2024 Week 12 — 49ers at Packers

49ers attempt to bounce back and boost their postseason chances as they visit Green Bay

By The Associated Press

San Francisco (5-5) at Green Bay (7-3)

Day / Time / TV: Sunday, 3:25 p.m. CST, FOX

Series record: Packers lead 38-34-1

Last meeting: 49ers beat Packers 24-21 in NFC divisional playoff game Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, California.

Last week: 49ers lost 20-17 at home to Seattle; Packers won 20-19 at Chicago

49ers offense: overall (2), rush (7), pass (4), scoring (T-8)

Packers offense: overall (4), rush (4), pass (9), scoring (T-8)

49ers defense: overall (6), rush (8), pass (8), scoring (T-16)

Packers defense: overall (12), rush (14), pass (13), scoring (10)

Turnover differential: 49ers plus-3; Packers plus-5

After losing to San Francisco in the playoffs three of the last five seasons, the Green Bay Packers wouldn’t mind seeing the 49ers get left out of the postseason entirely. The Packers (7-3) could damage San Francisco’s playoff hopes Sunday by beating the 49ers at Lambeau Field. San Francisco (5-5) dropped to .500 after losing at home to the Seattle Seahawks, though the 49ers remain just a game behind the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC West. “I think we’re motivated to keep winning more than anything,” Packers center Josh Myers said. “Obviously, they have knocked us out quite a bit. There’s that extra motivation behind it, but at this point, we’re just trying to churn out wins.”

The 49ers will be playing this game without starting quarterback Brock Purdy, who injured his right shoulder in the Seahawks game. Although an MRI showed no structural damage, Purdy’s shoulder didn’t improve as the week wore on. Brandon Allen will start in Purdy’s place.

Green Bay is third in the NFC North and two games behind the Detroit Lions, but the Packers appear on track to at least earn a wild-card playoff berth. History suggests their path to a potential Super Bowl would get much clearer if the 49ers aren’t standing in their way.

The 49ers trailed 21-14 in the fourth quarter before rallying to beat the Packers 24-21 in the divisional playoffs last year on Christian McCaffrey’s 6-yard touchdown run with 1:07 left. Now, it’s the 49ers who are struggling to protect late leads, as they’ve blown fourth-quarter advantages in three games against divisional opponents. “You could look at, ‘Hey, we’re three possessions away from being 8-2,’ but you can’t really live like that,” 49ers tight end George Kittle said. “Those are the mistakes that we’ve made to be 5-5. It’s not exactly where we want to be. It is frustrating. The nice thing is we have seven games left to go out there and play Niners football and take advantage of those opportunities.”

Green Bay’s recent history of playoff frustration against the 49ers also includes a 13-10 loss at Lambeau Field in the 2021 divisional playoffs and a 37-20 road defeat in the 2019 NFC championship game. Even the Packers players who weren’t around for last season’s playoff loss realize what this game means. “I think one of the first meetings that I was in here, we had a conversation about the Niners beating us,” said Green Bay safety Xavier McKinney, who joined the Packers this season. “So I understand how important it is, and we all do.”

Red-zone concerns

Both teams must figure out how to convert red-zone opportunities into touchdowns. The 49ers are scoring touchdowns on just 48.8% of their drives inside an opponent’s 20-yard line to rank 27th in the NFL. The Packers are slightly worse in that regard, scoring touchdowns on 48.7% of their red-zone possessions to rank 28th. In their 20-19 victory at Chicago on Sunday, Green Bay drove to the Bears 5 without scoring on two separate series.

Injury issues

Purdy isn’t the only notable player who won’t be participating in Sunday’s game. San Francisco won’t have four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Nick Bosa available after he hurt his left hip and oblique against the Seahawks. Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee) and linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring) also have been ruled out. Kittle expects to play for the 49ers on Sunday after missing the Seahawks game with a hamstring injury. 49ers left tackle Trent Williams (ankle) is questionable.

Seeking takeaways

Green Bay’s defense feasted on turnovers the first part of the season, but hasn’t been as effective in getting those takeaways lately. The Packers have 19 takeaways – already exceeding their 2023 total – but haven’t forced any turnovers in their last two games.

