This is the Litterbox, a Detroit Lions podcast
with your hosts, Chad West and Bill Patterson.
Lions Litterbox listeners. Exciting times week
one is upon us and the Detroit Lions your Honolulu
blue and silver are traveling to the hallowed
fabled grounds of the frozen tundra Which it
won't be in September of Lambeau field, but it
will be a little chilly this weekend bill. Oh,
yeah a little bit I mean they were looking at
60 probably. Okay. Well, that's still warm for
Lambeau Ironically enough the Packers have the
longest home opener winning streak in the NFL
currently at 21 games. And that is something
that I think is going to fall. So that's a little
teaser for you on this. I'm going to get into
Lambeau food and a story. Have you been so you've
been to Lambeau? I've never been to Lambeau.
I haven't had this experience yet. You've been
there. And this is the first time I went and
it's the best time I went and it's a great story.
So As much as I hate the Packers and Lambo, I
feel like it's kind of like going to a football
church in a way. It was going to the high church.
A bunch of us came in from out of town. We somehow
secured practice jerseys off the Lions website
and they were all number 95. Some guy named Chalinski
that never made it out of summer camp. So we
all had matching jerseys and we drove up a little
hot because we had a holiday party the night
before. It was a December game with Joey Harrington
versus Brett Favre and we show up at Lambeau
in our Chalinski jerseys wearing full ski snowboard
outfits, caps, multiple pairs of long underwear,
snowboard boots or, you know, sorrels. And it's
cold. They flexed the game to the 325 start for
TV purposes. We show up with a football, a grill,
and a cooler thinking that we are going to tailgate
with the best of them in the hallowed grounds,
not realizing that they had built an atrium at
Lambeau Field. They have a Packers Hall of Fame,
a brewery, chili, all sorts of delicious encased
meats. in live bands inside the atrium. So we
spend the first two hours freezing our keisters
off, tossing around a football, trying to figure
out where everybody is, because people park and
then just vanish. And only to find out, we finally
walk past the portageons to go into the atrium
just to check out what's going on and realize
that we were the rubes. that had been suffering
when everybody else was like sampling or eating
this delicious chili, which is the good food
to get there. So really quick, two things you
have to do at Lambeau Field. One, you have to
get the chili. It sells out usually at the end
of the first quarter. It's divine. Don't know
what they put in it. Probably don't want to know.
Number two, you have to get a Sheboygan brat
and you got to load that thing up with stadium
mustard and you got to scarf it down. It's not
a pocket wiener. Let's just say that you got
to eat it hot there. Also, when we went the third
week of December, it was freezing, freezing cold.
So much in fact that your Miller Lite, which
is the drink of choice, would have ice crystals
about two thirds of the way down. So you had
to drink it fast. And that's kind of my telltale
is if you go take Part in the H room, enjoy the
H room. See the live music. Partake in the Packers
Hall of Fame. Enjoy the clean indoor restrooms
and plumbing that they have. You don't need to
suffer like our grandfathers and forefathers
did. This is part of what I guess shocks me.
And I think it shocked you guys. Like, they have
this nice experience indoors that I wouldn't
have thought. My images are of guys eating sausages,
you know, out of the back of their car in a parking
lot at some rough tailgate where smoke is blowing
out of everybody's mouth because it's... Negative
five degrees out or something. That's fantastic.
We need to recap We need to make the trip for
you sometime at some point They've really elevated
it and made it like the whole I don't want to
compare it to religion, but it is like the bucket
list Yeah, you know top sure thing for NFL or
football fans the temple. It's the temple It
has a much more collegiate atmosphere, but it's
huge Is the other thing. So we're looking at
a game here that's getting, I mean, there's already
the hyperbolas already spinning around this thing
as to what Mike Parsons is going to do for the
Packers. And are the Lions going to be OK without
Ben Johnson? Are we going to see what kind of
a game are we going to see here? The Packers
never lose on opening day at Lambeau. I'm kind
of starting to look at this as how much of this
is going to fall with a big thud. Like the whole
Parsons thing. Do you think he makes that big
a difference? So, let's talk keys to the game
and I'll answer your question within that. Yeah.
