Detroit Lions Bold Prediction of the Week: Aaron Rodgers lays it on the Lions

You guys know I try to keep these positive, and I’ve managed to do that through three years of the Matt Patricia regime. This is no indictment of interim head coach Darrell Bevell but rather the roster Patricia left him with, but whew, I can’t do it today. The Lions defense is going to get steamrolled, shredded, flattened, and embarrassed on the time slot that just might be America’s Game of the Week on Fox.

Bold prediction of the week: Aaron Rodgers throws for 400 yards

The Lions are in trouble. Their defense has been leaky from the start and was a major contributor to the end of the Patricia regime, but since that, ended they’ve been slammed by injuries.

The Lions defense will be without their starting cornerbacks—already not a frightening duo by any means—in Jeff Okudah and Desmond Trufant. That leaves Amani Oruwariye on Davante Adams, which isn’t the worst thing in the world given Oruwariye has played like Detroit’s best corner. Beyond that, however, things get messy. Marques Valdes-Scantling and Allen Lazard have emerged in the Packers offense this year and I’m not counting on checks notes... Darryl Roberts and Mike Ford to slow them down.

To make matters worse, the Lions have been missing Trey Flowers for a couple weeks now and Everson Griffen is now on the COVID-19 reserve list. That leaves Romeo Okwara and the Lions’ slew of nose tackles to take care of pass rushing on Sunday against one of the most reliable offensive lines in football. But lest we not forget that Danny Shelton is on IR and both Da’Shawn Hand and John Penisini are fighting through injuries of their own

It’s okay though, because at least the linebacking corps can hold it down with Jamie Collins Sr. and Jarrad D—nah, I can’t even lie to you like that. The Lions are in trouble Sunday.

I wish Darrell Bevell all the success in the world, but it’s just unfair to evaluate him as a head coach by wins and losses given the ragtag defense this Lions team is going to put on the field Sunday. The harsh reality of this game is that it’s one of those games where you see the plays pop up in ESPN commercials next year with Aaron Jones juking out three guys and Aaron Rodgers celebrating in the end zone.

Hope your blue kool aid has a little bit of extra magic juice Sunday.