What are the Green Bay Packers talking about ahead of the Week 13 Thanksgiving Day Classic at Ford Field against the Detroit Lions Thursday afternoon?
1. Lions quarterback Jared Goff said after Sunday's game he was headed home to start watching film on the Packers because of the short week. Quarterback Jordan Love had the same idea after Green Bay's win over Minnesota Sunday.
"Obviously, the prep has got to get started today," Love told packers.com. "Everybody's trying to get their bodies back, get back healthy, as quickly as possible."
View photos of the starters for the Green Bay Packers.
Head Coach: Matt LaFleur
Offensive Coordinator: Adam Stenavich
Defensive Coordinator: Jeff Hafley
Special Teams Coordinator: Rich Bisaccia
(AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
WR Romeo Doubs
Backed up by Dontayvion Wicks
(AP Photo/Michael Owens)
WR Matthew Golden
Backed up by Savion Williams
(AP Photo/Todd Rosenberg)
LT Rasheed Walker
Backed up by Jordan Morgan
(AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
LG Aaron Banks
Backed up by Donovan Jennings
(AP Photo/Margaret Bowles)
C Sean Rhyan
Backed up by Jacob Monk
(AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
RG Jordan Morgan
Backed up by Darian Kinnard
(AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
RT Zach Tom
Backed up by Anthony Belton
(AP Photo/Michael Owens)
TE Luke Musgrave
Backed up by John FitzPatrick and Josh Whyle
(AP Photo/Michael Owens)
WR Christian Watson
Backed up by Malik Heath
(AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
QB Jordan Love
Backed up by Malik Willis
(AP Photo/Matt Freed)
RB Josh Jacobs
Backed up by Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks
(AP Photo/Michael Owens)
DE Rashan Gary
Backed up by Lukas Van Ness and Barryn Sorrell
(AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
DT Devonte Wyatt
Backed up by Karl Brooks and Warren Brinson
(AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
DT Colby Wooden
Backed up by Nazir Stackhouse
(AP Photo/Paul Jasienski)
DE Micah Parsons
Backed up by Kingsley Enagbare and Arron Mosby
(AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
LB Isaiah McDuffie
Backed up by Ty'Ron Hopper
(AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
LB Quay Walker
Backed up by Ty'Ron Hopper
(AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
LB Edgerrin Cooper
Backed up by Kristian Welch
(AP Photo/Kevin Sabitus)
CB Keisean Nixon
Backed up by Nate Hobbs and Bo Melton
(AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
CB Carrington Valentine
Backed up by Kamal Hadden
(AP Photo/Logan Bowles)
S Xavier McKinney
Backed up by Javon Bullard and Kitan Oladapo
(AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
S Evan Williams
Backed up by Zayne Anderson
(AP Photo/Cooper Neill)
K Brandon McManus
Backed up by Lucas Havrisik
(AP Photo/Kevin Sabitus)
P/H Daniel Whelan
(AP Photo/Michael Owens)
PR Romeo Doubs
Backed up by Keisean Nixon and Matthew Golden
(AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
KR Savion Williams
Backed up by Bo Melton and Keisean Nixon
(AP Photo/Margaret Bowles)
LS Matt Orzech
(AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
2. Green Bay is playing really good defense right now. The Vikings mustered just 145 total yards and were 2-of-9 on third down in Green Bay's 23-6 win. Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (34.2 passer rating) was sacked five times and intercepted twice as Minnesota had only two field goals on the afternoon. Green Bay currently ranks fifth in points allowed (18.4), fourth in total defense (278.7) and their 92 pressures are the eighth most in NFL.
"I think we got one of the best defenses in the league, if not the best; the talent that we have," safety Xavier McKinney said. "We have a hell of a DC (Jeff Hafley). He called a great game (Sunday) and we went out there and executed. Great DC, great players all coming together, it looks good."
3. Love said the Packers are playing with a ton of confidence right now after back-to-back wins over the Giants and Vikings but he knows the difficulty of the task at hand on a short week traveling to Detroit to play the Lions.
"I think they've dealt with some injuries, we have as well, so that always plays a factor," Love said when asked what he's seen from Detroit on film. "But I don't think much has changed with them (since last playing Detroit Week 1).
"It's always a test playing there. Obviously, great environment. Very loud environment. We've been there before and know what it's about. Communication has to be on point, and it'll be another test."
4. Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons said the Packers are aware of the magnitude of the game and what winning Thursday does for the playoff and NFC North title percentages for the winner.
"It is a big game," Parsons said.
5. Parsons recorded two sacks against the Vikings and three quarterback hits. He now has 10.0 sacks on the year. He's just the second NFL player (since 1982) to post 10-plus sacks in each of his first five seasons in the league (Reggie White, 1985-89).
"Me and (Cowboys WR) CeeDee Lamb used to say 1,000 yards is like the minimum," Parsons said. "I feel like 10 sacks for the standard of player you are, that should be the minimum you should get. For me, mine was just always 10 sacks."
6. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was asked Tuesday if he's noticed a difference at all in Detroit's offense the last two weeks with Dan Campbell calling the plays.
LaFleur said nothing has changed from a scheme perspective, but he thinks Campbell has done a nice job getting the ball in the hands of playmakers like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Jahmyr Gibbs.
7. Asked about the strategy of double-teaming Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, LaFleur thinks Detroit is doing a nice job moving Hutchinson around and changing up their fronts to make it harder to double him.
