Despite a strong 6-2 start, the Green Bay Packers are approaching an early crossroads in their 2024 season. The Detroit Lions are 6-1 and the true juggernaut in the NFC North until further notice.
While the Packers have endured uncomfortably close games in recent weeks and a pair of injuries to star quarterback Jordan Love, Detroit has steamrolled teams at nearly every opportunity. In an NFC North that appears unwilling to give an inch, with the surprise 5-2 Minnesota Vikings still in the fold, divisional play will be arguably more important now than it ever was during the Aaron Rodgers era.
Love’s status for Sunday remains uncertain, but he is angling to play. It feels like Matt LaFleur will push his chips to the center of the table, whereas that might not be the case if it were the New England Patriots coming to town. Green Bay’s receiving corps has prided itself on its depth and committee-like production; you never know who will lead the team in yards or scores in a given week.
We have seen the bell-cow workload that we expected for running back Josh Jacobs. In the passing game, the electric Jayden Reed has stacked up the most highlights, with breakout tight end Tucker Kraft not far behind. Romeo Doubs has had his weeks, and Dontayvion Wicks has already found the end zone four times. All of this leads to the question: When will we see a Christian Watson week, the guy with the highest draft pedigree and ostensibly the highest ceiling?
Watson provided a small tease with a 44-yard score in Week 6 against the Arizona Cardinals. Still, it was more of a signature game for Love, who tossed four touchdown passes in a dominant offensive performance. The North Dakota State product narrowly avoided another major injury in the Week 4 loss to Minnesota. However, many of his most significant contributions – like a critical downfield block that sprung Jacobs for a 38-yard house call last week – have come outside of the spotlight. It feels like it’s only a matter of time until we see his downfield speed back on display, and now is the perfect time for him to emerge.
The turning point for the 2023 Packers was a dominant road win over the Lions on Thanksgiving. Until then, Love and the offense had been shaky, and their record reflected it. But they went into Ford Field, pulled off the upset, and never looked back, taking their season further than anyone had thought possible. That game began with a 50-yard bomb to Watson off play action. By the time the clock wound down in the fourth quarter, the second-year prospect had seven catches for 94 yards and a score, his best game of the season.
Now, he’ll have the opportunity to provide an encore. Due to a suspension, Detroit will be down their speedster, Jameson Williams. Green Bay can only hope their guy might be the difference. Jaire Alexander and breakout rookie safety Evan Williams are battling injuries, and the odds are against them that they’ll play this weekend. Therefore, we’re looking at an old-fashioned barn burner – at least, if Green Bay has any chance of winning. It’s hard to imagine Ben Johnson and his well-oiled Lions offense won’t be getting theirs one way or another, leaving Love and LaFleur to find a lot of points and production if they’re going to come away with a statement win.
All indications currently suggest the road to the NFC Championship will lead through the North, with three distinct contenders and a dark horse possibility comprising the best division in football. Pair that with the uncertainty, injury, and messiness that has characterized the reigning San Francisco 49ers, and the door is certainly open. The only other ruckus in the conference would likely come from the NFC East.
The Dallas Cowboys are looking out of sorts, but Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders have taken their place alongside the Philadelphia Eagles. Playing in a division where you might go 13-4 and head on the road to Tampa Bay or Seattle in the Wild Card is enough reason for the Packers to play like everything is on the line, even though it’s only Week 9. They can only hope they get a boost from No. 9 to add another level of electricity to their offense.
