Packers fans might want to avert their eyes rather than reading this article. I don't want to pile on the disappointment, and granted it is just one game. Teams do get blown out early in the season on occasion and turn things around. But there sure looked like some big differences between the two teams.
QUARTERBACKS
Jared Goff opened the contest by throwing a bad interception, gifting the Packers 3 points. Otherwise he managed the game perfectly, finishing with modest numbers and barely having to throw it at all after halftime. Disappointing for those who started him and any of his receivers, but not his fault. Green Bay didn't keep up their end of the bargain.
It was a lousy and fairly troubling game from Jordan Love. He took 5 sacks and could easily have taken more; he's a mobile, athletic guy but he was dropping straight back and standing in the pocket like he was Goff or a 39-year-old Aaron Rodgers. Obviously Green Bay missed David Bakhtiari, who's just been placed on IR due to a knee issue; seems he's never been able to put that injury fully behind him. They also didn't have Elgton Jenkins, so that's their two best offensive linemen. But I don't know why the offense didn't roll Love out more. He ran some the first three games, none at all last night. I'll credit the Lions defense some, but it was a frustrating approach for those looking for more out of him. He was fortunate to avoid a safety and threw a couple of interceptions; could have thrown more. Fantasy wise he finished with usable numbers, thanks to a late touchdown giving him 2 total, but I'll argue with anyone sure he's Green Bay's long-term starter.
RUNNING BACKS
Props to Dan Campbell regarding players coming off injury. David Montgomery was healthy enough to be active, so he was healthy enough to step right back into his usual featured role; lots of coaches might have limited his reps. Not Campbell; great game for Montgomery. Hope you started him, and not Gibbs, who was a little-used change-of-pace. Game script was a huge factor; had the Packers been more competitive or had a lead after that 3-0 edge, Gibbs would have been more involved. But it was the Montgomery show. If he can stay healthy, he'll make a run at Jamaal Williams' touchdown total from a year ago.
I don't see much useful to take from Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. Jones was seemingly healthy, staying on the field even after taking a couple of huge hits (flipped over on one, absorbing a helmet-to-helmet shot on at least one other). He wound up playing less than half as often as Dillon, but it's hard to say whether that was the injury or the fact that the game was over at halftime and maybe the Packers saw no need in exposing their starter to more big hits. Forgettable night for both, but presumably Jones will be fully healthy in Week 5 and things will go better.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Nice night for Romeo Doubs. I left him on the bench in one league not by strategy but by an error; stupid. There's a rapport with Love and I think he might be their No. 1 the rest of the way, even with Christian Watson back. Watson saved those who started him by getting totally wide open for a touchdown before the half; Lions just forgot to cover him. Played about half the snaps, hard to say if they were bringing him back slowly or just didn't feel like playing him full-time in a non-competitive contest. Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks played a little more, with Reed also getting wide open for a 2-point conversion. But I don't see Reed getting a lot of, er, love as the No. 3.
Amon-Ra St. Brown caught a touchdown, making up for a quiet day; it's what No. 1s are supposed to do, and he's legit. Couple of nice catches by Josh Reynolds, who I worried might not be viable; he wasn't last night, but there will be games the team passes more. Just two more weeks until Jameson Williams is eligible to return, but Reynolds might be an option in the next game (Carolina), although the ground game should have success in that one.
TIGHT ENDS
Another good game for Sam LaPorta. Not great; there were a couple of missed connections, but the main issue was the overall lack of volume from the passing game. He would have scored on one play near the goal line where another tight end, Brock Wright, missed a block. A legit every-week starter; the only guy who will catch more passes on this roster is Am0n-Ra.
Luke Musgrave left early due to a concussion. What are you gonna do. Game script would have probably had him catching a few passes along the way.
MISCELLANEOUS
Here's the big question I'm left with. Granted, it's just one game. But in what area, if any, are the Packers better than the Lions? Maybe the secondary (they didn't have Jaire Alexander last night). Aaron Jones is really good, but Detroit's 2-back tandem is superior. Wide receiver corps are similar. Goff is nothing great, but it's too early to say Love is good. The Packers offensive line would look a lot better with those two key starters who missed, but Detroit has one of the league's best groups.
Guess what I'm saying is last night doesn't look like a one-week fluke to me. I saw one very good team asserting their dominance over a mediocre one with some roster questions, including at the game's most important position. Detroit looks like an 11- or 12-win team. Green Bay looks like .500 at best. We'll see, but that's how I feel right now.