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

The Detroit Lions begin their first of six NFC North games in a two-week stretch starting Sunday against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field, with a looming visit from the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving. Detroit is 3-2 and is looking to reverse last year’s division struggles, when it went 2-4 against the Bears, Packers and Vikings. The article frames the Packers’ 4-2 start and a matchup that could test both teams: Green Bay ranks last in rushing yards and yards per carry, but is expected to get a boost with the return of Josh Jacobs, removed this week from the commissioner’s exempt list after pleading no contest to two misdemeanor charges. Lions coach Dan Campbell said division games are “a game and a half.”