Heavy load

49ers coach Kyle Shanahan hasn’t eased McCaffrey back into the lineup in his return after missing the first eight games with Achilles tendinitis. McCaffrey has played 91% of the 49ers’ offensive snaps the past two weeks. Jordan Mason, who rushed for 685 yards during McCaffrey’s absence, has just five snaps on offense the last two games. Shanahan said he’d like to get Mason more opportunities, but it’s hard to take McCaffrey off the field.

Delivering on third down

Green Bay nearly lost to the Bears because of its third-down struggles on both sides of the ball. The Packers were 1 of 5 on third-down opportunities, while the Bears went 9 of 16. The Packers’ defense could have a tough time correcting that problem against San Francisco, which has converted 45.4% of its third-down situations to rank fourth in the league.

49ers player to watch

QB Brandon Allen: With Brock Purdy unavailable due to a sore right shoulder, Allen will make his first start in three years. The 32-year-old Allen has made nine career starts, and his teams have gone 2-7 in those games. His last start came with Cincinnati in the 2021 regular-season finale when the Bengals rested usual starter Joe Burrow to get ready for the playoffs. Allen has thrown three passes in the last three seasons, including none since joining San Francisco in 2023. Allen was a member of the Los Angeles Rams in 2017, when Packers coach Matt LaFleur was that team’s offensive coordinator.

Packers player to watch

RB Josh Jacobs has 838 yards rushing this season to rank third in the NFL entering Week 12. He ran for 76 yards and a touchdown while also catching five passes for 58 yards against the Bears. Jacobs has scored four touchdowns (three rushing, one receiving) over his past four games. He has at least 90 yards from scrimmage over his past six games, matching Houston’s Joe Mixon for the NFL’s longest such active streak.

Key matchup

49ers RB Christian McCaffrey vs. Packers run defense: McCaffrey rushed for 98 yards and two touchdowns — including the game-winner with 1:07 left — in the 49ers’ playoff victory over the Packers last season. Green Bay is coming off a performance in which it allowed a season-high 179 yards rushing to the Bears.

Key injuries

Purdy isn’t playing due to a sore throwing shoulder… The 49ers also won’t have Nick Bosa after he injured his left hip and oblique against the Seahawks. ... Niners CB Charvarius Ward will miss a third straight game following the death of his 1-year-old daughter. ... Niners LT Trent Williams (ankle) is questionable. ... Niners TE George Kittle is expected back after missing last week’s game with a hamstring injury. ... Packers CB Jaire Alexander (knee) and LB Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring) have been ruled out. … Packers guard Jordan Morgan (shoulder) is on injured reserve.

Saturday Injury Report

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS at GREEN BAY PACKERS — SAN FRANCISCO: OUT: LB Tatum Bethune (knee), DE Nick Bosa (hop/oblique), DT Kevin Givens (groin), WR Jacob Cowing (concussion), QB Brock Purdy (shoulder), CB Charvarius Ward (NIR/personal). QUESTIONABLE: T Trent Williams (ankle), C Jon Feliciano (knee). FULL: RB Christian McCaffrey (rest/achilles), TE George Kittle (hamstring). GREEN BAY: OUT: CB Jaire Alexander (knee), LB Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring). QUESTIONABLE: DL Colby Wooden (shoulder).

Series notes

The 49ers have beaten the Packers in the playoffs three of the past five years. That includes a 37-19 victory in the 2019 NFC championship, a 13-10 upset at Lambeau Field in the 2021 divisional round and the 24-21 thriller last season. The past three matchups between these teams — including a Packers 30-28 road victory on Sept. 26, 2021 — have been decided by a total of eight points. This marks the first time these teams have faced off at Lambeau Field during the regular season since a Packers 33-30 triumph on Oct. 15, 2018. Each of the past three Packers-49ers games at Green Bay have been decided by three points. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and Packers coach Matt LaFleur worked together as assistants at Houston (2008-09), Washington (2010-13) and Atlanta (2015-16).

