The Detroit Lions are only weeks away from launching their 2025-26 campaign, and expectations are sky-high. Much of the intrigue surrounds how the team will perform without the familiar presence of Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn on the coaching staff. Despite those departures, the Lions are still considered one of the NFL’s premier contenders.
Last season, Detroit looked like the team to beat in the NFC before their run ended abruptly in a stunning loss to the Washington Commanders. Now, they’ll begin their new journey with a Week 1 divisional clash at Ford Field, hosting the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, September 7, 2025, at 4:25 p.m. ET.
That game just got more complicated. Green Bay pulled off a blockbuster move, acquiring star pass rusher Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys in a deal that sent two first-round picks and veteran defensive tackle Kenny Clark to Dallas. The Packers wasted no time in locking Parsons down, handing him a four-year, $188 million contract extension.
Although the trade stirred mixed reactions among Packers fans, few can deny the impact Parsons brings. His arrival makes Detroit’s opening matchup a far greater challenge than it looked just a week ago.
Candace Pedraza of SideLion Report wrote on August 28 that the Lions now have two immediate concerns: figuring out how to neutralize Parsons with a revamped offensive line, and adjusting to the reality that the Packers may have just strengthened their claim on the NFC North crown.
Detroit’s O-line has already taken a hit with Frank Ragnow’s retirement, forcing rookie Tate Ratledge into a starting role at right guard. Veterans Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell will be tasked with keeping Jared Goff upright against one of the league’s most dangerous edge rushers.
Jovan Alford of Detroit Jock City echoed the concern, noting that last year’s high-scoring duel between these rivals could look very different this season. “The Packers already had a strong defense, but they lacked a true elite pass rusher,” Alford explained. “Now, with Parsons, they’ve filled that gap, and it’s up to Detroit’s offensive line to step up.”
The first Lions-Packers battle of 2025 is set for Week 1, followed by the rematch later in the season at Lambeau Field.
On the bright side for Detroit, their Week 6 meeting with the Kansas City Chiefs may be slightly less daunting. Kansas City receiver Rashee Rice will be sidelined with a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Still, the Lions know their toughest early-season challenges will come against Green Bay—and Parsons will be at the center of that test.
