The Detroit Lions secondary is using “disrespect” as fuel to beat the Packers

The Detroit Lions defense heard some discussion this week about injuries affecting the unit and proved a point Thursday night against the Green Bay Packers.

“I can’t say what I want to say, but you know how it is, I’ll show you,” safety Kerby Joseph said after the Lions’ 34-31 win at Ford Field, then turned and scrambled looking for his Brian Branch t-shirt – the picture shows his backline partner giving the Packers fans in Green Bay, Wisconsin a double bird during Detroit’s Week 9 win.

On Thursday, the Lions were missing 12 key defenders in their first seven players – and notably three starters on the defensive line who were not yet on injured reserve: Josh Paschal, DJ Reader and Levi Onwuzurike – but they scored in the 34-31 win Detroit enough stops to clinch a playoff spot in the NFC.

Detroit Lions linebacker Al-Quadin Muhammad (69) takes on Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (8) during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024.

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“A lot of people doubted us,” said rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold, who capped a drive in which Green Bay scored a touchdown with three tackles and a pass interference penalty in the end zone. “They thought the injuries and all that, they thought it would hinder us. But what they don’t realize is, man, we’ve been playing like this all year. It’s called ‘next man up’ and as AG (defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn) preaches, “We’re a team full of savages.”

Detroit held Green Bay to seven points in the first half before scoring two touchdowns on Green Bay’s first two drives of the second half to give the Packers the lead. Green Bay scored on four of its last five possessions – three touchdowns and a field goal.

While it wasn’t a perfect performance, the Lions defenders felt like they had made a difference with just enough stops. And they did it against a Packers team that they said had spent a week respecting them, including tight end Tucker Kraft, who called Joseph a “dangerous” player.

“Are you talking about mac-and-cheese Kraft?” Joseph said to a reporter after Thursday’s game.

Then he added: “I don’t know who this boy is. I mean, really, bruh? … People just talk crazy on the internet, but when they see me, they don’t really do nothing.”

His rookie teammate in the secondary, Arnold, agreed.

“The game was a bit tricky because their players said a lot about us,” he said. “And one thing: we don’t tolerate disrespect. Any disrespect must be addressed.”

Packers quarterback Jordan Love completed 12 of 20 pass attempts for 206 yards and a touchdown. Love struggled under pressure in the first half and had just 31 yards on three completions at halftime; in the second half he completed nine passes for 175 yards.

“They said crazy, like Jordan Love was about to go for 430 or something (expletive), but that was disrespectful,” cornerback Carlton Davis III said. “I think he had about 200 passing yards and then we gave up a little nonsense, so we’ll see them again next year or hopefully in the playoffs, but it’s not over yet.”

The Packers’ first touchdown of the second half came after they twice targeted Davis, who was returning from a knee injury. First he was hit deep by Christian Watson for a 59-yard gain, and then Love passed a tight pass to Kraft over Davis’ outstretched hand for a touchdown.

“If I didn’t have this great cast, but like I said, I don’t make excuses,” Davis said. “I’m out there, I’m about to play ball and I feel like I touched one of the balls and I just have to get better.”

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Plug and play

Middle linebacker and signal caller Jack Campbell was unaware that the Lions lost another key defender in the win. He then learned in the locker room that defensive tackle Alim McNeill had entered the protocol with a concussion and did not play a snap in the second half.

“I saw BB (Brian Branch, who left with cramps) go down,” Campbell told the Free Press. “I mean, it’s just a testament to the character of the guys in that locker room.”

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The Lions lost McNeill, their only remaining starter on the defensive line, after observers signaled on the field after the defense’s fourth snap of the game. He returned to the sidelines before half-time, but was substituted again at half-time due to a head injury. Meanwhile, Branch left Green Bay’s final drive with cramps after grabbing his right calf.

Detroit relied on reserve players like Pat O’Connor and new signings Myles Adams and Jonah Williams to fill the gaps on defense, while newcomers David Long III and Ezekiel Turner played alongside Campbell on the second level.

“AG can do it, no, it doesn’t matter who’s in there, how many injuries we have, the standard is the standard,” said Turner, who joined the team in mid-November and finished with a tackle (on a Jordan Love). Scramble on the final journey). “We’re going to play at that high level no matter who’s in there and just let it go, just play fast. And that’s the Detroit Lions.”

The new contributors were everywhere for Detroit. Former Packer Za’Darius Smith, acquired in a trade with Cleveland last month, fired Love outright. Long recovered a fumble forced by Davis. Adams had three tackles off the edge.

“The culture of the defense is something you see every week,” Turner said. “No matter who is out there week in and week out, we play fast, we fly around and try to knock guys down.”

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The Detroit Lions secondary is using “disrespect” as fuel to beat the Packers

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