Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell labeled Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love the offense’s “secret sauce” as the teams prepare for Sunday’s NFC North game at Ford Field.
The Packers enter at 4-2 after winning three straight. The Lions stand at 3-2 following a bye week. Detroit must limit Love’s vertical attack to stay competitive in the division.
“Offensively, Love, man, he makes it go. He is the secret sauce,” Campbell said. “And Watson and Golden, man, they’re dangerous threats down the field and he’s going to give them opportunities that show up every week.”
Love leads the NFL with 988 passing yards on throws of 10 or more air yards, according to Next Gen Stats. He has completed 37 of 75 such passes with six touchdowns and one interception for a 116.4 rating. He also ranks first with 32 attempts of 20 or more air yards. Drops have held the totals down somewhat.
Overall, Love has thrown for 1,684 yards with 11 touchdowns and four interceptions in six games. That production ranks among the league’s higher marks in both yards and scores despite an uneven offensive line and limited running game.
Detroit’s secondary has struggled against similar deep throws. The Lions have allowed a 128.7 passer rating on passes of 10-plus air yards, ranking 31st in the NFL. They also surrender a league-high 297.4 passing yards per game.
Christian Watson and Matthew Golden have driven much of Green Bay’s success downfield. Watson has 29 catches for 538 yards and six touchdowns. Golden has 30 receptions for 501 yards and three scores. The pair has combined for 1,039 yards through six games.
Green Bay is the first team since the 2022 Miami Dolphins with multiple players reaching 500 receiving yards in the first six games of a season. Watson and Golden are also the first Packers duo since Jordy Nelson and Davante Adams in 2016 to each post multiple games with 100-plus yards and a touchdown in the same season.
Campbell pointed to the receivers’ speed and ability to track the ball.
“It presents some big challenges because these aren’t guys that can just track the ball down,” he said. “They have got speed now. I mean, they have got speed, and they can track the ball, and the quarterback gives them a nice, pretty ball, man, lays it out there. And really about 50% of these are either DPI or catches, which is, talk about explosive.”
Defending those shots creates additional problems for the Lions.
“So, that’s the danger in it. Wherever you’re having to use some resources, then now you have got to worry about (tight end Tucker) Kraft. If you’re going to use it to take the top off on some of this, well now you have got Kraft underneath, and you have got to worry about the backs. It does, it creates some issues, man, that you have got to be ready for. And some of it is you better pick your poison.”
The Lions’ defense improved in its most recent outing against Arizona, but Campbell anticipates a tougher test against Green Bay’s vertical threats. He said the offense will need to respond if the game becomes high-scoring.
“Look, they’re going to make some plays, but it’s about us making more of them,” Campbell said. “If we get an opportunity for something, we have got to make the most of it, something that swings in our favor. We have to capitalize on those.”
The Packers swept the season series last year after Detroit won both meetings in 2024. A victory Sunday would help Green Bay maintain its position in a tight NFC North race. Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. ET.
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