Stats and stuff

A loss would give the 49ers a losing record more than 10 games into a season for the first time since going 6-10 in 2020. ... San Francisco has lost a league-worst three games this season after leading in the final two minutes of regulation… The 49ers have allowed 36 points in the final two minutes of regulation, second most in the NFL… The Niners had only one play from scrimmage go for at least 20 yards last week, tied for the fewest in any game in eight seasons under Shanahan… San Francisco is outgaining the opposition through the air by an NFL-best 53.9 yards per game… McCaffrey has topped 100 yards from scrimmage in his first two games back from Achilles tendinitis and has five straight games with at least 100 yards from scrimmage going back to last postseason…  McCaffrey’s 57 games with at least 100 yards from scrimmage are the most for any active player… The 49ers are 1-5 this season when Purdy turns the ball over and 4-0 when he doesn’t… Purdy’s four rushing TDs are the most in a season for a Niners QB since Colin Kaepernick had four in 2013… This is the first of three games the Packers are playing in a 12-day stretch. They host the Miami Dolphins on Thanksgiving night and visit the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions on Dec. 5… The Packers are tied for fourth in the league with 19 takeaways, but they don’t have any over their past two games… Packers S Xavier McKinney has six interceptions this season to rank second in the league, behind Detroit’s Kerby Joseph (seven). McKinney has seven total takeaways, putting him in a tie for first with Joseph… Jacobs’ 838 yards rushing and 1,024 scrimmage yards this season are the most any Packer has had in his first 10 games with the team. Jacobs’ 1,024 scrimmage yards are the most for any Packer through the first 10 games of a season since Ahman Green had 1,057 at this point in 2004… Packers DL Rashan Gary had his 35th sack against Chicago to overtake teammate Kenny Clark for ninth place in franchise history. Clark, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, is still seeking his first sack of the season… The Packers and 49ers have the NFC’s best regular-season winning percentage since 2019. The Packers are 63-30 and the 49ers 59-34 during that stretch… San Francisco’s George Kittle has seven touchdown catches to lead all NFL tight ends. Green Bay’s Tucker Kraft has five touchdown receptions to match Baltimore’s Mark Andrews for the second-highest total among tight ends… The 49ers rank 26th in the league with TDs on 48.8% of their red zone drives. Green Bay is 27th in that category and has scored TDs on 48.7% of its drives.

Week 12 NFL Schedule

Thursday, November 21

Pittsburgh Steelers 19, Cleveland Browns 24

Sunday, November 24

Kansas City Chiefs 30, Carolina Panthers 27

Minnesota Vikings 30, Chicago Bears 27

Tennessee Titans 32, Houston Texans 27

Detroit Lions 24, Indianapolis Colts 6

New England Patriots 15, Miami Dolphins 34

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30, New York Giants 7

Dallas Cowboys 34, Washington Commanders 26

Denver Broncos 29, Las Vegas Raiders 19

San Francisco 49ers 10, Green Bay Packers 38

Arizona Cardinals 6, Seattle Seahawks 16

Philadelphia Eagles at Los Angeles Rams, 7:20 p.m., NBC

Monday, November 25

Baltimore Ravens at Los Angeles Chargers, 7:15 p.m., ESPN

Byes: Atlanta, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Jacksonville, New Orleans, New York Jets.

2024 Week 11 — Packers at Bears

QB Love, Packers look to keep pace in tight NFC North, continue dominance of struggling Bears

The Associated Press

Green Bay (6-3) at Chicago (4-5)

Day / Time / TV: Sunday, 12:00 p.m. CST, FOX

Series record: Packers lead 107-95-6

Last meeting: Packers beat Bears 17-9 in Green Bay, Wis., on Jan. 7, 2024.

Last week: Packers had bye, before that lost to Detroit 24-14; Bears lost 19-3 to New England.

Packers offense: overall (3), rush (3), pass (7), scoring (9).

Packers defense: overall (12), rush (10), pass (15), scoring (11).

Bears offense: overall (30), rush (24), pass (30), scoring (24).

Bears defense: overall (13), rush (24), pass (7), scoring (7).

Turnover differential: Packers plus-6; Bears plus-8.

Jordan Love remembers soaking it all in during the national anthem when Green Bay visited Chicago last year.

The season opener was the dawn of a new era for the Packers. Love showed he might be ready to follow in the footsteps of Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers as he led Green Bay to yet another win over the Bears.

This time, the storylines are different.

The Packers (6-3) hope to keep pace in the tight NFC North and maintain their dominance in this storied rivalry, while the Bears (4-5) look to put the brakes on a skid that just cost their offensive coordinator his job.

“With this rivalry we know what this game’s all about and we take pride in that,” Love said.

The Packers have dominated the Bears, winning 10 in a row and 25 of the past 28 meetings, including the NFC championship game at the end of the 2010 season. The current streak matches the longest by either team in the rivalry, matching a run by Green Bay from 1994-98.

