The Detroit Lions secured bragging rights after defeating the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, December 5.
However, such high-profile NFL games
often come with trash talk, and this matchup was no exception.
There was a lot of back-and-forth trolling before, during, and after the game, and now some Lions players are addressing the “disrespectful” comments, flexing their confidence after the win.
Following the game, Lions cornerback Carlton Davis was asked about the Packers’ trash talk leading up to the game.
Green Bay had expressed confidence that they could exploit Detroit’s defense, especially with several key players sidelined due to injuries. However, that confidence didn’t pay off.
“They were saying crazy stuff, like Jordan Love was going to throw for 430 yards or something like that,” Davis told reporters.
“I don’t know, but that was disrespectful. Like, what the … you know what I mean? But whatever. I think he had around 200 passing yards, and we gave up some garbage. We’ll see them again next year or hopefully in the playoffs. But, it’s not over yet.”
While Davis didn’t appreciate the Packers’ boasting, he made it clear that his goal wasn’t to embarrass the team on the field—he simply wanted to win.
When asked if the Lions had humiliated the Packers, Davis replied, “Nah, nah. We’re not trying to humiliate them.”
Davis explained, “That’s just how we play ball.
Coach said before the game, ‘We’re going for all the fourth-and-1’s, fourth-and-shorts, that’s what we’re about to do.’ And it’s like, ‘Yeah, do it coach.’ Cause if y’all don’t get it, we’re gonna get back on the field and play ball.”
Lions defensive lineman Za’Darius Smith, who is a former Packer, also expressed frustration with the negative comments from Green Bay.
Smith’s connection to the Packers made the win even more meaningful for him.
After the victory, NFL Network’s Stacey Dales spoke with Smith and brought up the idea of the game being a “revenge game” for him.
“Za’Darius, you told me this week, kind of a little bit of a revenge game because you gave that franchise, for three years, your everything,” Dales said.
Smith responded, “Two years I gave it to them, and once I got hurt, they sent me down like I wasn’t nothing. But I’m glad to be on the other side now. You know I had a chance to go to the Vikings and get my revenge.
And I came to Detroit and got my revenge again.”
Meanwhile, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur voiced his disappointment with the security at Ford Field after an altercation involving a Lions fan.
LaFleur had a confrontation with a fan who was helping hold the American flag during the national anthem.
According to LaFleur, the fan had been trash-talking Green Bay players and even made a throat-slash gesture.
The altercation escalated when the fan got into LaFleur’s face, prompting him to speak out about the situation.
“I thought it was pretty unsportsmanlike,” LaFleur said. “Like, I’ve never seen that. I have been on many fields, and usually they police that much better.
I just thought it was an arrogant fan that wanted to get in part of the action. I’d like to see security step in there and get him out of there. He shouldn’t be doing that.”
Despite LaFleur’s comments, it was clear that the Lions’ win left a lasting impact, and the rivalry between the two teams continued to fuel tensions on and off the field.
The Packers’ trash talk and the Lions’ confident response created a charged atmosphere, with players like Davis and Smith adding fuel to the fire with their own reactions.
It’s a rivalry that promises to keep fans on the edge of their seats, with both teams hungry for further victories and payback in future matchups.
In the end, Detroit’s victory over Green Bay not only secured a win on the scoreboard but also gave the Lions a sense of validation as they responded to the Packers’ taunts.
