The Green Bay Packers are aiming to narrow the divide with the Detroit Lions and reclaim the NFC North crown in the upcoming 2025 NFL campaign.
Following an NFL Draft that, according to most analysts, added significant talent to Jordan Love’s receiving arsenal, there’s genuine belief that the offense could take major steps forward this season.
Similarly, by bringing in cornerback Nate Hobbs to bolster a secondary that thrived under Jeff Hafley’s leadership last season, the Packers’ defense could take a leap as well.
Despite battling numerous injuries on defense last year, Detroit has been one of the NFC’s most consistent forces over the last two seasons. Betting markets still back them to contend, with sportsbooks like Trustnbet showing strong money flowing toward the Lions.
Still, Green Bay gave Detroit all they could handle in both matchups last year, losing 34-31 in a late-season clash in Detroit and previously falling 24-14 at Lambeau Field.
Although the Lions may avoid the injury bug that dismantled their elite defense a year ago, the loss of both coordinators to head coaching jobs and Jordan Love’s possible improvement could swing momentum toward the Packers.
Love faced just one sack across the two battles last season, but both games occurred after Aidan Hutchinson was sidelined with a season-ending leg issue.
If Hutchinson returns healthy this year, the outcome of these contests could hinge on how well tackle Rasheed Walker holds up against the Lions’ star edge rusher.
Walker only surrendered three sacks all of last season and earned a strong 79.3 pass-blocking mark from Pro Football Focus, but matching up with Hutchinson—who had 7.5 sacks through six games—presents a far tougher test.
The Packers addressed needs through precise draft selections, as they often do, but didn’t replicate the splashy free-agent moves that marked last offseason’s acquisitions of Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney.
Instead, Green Bay is counting on stability and growth from its promising young core to close the gap toward championship contention—something Detroit has been flirting with for two straight years.
While a clear edge still exists between Detroit and the rest of the division, Green Bay appears poised to push the Lions, especially with coaching turnover and the natural wear from back-to-back deep playoff runs possibly setting Detroit back.