While the Packers would surely love to extend the streak, there’s also that other matter of trying to catch division rivals Detroit (8-1) and Minnesota (7-2). Green Bay had a bye last week following a loss to the Lions that stopped a four-game win streak.

The last-place Bears have dropped three straight after winning three in a row prior to their bye. Their offense has gone back-to-back games without a touchdown for the first time since 2004.

Chicago fired an offensive coordinator for the second time in 10 months when it let Shane Waldron go after just nine games on Tuesday in the wake of a 19-3 loss to New England. The Bears replaced him with passing game coordinator Thomas Brown, and his most important task is to get No. 1 draft pick Caleb Williams on track.

The schedule, meanwhile, is taking a tougher turn. Six of Chicago’s final eight games are against division foes.

“It’s frustrating, especially when we know what we can be,” tight end Cole Kmet said. “I think this week with Thomas at the head of the offense here maybe provides a little bit of a reset and a fresh perspective.”

Struggling offense

The Bears have gone 23 consecutive possessions without a touchdown since driving for one in the final minute to take the lead against Washington in Week 8. They lost on a Hail Mary by Jayden Daniels. In the three games since the bye, Chicago’s offense has just two touchdowns in 34 drives. Williams is 48 of 95 without a TD in the past three games. He was sacked nine times against New England. During the win streak, Williams completed 74% of his passes for 687 yards and seven touchdowns with one interception.

Turnover talk

Both teams have done a good job at forcing turnovers. Green Bay is tied for second in the NFL with 19 takeaways, one behind Minnesota. Chicago has 16. The Bears have done a better job taking care of the ball. They have eight giveaways while the Packers have 13. Chicago is tied for fourth with a plus-8 turnover differential, while Green Bay is tied for seventh at plus-6.

Missing Smith

This will be the Packers’ first game since they sent veteran pass rusher Preston Smith to Pittsburgh last week for a 2025 seventh-round pick. Smith had 2 1/2 sacks this year and had totaled 44 since joining the Packers in 2019. “You’re losing a friend, somebody you’ve been around for a year-and-a-half,” said defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness, the Packers’ 2023 first-round draft pick. “But I think it’s an opportunity for myself and the rest of the guys in the room to just take advantage of it and go out and show what we can do.”

McKinney on Moore

There could be some interesting conversations between Bears receiver DJ Moore and Packers safety Xavier McKinney. That’s because McKinney said something to reporters this week about Moore heading to the sideline as Williams was running from pressure during Chicago’s loss at Arizona on Nov. 3. “You’re supposed to be the guy and you’re just walking off the field,” McKinney said. “You’re walking off the field on a rookie quarterback that you’ve been praising.” Moore has said he left the field because he rolled his ankle and not out of frustration.

Familiar territory

Brown was in a similar spot last year as Carolina’s offensive coordinator. He had a rookie quarterback drafted with the No. 1 pick in Bryce Young and assumed play-calling duties during the season from coach Frank Reich, who eventually took over calling plays again before getting fired after a 1-10 start. Brown called plays against Green Bay in Week 16 last season when the Packers squeezed out a 33-30 win. Young threw for a career-high 312 yards and two touchdowns.

Packers player to watch

QB Jordan Love. Green Bay’s bye week benefited Love, who has practiced fully this week after playing through a groin strain in the loss to the Lions. Love has thrown for 1,820 yards and 15 touchdowns, but he’s also been picked off 10 times despite missing two full games with a knee injury and nearly half of a third game because of the groin issue. Love combined to throw for five touchdowns without an interception in two wins over the Bears last season.

Bears player to watch

QB Caleb Williams. The Bears have a new offensive coordinator after firing Shane Waldron and replacing him with passing game coordinator Thomas Brown. The question now is whether Williams can get on track. The No. 1 overall pick has struggled in Chicago’s three-game losing streak after a promising stretch prior to that. Williams is 48 of 95 without a TD during this skid and was sacked nine times against New England.

Key matchup

Green Bay’s pass rush against Chicago’s blockers. The Packers are tied for 19th in the NFL with 22 sacks, so they haven’t exactly been pummeling quarterbacks. But they might have a chance to get some pressure against a struggling and banged up line. Williams has been sacked a league-leading 38 times, in part because of his tendency to hold onto the ball too long.

