The relief and joy the Green Bay Packers got from Sunday's 23-20 win over the Los Angeles Chargers was well deserved, but it's not something they can rest on for very long.
Before he departed Lambeau, head coach Matt LaFleur was talking about the challenge ahead of the Packers with their Thanksgiving Day matchup with the Detroit Lions.
"You're only as good as your last game," LaFleur said at his postgame press conference. "We'll enjoy it tonight, but it's a very quick turnaround.
"We've got one of the best teams in the NFL going into their building on Thanksgiving. That's a special opportunity to be able to play on Thanksgiving Day.
"Just really happy with our guys. "
The Lions have a four-game winning streak over the Packers, and they have a firm grip on first place in the North with a won-loss record of 8-2. The Packers are in third place at 4-6.
The Lions' 34-20 win over the Packers at Lambeau Field in Week 4 started the Packers on a four-game losing streak. They broke that with a 20-3 win over the Rams, followed by a loss to the Steelers and the win over the Chargers.
View photos of the starters for the Green Bay Packers.
Head Coach: Matt LaFleur
Offensive Coordinator: Adam Stenavich
Defensive Coordinator: Joe Barry
Special Teams Coordinator: Rich Bisaccia
(AP Photo/Morry Gash)
WR Christian Watson
Backed up by Malik Heath
(AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
WR Romeo Doubs
Backed up by Dontayvion Wicks
(AP Photo/Morry Gash)
T Rasheed Walker
Backed up by Yosh Nijman
(AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
G Elgton Jenkins
Backed up by Sean Rhyan
(AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
C Josh Myers
Backed up by Jon Runyan
(AP Photo/Bart Young)
G Jon Runyan
Backed up by Royce Newman
(AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
T Zach Tom
Backed up by Caleb Jones
(AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
TE Luke Musgrave
Backed up by Josiah Deguara, Tucker Kraft and Ben Sims
(AP Photo/Matt Freed)
WR Jayden Reed
Backed up by Samori Toure
(AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
QB Jordan Love
Backed up by Sean Clifford
(AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
RB Aaron Jones
Backed up by AJ Dillon, Emanuel Wilson and Patrick Taylor
(Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
DE Kenny Clark
Backed up by Colby Wooden
(AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)
NT T.J. Slaton
Backed up by Karl Brooks
(AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
DE Devonte Wyatt
Backed up by Karl Brooks
(AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
OLB Preston Smith
Backed up by Lukas Van Ness
(AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
ILB De'Vondre Campbell
Backed up by Isaiah McDuffie and Kristian Welch
(AP Photo/Matt Freed)
ILB Quay Walker
Backed up by Eric Wilson
(AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
OLB Rashan Gary
Backed up by Kingsley Enagbare and Brenton Cox Jr.
(AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
CB Jaire Alexander
Backed up by Carrington Valentine and Robert Rochell
(AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
CB Keisean Nixon
Backed up by Corey Ballentine and Kyu Blu Kelly
(AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
S Jonathan Owens
Backed up by Anthony Johnson Jr.
(AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
S Rudy Ford
Backed up by Zayne Anderson
(AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
K Anders Carlson
(Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
P/H Daniel Whelan
(AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
PR/KR Keisean Nixon
Backed up by Jayden Reed
(Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
LS Matt Orzech
(AP Photo/Bart Young)
Quarterback Jordan Love had one of his better games against the Chargers. Love completed 27 of 40 passes for 322 yards and two TDs. He did not have an interception.
Love had limited support from the running game in the second half because of injuries. A.J. Dillon was the only healthy back left. He was held to 29 yards on 14 carries.
Aaron Jones, who's had three seasons of more than 1,000 yards rushing, has been limited to 245 yards by injuries this season. He sustained another injury Sunday and was taken off the field on a cart.
Love has held up reasonably well under the pressure of succeeding Aaron Rodgers. He has 16 TD passes against 10 interceptions and a completion rate of 59.7 percent.
The Packers have 23 sacks. Rashan Gary leads the team with 5.5.
Lions keys
1. Don't make it too complicated with a short time to prepare.
"You got to have just enough wrinkles to make sure you're not a sitting duck," head coach Dan Campbell said. "Yet you don't want to do so much that you slow your own guys down."
2. Don't give up big plays.
"We can't give up explosives," Campbell said. "We can't give up any of these easy chunk plays. They are having some success with those."
Lions-Packers prediction:
The Lions haven't won a game on Thanksgiving Day in Campbell's first two years as head coach. The third time is the charm.
The Lions are favored by 8.5.
My pick: Lions 31, Packers 16.
Who ya got?
