What has changed since the Packers last faced the Lions?

On Thursday, the Packers and Lions will face off for the second time in 2024. However, a few things have changed in the month since the two teams last met.

Just over a month ago, the Green Bay Packers suffered a 24-14 loss to the Detroit Lions. That game reinforced narratives about both teams. For the Packers, it served as a reminder that they remained a step behind the reigning NFC North champion. For the Lions, it served as the latest sign that they had the inside track to not only the division crown but perhaps the entire NFC.

Some of the hurdles the Packers faced during their first matchup with the Lions remain in place. Most notably, Jaire Alexander will again miss the game while continuing to work back from the knee injury that has limited him to 10 total snaps over the past month. Though Green Bay has adapted to Alexander's absence over the past month, the defense still needs to find an answer for when Detroit isolates Amon-Ra St. Brown in a one-on-one matchup.

Still, other factors that determined the outcome last time have changed in the time since. Those shifts don't necessarily mean the Packers will emerge victorious Thursday night, but they do offer valid reasons to think this game could unfold differently.