Key injuries

Packers CB Jaire Alexander (knee), C Josh Myers (wrist) and S Evan Williams (hamstring) practiced on a limited basis Wednesday after missing the Lions game… The Bears placed S Jaquan Brisker (concussion) on injured reserve on Thursday. He has missed the past four games and will miss at least four more after being placed on IR… The offensive line could have two starters back with LT Braxton Jones (knee) and RT Darnell Wright (knee) returning to practice on Wednesday. Jones has missed the past two games, and Wright sat out last week… DE Montez Sweat (ankle) and special teams player Tarvarius Moore (concussion) returned to practice Thursday after sitting out the previous day… LG Teven Jenkins (ankle) left last week’s game.

Series notes

The Packers have won 10 straight and 25 of the past 28 meetings, including the NFC championship game at the end of the 2010 season. That ties the longest streak by either team in the rivalry, matching a run by Green Bay from 1994 to 1998. The Packers haven’t allowed more than 20 points in any of their past five road victories over the Bears. The only other NFL team to do that in Chicago was Green Bay as well, from 1928 to 1930.

Stats and stuff

Green Bay is third in the NFC North behind Detroit (8-1) and Minnesota (7-2). ... The Packers won four straight before losing to Detroit… The Packers are one of three teams to rank in the top 10 in the league in total offense, rushing offense, passing offense and scoring. The others are Baltimore and San Francisco… Green Bay has 19 takeaways, tied for second with Buffalo behind Minnesota (20)… The Packers have 62 points off turnovers — second to Buffalo (78)… Packers S Xavier McKinney has six interceptions to tie Detroit’s Kerby Joseph for the NFL lead. McKinney has a league-high seven takeaways, including a fumble recovery… TE Tucker Kraft has five touchdown catches in his past six games… The Bears have gone without a touchdown in back-to-back games for the first time since 2004. The offense has 23 consecutive possessions without a TD since scoring in the final minute at Washington in Week 8, when Chicago lost on a Hail Mary. In the three games since the bye, the offense has produced just two touchdowns in 34 drives… Chicago has held opponents to 10 touchdowns on 27 trips inside the red zone for a league-low 37% rate… K Cairo Santos is tied for third in the NFL with six field goals of 50 yards or more — one shy of his franchise record.

NFL Week 11 Schedule

All Times Central

Thursday, November 14
Washington Commanders 18, Philadelphia Eagles 26

Sunday, November 17
Green Bay Packers 20, Chicago Bears 19
Jacksonville Jaguars 6, Detroit Lions 52
Las Vegas Raiders 19, Miami Dolphins 34
Los Angeles Rams 28, New England Patriots 22
Cleveland Browns 14, New Orleans Saints 35
Baltimore Ravens 16, Pittsburgh Steelers 18
Minnesota Vikings 23, Tennessee Titans 13
Atlanta Falcons 6, Denver Broncos 38
Seattle Seahawks 20, San Francisco 49ers 17
Kansas City Chiefs 21, Buffalo Bills 30
Cincinnati Bengals 27, Los Angeles Chargers 34
Indianapolis Colts 28, New York Jets 27

Monday, November 18
Houston Texans 34, Dallas Cowboys 10

Bye week: Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2024 Week 10 — Packers Bye Week

Week 10 of the NFL season brings us to the Green Bay Packers’ bye. Not a big fan of the bye week, but I know the players love any chance to “get healthy,” or a little bit healthier since by the season’s halfway point everybody could be on the injury list in some way. So, Sunday is a day that you can get out there in the yard and take care of those leaves, or perhaps watch some football that is not stressful. Below are the TV maps for Week 10, showing which games will be on in your area:

More on NFL Bye Weeks

Each NFL team has one "bye week" during a normal season; this is placed on the team's schedule, usually falling between Week 4 and Week 12 inclusive.

During the 1960 and 1966 seasons, the league had an odd number of teams due to expansion. Each week during those seasons, one team had a bye, including one team each in the first and last week of the season: thus, because they had to play all their games with no break in the middle, those two teams effectively had no byes. The American Football League (which at the time was a completely separate league, but later became the American Football Conference) also had an odd number of teams in 1966 and 1967 following the addition of the Miami Dolphins, leaving each team with two bye weeks.

The NFL returned to the use of the bye week in 1990 so as to extend the 16-game regular season schedule to span 17 weeks to increase the number of viewable games for television contracts. The 1993 season spanned 18 weeks with each team having two bye weeks; it went back to 17 weeks with a bye week the next season through 2020. Since 2021, the season is 18 weeks long with a bye week and an additional 17th game.