Number one, he's having some back problems and
so he's questionable whether to play. The other
portion of that, even if he does play... Some
of his worst or most ineffective games in his
professional career have been going up against
Penae Sewell. So I think that's a matchup to
watch. If he does line up against Taylor Decker,
I think it's favorable for Micah Parsons, but
not considerably favorable. Yes, he'll make a
difference. He's a difference maker. He's a top,
what, 10, 15 player in the NFL. His health is
paramount, and I don't know how healthy he is.
I think the thing that's not being talked about
enough is how awesome Clark was in terms of being
a run stopper. He was the longest tenured packer.
He's now a cowboy and he stuffed and stopped
the run in last night's kickoff classic or whatever
we want to call it for the Cowboys. So Kenny
Clark being gone I think is a bigger issue and
I think this game comes down to really a very
simple equation. If the Lions revamped offensive
line with Glasgow at center mahogany and ratledge
at the guards. If they're operating and providing
lanes for Sonic and Knuckles to be able to run,
the Lions are going to have their fourth straight
win at Lambeau Field and the Packers streak is
going to be over, which I think it is. I mean,
21 is really impressive. It is. It's extremely
impressive. And the Lions get up for this game.
The other X factor that I think is going on is
that the Packers top corner is a little banged
up. And if they're not getting home and disrupting
Jared Goff's timing, which Jared Goff's timing
is going to be contingent on how well they're
running the ball. Play action is Jared Goff's
best friend. I think Aman St. Brown is going
to have a monster day. And we all know that he
wears the F Green Bay shirt under his jersey.
He loves this game. One of my favorite photos
of all time is the Packer fans flipping him off
and he's blowing them kisses as he runs out the
tunnel a few seasons ago. So I think those are
kind of my keys to the game. Lions run the ball,
play actions working, and I think the Lions are
going to have somewhat of a field day if all
those things go. I mean, the Packers defensive
backfield is supposed to be their weakness. Okay,
and we're going into this thinking all the Lions
will throw all over him and that oh well They
have Parsons now so that fixes the whole passing
defense because they're gonna have a pass rush
now and that'll instantly make their defensive
backs better and we've seen this in Detroit year
over year when you figure out how to throw against
that pass rush and Poor defensive backs are going
to be poor defensive backs regardless. You can
pick them apart eventually and especially if
you get the running game going and without Clark
clogging things up This lion team might be taking
five six -yard chunks every run play. I'm not
saying this is going to be a blowout. Don't get
me wrong That's not the case here, but The general
gist of this is that the Lions are now no longer
the favorite. Packers are the favorite, even
in the division. So I'm trying to figure out
how the Lions have lost so much ground just because
of a Micah Parsons trade. No, you'd be wrong.
Packers won 11 games last year. Good team. Jordan
Love, good quarterback. I still think he's beatable
for us. He's not one of those quarterback that
causes us fits, so to speak, like Lamar Jackson.
Agree with everything you said. And Nate Hobbs
is who I was discussing. He is the de facto alpha,
you know, cornerback on an island, locks down
your number one, but he will be assigned most
likely to St. Brown. And he had a foot procedure
recently. Like he didn't do it in the off season.
And he's still listed as questionable. So is
Micah Parsons. And then so is Green Bay Center
Elton Jenkins. And there's a big drop off from
Jenkins to Sean Ryan, the backup. And then after
that, another thing to just for our listeners
to look at is Jacob Monk and Travis Glover are
the backup. Third string center, third string
right guard, but that's essentially their backup
guards. They're both on IR. So the Packers are
a little bit beat up. The other thing about the
receiver room chat is Jayden Reed and Dontavion
Wicks are both questionable for this game as
has Savion Williams. So basically through the
air, the Packers are asking a rookie Matthew
Golden and Romeo Dobbs to really go up against
this revamped and strong Lions secondary. So
if Aiden Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport can
get home and Tylek Williams and DJ Reader can
hold the line of scrimmage and prevent Josh Jacobs
from gashing them, I really like the Lions chances.
