–The Packers, usually one of the NFL’s most high-powered teams, are only No. 19 in scoring. “We’ve got to run the ball consistently and then be able to move the ball down the field in the play-action game,” Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “We haven’t been able to hit a ton of that stuff. We’ve got to move the sticks and make plays in the situational offense. We haven’t been great over the course of the season in third down and definitely not in red zone.”
While only eight teams have fewer than Green Bay’s five giveaways, the Packers rank fourth in drops (nine), according to STATS, and have fumbled nine times.
“I’m not happy with the way we’re carrying the football, period, taking care of the football,” head coach Mike McCarthy said. “If you just look at the statistics on takeaway opportunities we’re giving the defense and the coverage, we’re not covering the ball properly. We need to do a much better job because you have to be what you practice, and we practice it every single day since the first time we get together.”
–Rodgers is 6-2 in games at Detroit’s Ford Field, with one of those losses coming in 2010, when he suffered a concussion early in the game. He’s thrown 17 touchdowns against three interceptions with a 108.8 passer rating.
BY THE NUMBERS: 39-15 — Since 1992, when Brett Favre took over as Green Bay’s quarterback, the Packers have won 39 of the 54 matchups between these teams. Packers head coach Mike McCarthy is 18-6 against Detroit.