Between 1999 and 2001, the NFL had an odd number of teams (31) as a result of the Cleveland Browns re-entering the league. Each week during these three seasons featured at least one team with its bye week, but the 2001 season also added an additional impromptu league-wide bye the weekend after the September 11 attacks. The league returned to having an even number of teams (32) in 2002 with the addition of the Houston Texans, and implemented the current bye week system.

In the rare case of a game postponement that cannot be made up within the same week, the NFL may revise bye weeks assignments in order to reschedule the delayed game, making the postponement week those teams' new “bye week”:

• Due to Hurricane Ike in 2008, the Baltimore Ravens' and the Houston Texans' Week 2 matchup in Houston was postponed, which also impacted the Cincinnati Bengals' schedule. The Bengals-Texans game was moved to Week 8, which was the originally scheduled bye week for both of those teams. This allowed the Ravens–Texans game (and the Bengals' bye week) to be rescheduled in Week 10, the Ravens' original bye Week.

• Due to Hurricane Irma in 2017, the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers Week 1 game was rescheduled to Week 11, the originally scheduled bye week for both teams.

• Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, several postponements occurred during 2020. The first one that saw the league move games during bye weeks involved the Week 4 matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans, which also impacted the Baltimore Ravens' schedule. The Steelers-Titans game was moved to Week 7 (the Titans' original bye week) due to a rash of COVID-19 cases among the Titans organization. The Steelers matchup with the Ravens (their original Week 7 opponent) was moved to Week 8 when they both had scheduled byes and would allow the Steelers and Titans to make up their matchup; the Ravens bye week was moved to Week 7. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, when asked about the schedule change, referenced the aforementioned changes with the Texans and Bengals in 2008 (his first year as Ravens head coach) and did not expect the changes to affect his team's planning. 

• The media may also sarcastically refer to a team having a “bye week” or a " “second bye” if that team is playing an especially poor team, and is all but assured of a win.

• Ever since the NFL started Thursday Night Football, teams who play on a Thursday night are sometimes referred to having a “mini-bye” until their next game, usually being about 10-11 days away.

2024 Week 9 — Lions at Packers

Two of NFC’s hottest teams face off as North-leading Lions visit Green Bay

The Associated Press

Detroit (6-1) at Green Bay (6-2)

Day/Time/TV: Sunday, 3:25 p.m. CDT, FOX.

Series record: Packers lead 106-76-7

Last meeting: Packers beat the Lions 29-22 in Detroit in a Thanksgiving Day game on Nov. 23, 2023.

Last week: Lions beat the Tennessee Titans 52-14 at home; Packers won 30-27 at Jacksonville

Lions offense: overall (6), rush (6), pass (11), scoring (1)

Packers offense: overall (5), rush (5), pass (9T), scoring (6)

Lions defense: overall (20), rush (5), pass (27), scoring (8)

Packers defense: overall (15), rush (10), pass (19), scoring (11T)

Turnover differential: Lions +10; Packers +7

The Detroit Lions have a big-time offense. The Green Bay Packers specialize in taking the ball away. The NFL’s highest-scoring offense and the league leader in takeaways will face off Sunday when the NFC North-leading Lions (6-1) visit the Packers (6-2). The game features the NFC’s two hottest teams, as the Lions have reeled off five consecutive victories while the Packers have won four straight. “It’s going to be a playoff-type game,” Packers running back Josh Jacobs said.

The Packers enter this game with an uncertain quarterback situation. Jordan Love left the Packers’ 30-27 victory at Jacksonville on Sunday in the third quarter with a groin strain and is listed as questionable for this game. He didn’t practice Wednesday but worked out on a limited basis Thursday and Friday. Backup quarterback Malik Willis has started two games in Love’s place this season, and the Packers won both games. He also threw a 51-yard completion to Jayden Reed in Jacksonville that led to Brandon McManus’ tiebreaking field goal as time expired. “I think we have a pretty good idea of what we’re going to get no matter who’s in there,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “And they’re both very good athletes. They both can run. They both can create issues in the pocket.”

