DETROIT – The Detroit Lions have always had a bit of a rivalry with the Packers, but it’s really heated up this year.
It’s only been a month since these two teams met in Green Bay, but a lot has happened during that time. If you need a refresher on why these two teams hate each other so much, here’s a breakdown.
LAST MONTH: Are our plucky, lovable Detroit Lions... becoming the villains?
Trying to ‘embarrass’ teams
The first chatter I remember hearing out of the Packers this season came in the week leading up to the first Lions-Packers meeting on Nov. 3.
At the time, the Lions were on a five-game winning streak that included a 47-9 beatdown of the Cowboys and a 52-14 dismantling of the Titans.
McKinney was asked about the Lions' dominance, and he went out of his way to said he “didn’t respect” that they were trying to “embarrass” teams.
‘The best team didn’t win'
The Lions then went into Lambeau Field and manhandled the Packers, leading 24-3 early in the third quarter and coasting to the finish line.
Green Bay tacked on a sad field goal, followed by a meaningless touchdown in the final minutes. But apparently, the Packers didn’t feel like they were outmatched.
“I feel like the team that executed today won,” Packers center Elgton Jenkins said. “The best team didn’t win, honestly.”
That is certainly not the vibe most people got from the game.
‘Green Bay sucks’ shirt
The Lions weren’t innocent in the trash talking department by any means. In fact, Amon-Ra St. Brown went out of his way to poke the hornet’s nest.
St. Brown showed up to Lambeau Field with a sweatshirt that said, “Green Bay sucks.” Photos of St. Brown getting off the bus in that sweatshirt blew up on social media before kickoff.
Illegal hit
The intensity of this rivalry carried over into the game, and it peaked midway through the second quarter.
With 6:18 until halftime and the Lions leading 7-3, Jordan Love threw a deep pass down the sideline to receiver Bo Melton.
The pass fell incomplete, but Brian Branch flew in anyway and speared Melton in the head.
Branch was flagged 15 yards for an illegal hit on a defenseless player and ejected from the game.
Middle fingers
At first, the officials didn’t eject Branch. But the league intervened and radioed in that he needed to be thrown out.
When Branch found out he’d been ejected, he was not happy. He argued his case with officials before begrudgingly leaving the field.
As he walked off, Branch flipped off Packers fans. With both hands.
Branch’s teammates had a lot of fun with the photos after the Lions won, but I doubt the Packers look at it as fondly.
Matt LaFleur screams at Lions
Even Packers head Coach Matt LaFleur got caught up in the heat of the rivalry during the last meeting.
Dan Campbell made the very reasonable and correct choice to go for a fourth-and-1 at the Green Bay 15-yard line right after halftime, with the Lions ahead 17-3.
Jahmyr Gibbs needed to get a yard, but instead he got all 15, flying into the end zone for a touchdown that put the Lions ahead 24-3.
The broadcast showed LaFleur’s reaction to the play, and he very clearly screamed an X-rated version of “get lost” toward the Lions' sideline.
Going for a short fourth down early in the third quarter with a 14-point lead is not only fair, but also the right decision. LaFleur was probably just frustrated by the blowout, but he clearly has no love for the Lions.
Kerby Joseph
Then there’s the whole Kerby Joseph thing. It’s not just Matthew Stafford who doesn’t like the Lions' star safety.
I think some of the Packers' hatred toward Joseph goes back two seasons, when he picked off Aaron Rodgers three times in what ended up being Rodgers' last season with the Packers.
In fact, Joseph intercepted the last ball Rodgers ever threw for Green Bay. That game also eliminated the Packers from the playoffs on the final day of the season. On their own field.
Joseph also intercepted a Love pass and returned it for a touchdown earlier this season, but who’s counting?
Packers tight end Tucker Kraft is already talking about Joseph leading up to this game.
“I know he’s a dangerous player,” Kraft told Packers beat writer Ryan Wood. “He can flip games. He’s a good (defensive back). I may not agree with some of the places he likes to lay contact -- he’s taken some of my brothers out of the game, and I think about that, too. So if I get a chance to get my hands on him, you know, playing football.”
Thursday Night Football
As you can see, there’s plenty of extra juice for an already important division rivalry.
If the Lions beat the Packers again, they will effectively eliminate them from the NFC North race -- the Packers would have to go 4-0 and the Lions would have to go 0-4 for the Packers to even have a chance at that point.
The Lions are also trying to cling to a one-game lead over the Minnesota Vikings in the division and the Philadelphia Eagles in the conference.
It’s a huge game, and the Packers would love nothing more than to get a little revenge.
