The Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions meet in an NFC North showdown at Ford Field on Sunday, and this Packers vs Lions Week 7 preview breaks down a matchup between a defense trying to slow down the league’s highest-scoring offense and a Lions team coming off its bye week. Green Bay enters at 4-2 while Detroit sits at 3-2, with both clubs chasing ground in a division Minnesota currently leads at 5-0.
Detroit ranks fourth in the NFL in total offense at 393.8 yards per game and is tied with Buffalo for the scoring lead at 32.8 points per game. Green Bay brings the NFL’s 10th-ranked defense, allowing 307.7 yards and 20.8 points per game. How the Packers handle that offensive balance, and whether running back Josh Jacobs can jump-start Green Bay’s run game, will shape the afternoon.
Packers Vs Lions Game Information
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026
- Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
- Venue: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
- TV: Fox
- Weather: 67°F, 0% chance of precipitation
How Have Both Teams Played Recently?
Green Bay started 1-2 before winning three straight, including a 23-13 decision over Dallas on Oct. 19 and a 31-7 rout of Chicago on Oct. 11. The Packers’ only loss in that stretch came in a 35-14 setback at home to Atlanta in Week 3, according to FOX Sports.
Detroit is coming off its best scoring output of the season, a 45-21 road win over Arizona on Oct. 11, per FOX Sports. The Lions also have a 31-30 overtime win over New Orleans and a 31-24 win over the Jets on their resume, against losses to Buffalo and Carolina.
What Is The Status Of Josh Jacobs?
Jacobs is off the Commissioner’s Exempt List and eligible to play, and he returned to practice Wednesday. Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said Jacobs “could play against Detroit in Week 7,” according to Sporting News.
Stenavich called the run game “among the biggest problems” for Green Bay this season and said getting Jacobs back matters. “Josh will definitely help, for sure. He’s an excellent player, and he’ll provide some good spark for our offense.
So, I’m excited about that. But we just all need to do a better job,” Stenavich told reporters, per Sporting News.
Jacobs rushed for 929 yards and 13 touchdowns on 234 carries last season and posted 1,329 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2024, giving Green Bay a proven option if he is active Sunday.
Who Is Banged Up Heading Into Sunday?
Green Bay lists guard Aaron Banks (knee), defensive end Lukas Van Ness (illness), linebacker Zaire Franklin (shin), receiver Savion Williams (ankle) and receiver Bo Melton (back) as questionable. Edge rusher Micah Parsons remains on the physically unable to perform list and is not practicing, according to Yahoo Sports. Detroit is without safeties Brian Branch (Achilles surgery) and Kerby Joseph (knee), both listed out, while guard Ben Bartch, linebacker Devin White and receiver Tom Kennedy remain on injured reserve.
What Is The Key Matchup?
Jared Goff has completed 67.0% of his passes for 1,485 yards, 12 touchdowns and zero interceptions through five games, and Jahmyr Gibbs has combined for 504 rushing yards on 105 carries with seven total touchdowns and 243 receiving yards. Green Bay’s defense, which has allowed 307.7 yards per game, will need to contain that combination against a Lions offensive coordinator, Drew Petzing, who previously worked alongside Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon in Arizona from 2023 to 2025. Gannon addressed that history and the challenge Detroit presents when speaking with reporters Tuesday.
“Yeah, it’s a really good offense. I just left the meeting, there’s no tendencies. He’s creative as all get out.
He uses his playmakers in a way to showcase their talents. The quarterback does an excellent job of getting them in the right plays to put you as a defense at a disadvantage. When you want to be aggressive, he burns you.
When you want to be safe, he burns you. So we get a big-time challenge,” Gannon said, according to Yahoo Sports.
Players To Watch
Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions
Gibbs is averaging 4.8 yards per carry and 9.0 yards per reception this season, giving Detroit a dual-threat weapon that Green Bay’s defense must account for on every down.
Josh Jacobs, RB, Green Bay Packers
If active, Jacobs would give the Packers a lead back with recent 1,000-yard production, addressing what Stenavich called one of the team’s biggest issues this season.
What To Watch
Green Bay sits at 4-2 and Detroit at 3-2 in a division where Minnesota remains unbeaten at 5-0 through its first five games. A Lions win would pull Detroit even with Green Bay in the loss column, while a Packers win would stretch their winning streak to four games. Jacobs’ availability and how Green Bay’s defense handles Detroit’s scoring attack figure to be the deciding factors.
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