Green Bay may need to score plenty to keep up with the Lions, who are averaging 33.4 points per game this season. They have averaged 43 points over their past four games. The Lions have been tough to slow down on offense because they are versatile, and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is adept at making in-game changes. “Nobody corrects better than us,” tight end Sam LaPorta said Johnson tells the team. “Nobody adjusts better than us.”

Detroit’s high-scoring attack has the Lions off to their fastest start since 1956, when they won seven of their first eight games. That offense will have to be careful against the Packers, who have a league-high 19 takeaways. Green Bay’s Xavier McKinney has a league-leading six interceptions and seven total takeaways, as he also has recovered a fumble.

Turnover talk

Although the Packers have the most takeaways in the league, the Lions have the better turnover margin. Detroit’s plus-10 turnover differential puts the Lions in a tie for second in the league, behind only Buffalo’s plus-11. The Lions have committed just five turnovers this season, while the Packers have 12. Detroit’s Kerby Joseph has five interceptions to rank second in the league, behind only McKinney. Detroit’s Brian Branch is tied for third with four interceptions.

Secondary concerns

Green Bay’s secondary could be at less than full strength as it tries containing the Lions. Safety Evan Williams won’t play due to a hamstring injury. Cornerback Jaire Alexander, who hurt his knee late in the Jaguars game, didn’t practice all week and is listed as questionable. Detroit won’t have wide receiver Jameson Williams, who is completing his two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substance policy.

On the run

The Lions averaged 175.5 yards rushing in their two games against the Packers last season and are running effectively again with the tandem of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Gibbs has rushed for 591 yards and six touchdowns, while Montgomery has run for 415 yards and seven touchdowns. Montgomery rushed for 121 yards and three touchdowns to help the Lions win 34-20 in their previous trip to Green Bay. The Packers actually are gaining slightly more rushing yards per game than the Lions: 156.9-156.7. Jacobs has rushed for 667 yards to rank fourth in the league.

Stepping up

Detroit has several players on injured reserve and keeps winning. The Lions had two players filling in for defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and linebacker Derrick Barnes on a key play early in last week’s rout against Tennessee. Defensive end Levi Onwuzurike hit Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph as he passed, and linebacker Trevor Nowaske took advantage of the ill-advised throw with an interception. “They know that they’re not just there to be a placeholder,” Campbell said.

Clutch kickers

McManus has been with the Packers for just two games and has kicked a game-winning field goal in the final play of both. He made a 45-yarder as time expired in a 24-22 victory over the Houston Texans and had a tiebreaking 24-yarder to end the Jaguars game. Detroit’s Jake Bates is a perfect 11 of 11 on field-goal attempts this season. He’s 27 of 28 on extra points.

Lions player to watch

S Kerby Joseph. He has career-high five INTs after he had four in each of his first two seasons. Joseph, a third-round pick from Illinois, is the first Lion to have five INTs in the first seven games of a season since Hall of Famer Yale Lary in 1962. He has three INTs in three games against Green Bay.

Packers player to wat

S Xavier McKinney grabbed his NFL-leading sixth INT of the season against Jacksonville. He’s the first Packer ever to have six INTs in the first eight games of a season. McKinney also has recovered a fumble this year, giving him an NFL-leading seven total takeaways.

Key matchup

Lions RBs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery vs. Packers run defense: The Lions averaged 175.5 yards rushing in two games with the Packers last season. David Montgomery ran for 121 yards and three touchdowns to lead a 211-yard rushing attack in the Lions’ 34-20 victory at Green Bay. When the Packers won the rematch in Detroit, the Lions still ran for 140 yards on 31 attempts. Green Bay’s run defense has improved this year. But the Packers still have been vulnerable at times, allowing Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley, Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor, the Los Angeles Rams’ Kyren Williams and Houston’s Joe Mixon to surpass 100 yards.

Key injuries

Detroit LB Malcolm Rodriguez (ankle) left last week’s game and may be the only player whose status is in doubt Sunday… Packers QB Jordan Love’s status is uncertain after a strained groin caused him to leave the Jaguars game… The list of Packers who didn’t practice Wednesday because of injuries included Love, RB Josh Jacobs (ankle), CB Jaire Alexander (knee), LG Elgton Jenkins (glute), C Josh Myers (wrist), LT Rasheed Walker (knee) and S Evan Williams (hamstring).

