What are the Green Bay Packers talking about ahead of Sunday's monster Week 1 NFC North matchup at Lambeau Field against the Lions?

Let's find out:

1. For a defense that ranked in the top 10 in both yards and points allowed last season, there's certainly excitement in Green Bay following the trade for three-time All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons last week and what the Packers' defense might look like with him in the fold.

"It's scary," fellow Packers edge rusher Rashan Gary told packers.com this week. "It's for sure scary with the pieces that we have."

Green Bay's defense finished in the Top 10 in sacks last season with 45. Gary led them with 7.5. Now add Parsons into the mix, who has averaged 13 sacks per season through his first four seasons in the league in Dallas.

"Six days to the game, everybody's hungry, everybody's focused," Gary said. "Everybody can't wait to see what he's going to do. I know he's excited with the opportunity he has ahead of him. Man, just everybody's excited, ready for Week 1."

2. Parsons is dealing with a back injury that contributed to him not taking part in Cowboys training camp along with his contract status. Parsons said he's going to get with the Packers team doctors and create a plan for his return to football activities.

He told the Packers media this week they already have a plan to ramp up his football activity.

"Get me into a flow where they feel comfortable and I feel comfortable," Parsons said. "They didn't give up what they gave up for me to sit on the sideline. Make this big of a risk and change for me to do that. So, I'm fitting to give my all."

3. The Lions swept the series against the Packers last season and finished 6-0 overall against the NFC North. The Packers are hoping to make a statement within the division hosting the Lions Week 1.

"Been watching the Lions (since) a couple weeks back, so we've been really going off the tape of last year," Gary said. "Little nuances that we see in the preseason. The Lions have been on our mind, for sure."

Gary said a big part of the game plan this week defensively against Lions quarterback Jared Goff is getting the 10-year veteran off his spot and not allowing him to turn the game into a 7-on-7 passing drill.

4. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was asked about the challenge of facing a Detroit team Week 1 with two new coordinators and not a lot of film to prepare for possible changes to schemes.

"You just have to prepare for un-scouted looks," LaFleur said. "You have to trust your rules. I would expect these new coordinators to have their own flavor to what they want to do and what their identity is going to be."

5. LaFleur said Parsons has to get through a few practices this week to see how his back responds before deciding if he'll play Sunday vs. Detroit.

"Certainly hopeful," he said.

6. The Packers traded Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks in the next two drafts to acquire Parsons. What might the loss of Clark mean for Green Bay's run defense?

"Whoever is up there we expect the same," linebacker Edgerrin Cooper said. "He was a great player too for us but it's next person up. It's the business, so we just have to do what we do."

The Packers' run defense was one of just seven defenses to allow on average less than 100 yards per game rushing last season. They were top 10 in 10-yard and 20-yard rushes allowed. How will losing one of the best run stoppers in the game affect Green Bay's run defense Sunday?

7. Speaking of stopping the run, what is the key for Green Bay to limit Lions' third-year running back Jahymr Gibbs?

"He's a tough player," Cooper said. "But we got some tough players too. We are just going to do what we do and be physical."

LaFleur said the challenge with Detroit's run game is just the totality of it from the backs to the offensive line to the receivers blocking. He said it's going to take all 11 players on defense to do their part to limit Detroit's rushing attack Sunday.

8. The Packers faced the Lions in Week 9 and Week 14 last year, which means they didn't see edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson.

What kind of difference does Hutchinson being back in the lineup make for Detroit's defense?

"A lot. You're talking about one of the premier players in the National Football League," LaFleur said of Hutchinson. "Just going through and watching all his tape from last season, we didn't see him at all. I mean, the guy is a game wrecker, and it shows up all over the tape in both the run game and the pass game. I think that's pretty special to have a guy that's capable of doing that.

9. LaFleur also talked about the challenge of playing third-down defense against the Lions.

"It's been a challenge because they've been willing to run the football in those situations in the past," he said. "You have to be ready to defend all four downs. Third down sometimes you have treat it like second down depending on the situation."

Detroit ranked fourth in the NFL last season converting on third down 47.6 percent of the time.