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Detroit Lions look like Super Bowl 59 favorites in NFC after dominating Packers 24-14
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- Detroit Lions look like Super Bowl 59 favorites in NFC after dominating Packers 24-14
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Dan Campbell's prediction came true.
Campbell said this week Sunday's Detroit Lions-Green Bay Packers game would come down to "one critical error" and whoever makes it "is going to lose."
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Packers quarterback Jordan Love made the costly mistake late in Sunday's first half, throwing a careless interception that Kerby Joseph returned 27 yards for a touchdown and the Lions strengthened their hold on first place in the NFC North with a commanding 24-14 win over the Packers at rain-soaked Lambeau Field.
Amon-Ra St. Brown had a slick touchdown on fourth-and-goal, and Jahmyr Gibbs scored on a touchdown run for the Lions, who lost starting safety Brian Branch to an ejection in the second quarter.
The Lions improved to 7-1 with the win and have won six straight since their Week 2 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . The Packers fell to 6-3 with the loss; three other teams have two losses in the NFC: The Washington Commanders (7-2), Philadelphia Eagles (6-2) and Minnesota Vikings , who were 5-2 entering the Sunday night game.
Here are three quick thoughts from the Lions' win over the Packers:
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Here are three quick thoughts on Sunday's win:
Slim pick-ings
There's something about playing the Packers that brings out the best in Joseph.
Joseph's interception Sunday was his fourth in as many games against Green Bay . He had two picks in the Lions' Week 9 win over the Packers in 2022, the win that helped lift the Lions out of a 1-6 start and vault them to where they are now, and another in the final game of the 2022 season – on the final pass of Aaron Rodgers ' career as a Packer.
Last year, Joseph missed the first Lions-Packers game at Lambeau Field with a hip injury and had four tackles in the Thanksgiving rematch. On Sunday, his pick came on a dump-off to running back Josh Jacobs after he got stoned on a blitz.
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Joseph is one of the rangiest safeties in the NFL. He has 14 interceptions in 2 ½ seasons, and he's tied with Packers safety Xavier McKinney for the NFL lead with six interceptions this year.
The Lions have been able to survive Aidan Hutchinson 's loss on defense in part because they Joseph and Branch are the best safety tandem in the NFL.
Birds of a feather
Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch reacts after being disqualified by the referee during the first half against Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024.
Branch might be the Lions' best defensive player, but he had an uncharacteristic lapse in judgment Sunday that could come back to haunt the Lions.
Branch was flagged and ejected late in the second quarter when he lowered his helmet to hit Green Bay Packers receiver Bo Melton on an incomplete pass down the sideline. Angry at his delayed ejection, Branch spent several moments complaining to officials, then flipped what appeared to be two middle fingers either towards the officials or the Lambeau Field crowd before leaving for the locker room.
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Branch drew a second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for the act, and surely will face further discipline from the league. Branch previously was fined in Week 3 for a helmet-to-helmet hit against the Arizona Cardinals . He's considered a repeat offender by the league and will draw at least a big fine this week.
I say at least because the NFL has indicated it will suspend players who repeatedly violate rules designed to protect player health and safety. Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James was suspended one game earlier this year for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Friermuth.
James has had seven unnecessary roughness penalties since 2018; Branch had just one previous unnecessary roughness penalty (in Week 3 last season, when he also was flagged for a horse collar tackle).
I think it would be premature for the NFL to sit Branch for a game, but he's certainly on their radar for more punishment down the road.
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Super Bowl 59 good?
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown celebrates his touchdown catch against the Green Bay Packers with receiver Tim Patrick during the first half at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024.
Super Bowl 59 is a little more than three months away and no team feels like a bigger lock to make it than the Lions.
The Lions already have survived arguably the toughest stretch of their schedule , winning road games against playoff contenders the Packers, Vikings and Dallas Cowboys since the bye, and they're a good bet to hit the teens in wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time in franchise history .
They play the AFC-South leading Houston Texans (6-3) next on Sunday Night Football, though the Texans have stumbled lately with losses in two of their past three games. The Lions have home games with all three of their division rivals (plus a road trip to Chicago ) still to play. And they have December games home against the Buffalo Bills and at the San Francisco 49ers .
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The Lions are well on their way to being the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs , and if that happens, they'll be near impossible to beat at Ford Field. The Packers were supposed to be the second-best team in the NFC, and they had so many dropped passes and self-inflicted mistakes Sunday in the rain that they didn't look like they belonged on the same field.
There are more good teams in the AFC, where the Kansas City Chiefs are the NFL's only unbeaten heading into their game Monday night against the Tampa Bay Bucs, the Bills are dangerous with Josh Allen at quarterback, and the Baltimore Ravens can make a case as the NFL's best team even with a 6-3 record.
It's no lock, but if you want to see the Lions play in their first Super Bowl , you might make a hotel reservation for New Orleans now just in case.
Dave Birkett will sign copies of his new book, " Detroit Lions : An Illustrated Timeline" at 7 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Applebee's in Auburn Hills and from noon-2 p.m. Nov. 30 at the Troy Sports Card Show at the Balkan American Community Center. Order your copy here . Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com . Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett .
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions look like NFC Super Bowl 59 favorites after dominating Packers