If the Packers can run Josh Jacobs wild and Williams
and Reed can't hold the point of attack, that
the linebackers, you know, aren't making that
first tackle through, you know, a yard to be
on the line of scrimmage, it's going to be a
long day. Josh Jacobs is the one weapon that
really scares me on this Packers offense. Run
defense is going to get tested in this game a
little bit. Absolutely. I have a feeling we're
going to find out what we got there. Yeah. And
our, you know, our injuries, I don't think we've
been, aside from the guys that we know that are
out, like the Pashels, I get that. But the guys
that have popped up on the report that are still
sitting there are like Nowaski and Baki. who
are not guys that we were expecting to contribute
a whole ton in this game. Outside of special
teams? No. Yeah. So I'm thinking we're as healthy
as expected from day one of camp going into game
one of the season. So. That's an upside. That's
a good thing for us. I'd like to see us stay
healthy because last year that did not work out
after week one. Especially on one side of the
ball. Yeah, exactly. We lost quite a few starters.
So I'll be looking to see that run game. I think
the Packers could exploit us with the run. We'll
see how good our defense has improved by leaps
and bounds. I think there's no way we couldn't
have not improved to some degree or another just
by being healthy. Curious to see how Aiden Hutchinson
plays in this game. Are you at all? Are you anticipating
anything there or do you think we're going to
see the same old Hutch? I think we're going to
see the same old Hutch. I think he's going to
come out like he was shot out of a cannon. Just
a gamer. Yeah, I think he's going to have a monster
game. And Terry and Arnold, he's going to be
a huge piece to this defensive backfield this
year. Yeah, and if Reed is not 100%, that makes
his job a lot easier. Much easier. So then he's
on Golden who's a rookie. He's probably going
to manhandle him just a little bit. And then
that leaves Romeo Dobbs as your number one receiver
to try to beat us. And I like the Lions secondary
more than I like Romeo Dobbs. I like those odds.
And speaking of odds, what do we have, Bill?
We've got a spread here. First spread of the
season. Are you shocked that the Lions are getting
two at this point? What are you seeing? It's
been all over the map. It was like as high as
two and a half. I think it bumped to three right
after the Parsons trade. It's dipped down to
one and a half. It's fine. I mean if every team
should get a field goal at home. So basically
what the Sharks are favored by one Yeah, the
Sharps are saying that they expect a Lions win.
It's gonna be close to what you already said
in a chat I couldn't agree with you more. I don't
think this is gonna be a blowout unless There's
one X factor For if Hutch and Davenport and company
get home and force Jordan love into bad bad decisions
and turnovers. Let's just say the turnover margin,
for whatever reason, the Packers have three,
the Lions don't have any. That's where the game
could get lopsided. Okay, yeah. And what I mean
by lopsided is eight points, 10 points, 12 points,
you know, something like that. Those are some
of the keys to the game that I see. What did
I leave out that you'd like to add on to? Well,
the over -under is 47. I'm going to give you
a prediction eventually here. I've got some thoughts
on how this thing ends. Let's do it. We got an
over -under of 47. I think this game goes under.
And I think it goes under due to the fact that
I think the run game is going to be heavily utilized
here in Green Bay this weekend. I could be wrong,
but I have a feeling both these teams see a weakness
in the other defense and it centers around the
run. I'm gonna go final score, Lions 23, Packers
20. Okay. I think that's where I'm sitting on
this one. So you're going under on the over under
and Lions win by three. So they're going to cover
that spread and the money line for that matter,
which is plus one 24. You're not getting much
there with that, but no, it's, it's a, it's going
to be a close game. What are your thoughts on
final score? I had it at 24 20. So, uh, we're,
we're I just see like some red zone failures
turning into a field goal or two. I don't know
why. Yeah. Week one and all. Yeah. That's a possibility.