Friday Injury Report:

DETROIT LIONS at GREEN BAY PACKERS — DETROIT: OUT: DT Brodric Martin (knee), DL Josh Paschal (illness), LB Malcolm Rodriguez (ankle). DOUBTFUL: RB Sione Vaki (knee), DL Mekhi Wingo (ankle). FULL: T Taylor Decker (chest), G Graham Glasgow (NIR/rest), QB Jared Goff (ankle), DL Levi Onwuzurike (NIR/rest), C Frank Ragnow (NIR/rest), DL D.J. Reader (NIR/rest), G Kevin Zeitler (NIR/rest). GREEN BAY: OUT: S Evan Williams (hamstring). DOUBTFUL: C/G Josh Myers (wrist), QUESTIONABLE: CB Jaire Alexander (knee), LIMITED: CB Corey Ballentine (ankle), DL Kenny Clark (toe/shoulder), RB Josh Jacobs (ankle), G/T Elgton Jenkins (glute), QB Jordan Love (groin), T Rasheed Walker (knee), DL Devonte Wyatt (ankle). FULL: LB Quay Walker (concussion).

Series notes

The Packers’ Thanksgiving Day victory at Detroit last season snapped the Lions’ four-game winning streak in this series. The Packers had beaten the Lions five straight times before that… The Lions have won in each of their past two visits to Lambeau Field. That included a 20-16 victory in the 2022 regular-season finale that prevented the Packers from reaching the playoffs and marked four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ final game with Green Bay.

Stats and stuff

The Lions are 6-1 for the first time since 1956, when they won seven of their first eight games… Detroit has won five games in a row for the first time since 2016 and is a victory away from its longest streak in a season since winning the last seven games of the 1995 season… The Lions have run for 100-plus yards and scored a rushing TD in each of the first seven games for the first time since 1936… Detroit has scored a franchise-record 162 points over a four-game span, the most by an NFL team since Baltimore had 172 points over four games in 2019… The Lions have 30-plus points with four TDs in four straight games for the first time since 1971… The Lions have more TDs on offense (24) than incompletions (19) in their past five games… Detroit’s 52 points last week trailed only the franchise-record 55 it scored against Chicago in 1997… The Lions tied a team record with six players scoring a TD against the Titans… etroit has won two games by 38-plus points for the first time in a season since 1936… The Lions have a takeaway in 11 straight games, going back to last season, and have an INT in their first seven games for the first time since 1981… If Goff throws for 2-plus TDs and has a passer rating of at least 110, he will join Patrick Mahomes (2018), Tom Brady (2010) and Aaron Rodgers (2011) as the four NFL QBs since 2000 to have those numbers in six straight games… The Packers have 1,255 yards rushing, their highest total through the first eight games of the season since 1971. Jacobs leads the way with 667 yards rushing, which ranks fourth in the NFL… When Love left the Jaguars game without having thrown a TD pass, it ended his string of nine straight games with multiple TD passes. That streak would have gone to 11 if playoff games were included… Packers TE Tucker Kraft has five TDs over his past five games… Packers K Brandon McManus has kicked a game-winning field goal in the final play of each of his two games since coming to Green Bay. He had a 45-yarder in a 24-22 victory over the Houston Texans and a 24-yarder against the Jaguars, his former team… The Packers have an NFL-leading 19 takeaways… According to Elias Sports Bureau, this marks the first time since a 10-3 Green Bay team faced a 12-1 Denver squad in Dec. 8, 1996, that Lambeau Field has hosted a game in the ninth week of the season or later matching two teams with a winning percentage of at least .750.

Week 9 NFL Schedule

Thursday, October 31

Houston Texans 13, New York Jets 21

Sunday, November 3

Dallas Cowboys 21, Atlanta Falcons 27

Denver Broncos 10, Baltimore Ravens 41

Miami Dolphins 27, Buffalo Bills 30

New Orleans Saints 22, Carolina Panthers 23

Las Vegas Raiders 24, Cincinnati Bengals 41

Los Angeles Chargers 27, Cleveland Browns 10

Washington Commanders 27, New York Giants 22

New England Patriots 10, Tennessee Titans 29 (OT)

Chicago Bears 9, Arizona Cardinals 29

Jacksonville Jaguars 23, Philadelphia Eagles 28

Detroit Lions 24, Green Bay Packers 14

Los Angeles Rams 26 Seattle Seahawks 20

Indianapolis Colts 13, Minnesota Vikings 21

Monday, November 4

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Kansas City Chiefs, 7:15 p.m., ESPN