Former NFL star sounds alarm for Taylor Decker-less Lions ahead of TNF clash vs Packers
The Detroit Lions are set to clash with the Green Bay Packers Thursday night, as they continue their remarkable run in the 2024 NFL season. Despite escaping a hard-fought game against the Chicago Bears last Thursday, the Bears have some questions to answer against Jordan Love and Co.
One of those will be the absence of offensive tackle Taylor Decker, who's played 10 of the 12 games of the season. During Wednesday's edition of "The Pat McAfee Show," former Super Bowl champion AQ Shipley warned about the ramifications of not having Decker on the field.
"The one thing I wanted to bring up was the fact that if Taylor Decker doesn't play, the two games he hasn't played was last week, and then against Houston, and they struggled in both of those," Shipley said.
Taylor Decker was selected in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Lions, playing a key role for the squad. His presence has been crucial for their success and proof of that are the struggles of last week. The Chicago Bears were one Matt Eberflus right decision away from beating the Lions, but a terrible clock management allowed Detroit to escape that game with another victory.
Dan Campbell and his staff will need to take note of Shipley's words, as Decker is out for Thursday's game after not practicing all week.
Detroit Lions vying to clinch a playoff berth against Packers
The Detroit Lions could join the Kansas City Chiefs as the second team to clinch a playoff berth. They can secure their slot in the postseason with a win or tie against the Packers. There are nine more scenarios in which they can become a playoff team, but the first scenario depends exclusively on tomorrow's night result.
Perhaps outside the San Francisco 49ers, Detroit will have four difficult matchups to close out the season. It all will start tomorrow night against the dangerous Packers, a team they dominated on Nov. 3 despite losing Brian Branch due to an ejection. After this game, they will travel to Highmark Stadium to a high-flying clash against the Buffalo Bills before facing the Chicago Bears on Dec. 22.
After facing the 49ers, they will close out the season against the Minnesota Vikings, their closest pursuer in the NFC North division at this moment.
Detroit is looking pretty dangerous in the final stretch of the season, but the Bears showed that they can be beaten.