The Detroit Lions kick off the regular season on the road in a nationally televised division matchup in Green Bay against the Packers. These two teams are the favorites to win the division, and the winner will send a message to the rest of the division and the NFC.
Here are five things to watch out for Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field:
1. Three new starters upfront
The offensive line has been one of the strengths of this football team the last three seasons but the unit heads into 2025 with three new starters and some question marks.
Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker are as solid of a tackle duo as there is in the league. Graham Glasgow now takes over for the retired Frank Ragnow at center. Rookie second-round pick Tate Ratledge makes his first career start Sunday at right guard. Second-year OL Christian Mahogany makes just his third career start at left guard.
The Lions looked pretty good in camp, especially in the joint practices against Miami and Houston, but just how quickly will the new pieces along the interior take to gel? Will they hit the ground running Week 1?
2. Hutchinson back
Edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson was leading the NFL in sacks (7.5) and pressures (45) before he was lost for the season Week 6 in Dallas last year.
Hutchinson is back to start this season and has looked like an even better player than he was when he got hurt last year. His bend and hand technique have gotten sharper and he still has a motor that never quits.
The fourth-year veteran is primed to have a monster season for a Lions' defense that looked good in camp and hopes to be among the top defenses in the league in 2025.
3. Rookie impact
Ratledge is going to have the biggest impact among the rookies as he's set to play every offensive snap at right guard in his first NFL regular season contest. The Lions like his development and think he's a great fit in that room.
First-round pick Tyleik Williams is slated to get the start next to DJ Reader in the middle of Detroit's defensive line. Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard is expecting him to make an early impact.
"I'm expecting to see a violent, physical, big man striking and knocking people back," Sheppard said this week. "We know his playmaking ability, but I just keep reminding him, D-tackles don't necessarily make plays that show up on the stat sheet. And you have to remind him of that, because he was a dominant player at Ohio State and he's used to racking up stats on the stat sheet.
"Just understanding what we need from him, and that's to be who he is within our system and what we're asking him to do. But first and foremost, if you play on our defensive line, we expect you to knock people back violently, be able to sit down against double teams, hold in there thick and firm. And he's shown that all camp, I'm very excited for that player and to see him out there in Lambeau."
Third-round pick Isaac TeSlaa had a great camp and is expected to play a role on both offense and special teams.
"He's a smart kid, he's tough, there are some good things that he can do that's going to help us this year," offensive coordinator John Morton said of TeSlaa.
Seventh-round pick Dominic Lovett could play a role on special teams today if he's active.
4. Jamo's role
One of the biggest storylines throughout training camp was just how good fourth-year wide receiver Jameson Williams looked in Morton's offense. We all know Williams can take the top off a defense with his speed, but he really did a nice job expanding his route tree and becoming a weapon in all parts of the field.
Teams must respect his speed, and that gives him an opportunity to create space for himself on comebacks and sharp cuts with crafty route running. Williams is expected to make plays all over the field in what could be a breakout season for him.
5. Handling Parsons
There's a new elite pass rusher who resides in the NFC North after Green Bay traded for three-time All-Pro Micah Parsons. The Packers traded Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round draft picks the next two seasons to get Parsons and then signed him to a four-year $188 million contract.
Decker and Sewell have faced Parsons a couple times in the past when he was with Dallas, so there won't be any surprises there. Now Green Bay has a formidable edge duo of Parsons and Rashan Gary, and it will be interesting to see what that means for a Packers' defense that was already pretty talented before Parsons' arrival.
Parsons is the kind of talent that can wreck a game if a team allows him to. He's averaged 13 sacks per year over his first four NFL seasons. Parsons (back) is officially listed as questionable for today's matchup. How will the Lions handle him if he plays this afternoon?
