosive wideouts — one an All-Pro — a reliable vet QB, and a rising young tight end.

The Lions should still produce on offense given the personnel, but there will naturally be a period of adjustment with Morton settling in as coordinator.

Johnson’s tenure saw them running trick plays and executing at a high level. It’s unlikely Morton will go that far with creativity, at least early on.

Morton hasn’t been the primary play-caller since his 2017 stint with the Jets. He wants to preserve the successful formula from 2024, but he’ll still need to master running the show in real time.

That gives Green Bay an edge, as they’ll face a Detroit team still working out the kinks in Week 1. Unlike the Lions, the Packers bring back nearly their entire 2024 core — staff included, except for QB coach Tom Clements’ retirement.

On defense, Sheppard takes over after four years coaching Detroit’s linebackers. Like Morton, he aims to preserve the identity — physical play, heavy man coverage, and consistent QB pressure.

Still, new voices mean shifts in terminology and small changes in philosophy are inevitable with a coordinator switch.

On the field, all eyes are now on Sheppard. His responsibilities extend beyond just linebackers — he’ll need to lead the whole unit and provide answers across the defense.

Sheppard credits Dan Campbell, Brad Holmes, and Aaron Glenn for grooming him for leadership and giving him a bigger platform — something not all NFL coaches get, he notes.

For Green Bay, getting Detroit in Week 1 — before Morton and Sheppard fully settle in — is an ideal scenario. Having lost both games to the Lions last season, the Packers will gladly take any early edge. Playing at Lambeau only adds to that advantage.

Detroit still boasts the star-studded roster that earned them NFC elite status. But swapping out both coordinators in one offseason isn’t a minor shift. Expecting seamless execution early on is a stretch, and that gives the Packers a chance to strike early in the season.