The Green Bay Packers swept the Lions last season outscoring them 71-39 but that was with Brett Favre calling the plays.  The Packers will likely come off of the bus trying to run the football against a Lions’ Defense that allowed 318 yards rushing (7.6 ypc) last week against the Falcons.  Ryan Grant rushed for 92 yards on 12 carries (7.7 ypc) last week against a tough Vikings’ defense so he will likely have little trouble running against the Lions.  Look for Brandon Jackson to also get some work in this football game as Grant will get tired at some point from running all 0ver the Lions.  Look for Aaron Rodgers, who had an outstanding first career start last week, to throw deep off of play action passing to WRs Greg Jennings and Donald Driver.  The Packers should have little trouble moving the ball against the Lions tomorrow.

The Lions should be able to run the football some against the Packers who allowed 187 yards and 5.7 yards per carry against the Vikings last week.  But, the Lions don’t have the same kind of personnel that the Vikings have so Kevin Smith and Rudi Johnson likely won’t have near the success running the ball that Minnesota did.  Still, it would be foolish for the Lions not to throw the ball as Jon Kitna has quality targets in Calvin Johnson, Roy Williams, Mike Furrey and Shaun McDonald.

PREDICTION:  GREEN BAY PACKERS 27, DETROIT LIONS 24

The Vikings gave the Packers a good fight last night but in the end it was Aaron Rodgers’ night.  Rodgers completed 18 of 22 passes for 178 yards with a 1-yard TD pass to fullback Korey Hall.  Rodgers also carried the ball 8 times for 35 yards (4.4 ypc) with a TD run which included a Lambeau Leap.  Ryan Grant only carried the football 12 times but he still compiled 92 yards (7.7 ypc) rushing.  Greg Jennings was the leading receiver in this game for the Packers with 91 yards on 5 catches (18.2 avg).  The Packers finished up with 139 yards rushing on 27 carries (5.1 ypc) and they also completed 18 of 22 passes for 178 yards.

A.J. Hawk (10 tackles) and Nick Barnett (8 tackles) led a subpar effort by the Packers’ defense on Monday Night.  After all, the Vikings did rush for 187 yards on 33 carries (5.7 ypc).  The Vikings also completed 16 of 35 passes for 168 yards.  The Packers did have a huge play on special teams in this game as CB Will Blackmon returned a punt 76 yards for a TD.  This was a nice win for the Packers as the Aaron Rodgers’ era has officially begun in Green Bay.

The Minnesota Vikings improved in the off season while the Packers said goodbye to Green Bay legend Brett Favre.  The Vikings will do what they always do by running the football early and often against the Packers.  Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor will be in a battle for yards with linebackers Nick Barnett, A.J. Hawk and Barry Poppinga.  The Packers have a really good pass defense so QB Tarvaris Jackson will have to be careful with the football.  The Vikings would love to get the ball deep to new toy Bernard Berrian but they will need to keep DEs Aaron Kampman, Cullen Jenkins and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamilia away from Jackson and that will be easier said than done.

The Packers’ offense will likely still be a potent unit as long as Aaron Rodgers stays healthy.  The Vikings have the best run defense in the NFL with DTs Pat Williams, Kevin Williams and inside linebacker E.J. Henderson.  RBs Ryan Grant and Brandon Jackson will likely have a tough time getting yards on Monday Night.  But, if the Packers can keep DE Jared Allen away from Aaron Rodgers he could have a field day.  WR Greg Jennings is the best deep threat on the Packers and he will be dealing with CBs Antoine Winfield and Cedric Griffin all game long.  Donald Driver and tight end Donald Lee will likely be attacking rookie free safety Tyrell Johnson and that could lead to some bad news for the Vikings on Monday Night.

PREDICTION:  GREEN BAY PACKERS 27, MINNESOTA VIKINGS 17

The Packers have released linebacker Abdul Hodge despite his strong showing in the preseason.  Hodge played in all 4 preseason games for the Packers and he made 15 tackles and defensed 1 pass.  Still, the Packers were not happy with how Hodge played as a rookie last season.  He played in 8 games (1 start) for the Packers last year and he made 10 tackles and defensed 2 passes.  The Packers shouldn’t miss Hodge too much as he had trouble staying healthy.

The Packers have signed 27-year old Derrick Frost to punt this season and his arrival caused the Packers to release Jon Ryan.  Frost played in all 16 games for the Redskins last year and he punted the ball 75 times for 3,072 yards (41.0 avg) with a net average 0f 36.4 yards.  23 of Frost’s 75 punts were downed inside the opposing 20-yard line (30.7%) and he only had 7 touchbacks (9.3%) which are both outstanding percentages.  Frost has now played in 62 games in his NFL career and he has punted the ball 317 times for 13,021 yards (41.1 avg) with a net average of 36.4 yards per punt.  He has placed the ball inside the opposing 20-yard line 97 times (30.6%) in his NFL career and he only has 24 touchbacks (7.6%).

Jon Ryan punted two years for the Packers.  He punted in 32 games in that time with 144 punts for 6,403 yards (44.5 avg) with a net average of 37.0 yards per punt.  Ryan has nailed 35 punts inside the opposing 20-yard line (24.3%) and he had 23 touchbacks (16%). 

This move was made because Derrick Frost positions the football better than Ryan and this move should help the Packers’ special teams.