And I do think it's going to be a strong running
game. For those listeners that like fantasy call
outs, I would avoid either quarterback on this
game because of everything we're just saying
and the Sharps are, you know, giving that over
under it. It's well below 50 or below 50. If
you have Josh Jacobs, that would be a start.
If you have Jameer Gibbs, that would be a start.
If you have David Montgomery, that would be a
start. If you have tight ends, like a Tucker
- I would go with a tight end. Yeah, Musgrave
or Tucker Kraft or a Sam Laporta. Please don't
tell me you have Brock Wright or Shane Zylster
on your fantasy team. If you're looking for a
losing start right off the bat. You don't want
to do that. So I would say the tight ends. And
then the only receiver I'd probably put in the
must -start list would probably be St. Brown.
I just think he's going to get... See a lot of
short crossing patterns for anyone not in this
game. I can see eight plus catches. So that's
another prep bet that I would probably take.
I've seen that out there. This is not a Jameson
Williams game, probably. If he does, he's going
to get... It'll be like one big one that they
pop or something. Three, maybe four touches.
I could see Jamo scoring. That's a gamble though.
You've got better options. You're not playing
Jamo. Yeah, yeah. Do you disagree with any of
my fantasy thoughts? I don't. I'm right on you
with the running backs. I think the running backs
are going to be the key to fantasy points in
this game. I think the quarterbacks are both
going to have a suppressed point output. I wouldn't
go with Love or Goff in a single QB league, definitely.
I like your call on Amon Rah. It's interesting,
and he's been sick this week, but are we gonna
see a Tesla sighting out there? Is he gonna play
a role? He could be like your, you know, your
possession guy out on the boundary. I don't know.
I don't know. Maybe. Maybe. I'm kind of hoping
for it. I don't know why. I just want to see
this kid do well. He's kind of a guy I'm gonna
be... I'm on him a little bit, you know? Totally
fair totally fine. I wouldn't play him if you
got I got him in one of my fantasy I'm not playing
them. Yeah, I don't know if this is the week,
but let's see. I do think this is a body blow
game and Critical for whoever wins it because
I think the loser is gonna be beat up in a big
way Well, the winner is gonna be beat up as well,
but they'll have won and the Lions host the Chicago
Bears and Benedict Johnson week two Such an interesting
start to our season this year Yeah, it really
is like two must -watch games after the last
two or we've started with the Chiefs or you know,
and it's just crazy Yeah, so I like the Lions
chances on that the Packers then host the commanders
week two So it's always interesting the Lions
in the past. Let's just say two three seasons
really beat teams up and the weak following teams
just aren't their same selves. Watch Vikings
-Bears this weekend? It's Monday night, yes.
Yeah. You're gonna watch them Monday night? Of
course. I wanna see Benedict's first game, see
what he's got. I don't know that the Vikings
go where J .J. McCarthy goes, so we'll see how
he does. X factor in that game is Harrison Smith
not being 100%. He's 36 years old. He has been
the key and captain to the Vikings defense. Look
at you with the deep NFC North dig there. If
he doesn't go, I like the Bears chances a lot.
Although I imagine Kevin O 'Connell will have
something. Very well designed playbook for J
.J. McCarthy. We got the Lions to cover. We got
the under. We think Lions are going to win the
game by about a field goal or hair more. And
I'm gonna go dub errors in the other Division
games. So you're gonna be Green Bay and Minnesota
fans. You're gonna be looking up at the standings
after one week. And then... Boy. Bill has thrown
down the gauntlet early. All right. Well, that'll
do it for this episode. We'll be back with some
reactions post -game next week. Everybody have
a good week one. You're in bloom. Your flower
is blooming right now for the football season.
Enjoy yourselves. See you next week, Honolulu
Blue and Silver.