The Detroit Lions are coming off a bye week with an opportunity to reset, refine and prepare for the stretch of the season that could ultimately define their playoff hopes.
Waiting on the other side is a familiar division rival.
The Lions welcome the Green Bay Packers to Ford Field on Sunday, Oct. 25, for a 4:25 p.m. kickoff in the first NFC North matchup of Detroit’s 2026 campaign. Detroit enters at 3-2 after a convincing 45-21 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, while Green Bay arrives at 4-2 following consecutive wins over the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys.
With Minnesota sitting atop the division at 5-0 and Chicago, Detroit and Green Bay jockeying for position, Sunday’s matchup carries significance beyond the rivalry. A Lions victory would move Detroit to 4-2 and give the team an opportunity to strengthen its position in the division standings.
Here are five things to watch as Detroit returns to action.
1. As usual, Jahmyr Gibbs will set the tone
When the Lions’ offense is operating at its best, Jahmyr Gibbs is one of the biggest reasons why. He comes into the game leading the NFL with nine total touchdowns, and only trails the Ravens’ Derrick Henry (139) and the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor (137) in total touches with 132, but each of those running backs has played six games compared to just five for Gibbs. Gibbs leads the league in touches per game with over 26.
The dynamic running back brings a combination of speed, vision and receiving ability that makes him difficult to account for, whether Detroit lines him up in the backfield or gets him involved in the passing game. Through five games, Gibbs has rushed for 504 yards and seven touchdowns on 105 carries, averaging 4.8 yards per attempt.
His versatility will be particularly important against Green Bay, which has demonstrated an ability to create turnovers. The Packers entered the matchup with nine interceptions, tied for the league lead according to NFL statistics.
Getting Gibbs involved early will help Detroit establish the run, keep the defense guessing and create opportunities for quarterback Jared Goff to attack through the air.
The Lions do not necessarily need Gibbs to deliver a spectacular individual performance. They need him to be consistent enough to keep Green Bay from dictating the pace of the game.
2. Detroit’s secondary faces a critical test
The biggest question surrounding the Lions is whether their secondary can hold up against Green Bay’s passing attack.
Detroit’s offense has produced at a high level, but its pass defense has struggled to consistently limit opposing quarterbacks and explosive plays. Entering Week 7, the Lions had allowed 297.4 passing yards per game, a league-worst figure reported ahead of the bye week.
That is a concerning number against a Packers offense led by Jordan Love, who has shown the ability to stretch the field and connect with receivers on deep throws.
Green Bay’s Christian Watson and Matthew Golden give Love options capable of challenging Detroit downfield. The Lions’ defensive backs will need to maintain disciplined coverage, communicate effectively and avoid giving up the kind of explosive completions that can quickly change a game.
Detroit’s pass rush could also play a decisive role. If the defensive front can pressure Love before receivers have time to uncover, the secondary may have a better opportunity to limit Green Bay’s big-play potential.
3. What did Dan Campbell learn during the bye?
For head coach Dan Campbell, the bye week provided more than a few days away from the field. It offered an opportunity to evaluate the team’s first five games and address inconsistencies before divisional competition begins.
Campbell said after the break that he felt better about where his team stood than he did following the bye in 2025, when Detroit ultimately struggled down the stretch and missed the playoffs.
His approach following the Lions’ victory over Arizona included challenging players and coaches to pay closer attention to the details. The 45-21 result offered an encouraging response, but the real test will be whether Detroit can sustain that level of execution.
Now, Campbell must demonstrate that the lessons learned during the bye can translate into a complete performance against one of the team’s most important rivals.
4. The NFC North leaves little room for error
The division’s early season standings make Sunday’s game especially important.
Minnesota has emerged as the early leader at 5-0, while Green Bay sits at 4-2 and Detroit and Chicago are both 3-2. All four NFC North teams have winning records, creating a competitive landscape in which every divisional matchup could carry significant postseason implications.
A Detroit win would give the Lions a 4-2 record and put them in a stronger position to compete for second place, depending on the other results and the division’s tiebreakers. A loss, meanwhile, would leave Detroit at 3-3 and give Green Bay additional breathing room.
The Lions also face a challenging schedule immediately after the Packers, with Minnesota coming to Ford Field on Nov. 1.
That makes the next two weeks an important early-season measuring stick for Detroit. The Lions have an opportunity to establish themselves against direct division competition rather than spend the coming months trying to make up ground.
5. Prediction: Lions 31, Packers 27
Expect a competitive game featuring two offenses capable of producing points, with Detroit’s ability to establish Gibbs and protect against Green Bay’s explosive passing attack likely determining the outcome.
The bye week should give Campbell and his staff an opportunity to make adjustments, while Ford Field provides the home-field advantage the Lions need in a divisional showdown.
Green Bay’s passing game presents a legitimate challenge, and Detroit’s secondary remains a concern. Still, if Gibbs helps control the tempo and the Lions generate enough pressure to disrupt Love, Detroit has the offensive firepower to pull away late.
The verdict
The Lions open their division schedule with a victory, improve to 4-2 and take an important step toward positioning themselves among the NFC North’s contenders.