Lions kick off quest to win NFC North with 1st division game of year against surging Packers at home

The Detroit Lions begin their quest to win the NFC North with their first division game of the year at home against a surging Green Bay Packers team on Sunday. Detroit (3-2) will also face the Minnesota Vikings in the next two weeks at Ford Field, with a visit from Chicago on Thanksgiving looming. After finishing last season without winning the division, the Lions are aiming to make home-field advantage count, particularly in a stretch where three of their last four regular-season games are on the road, including a trip to Lambeau Field in Week 18. Green Bay (4-2) hopes to benefit from Josh Jacobs’ return; the running back was removed from the commissioner’s exempt list after pleading no contest to two misdemeanor charges tied to an altercation. The Packers rank last in rushing yards and yards per carry. Key matchup centers on Green Bay’s passing attack versus Detroit’s passing defense.