Getty Image / Amy Lemus
The Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers will close out the NFL’s regular season in one of Week 18’s most important matchups.
The Packers have worked their way back from a 3-6 start to put themselves in the driver’s seat for a playoff spot in the NFC.
The Detroit Lions also have a shot at a playoff spot but need some help from the Seattle Seahawks.
Ahead of the matchup, it appears the Lions are not particularly happy with a lack of respect from Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Today, Lions safety DeShon Elliott discussed how that lack of respect has given a bit of extra meaning to this game for the Lions.
Elliott is the third Lions player to take aim at the quarterback this week, over perceived signs of disrespect. https://t.co/CEsMFbARoq
— MLive (@MLive) January 6, 2023
This means a lot, because I feel like they don’t respect us. [Rodgers] doesn’t respect us; that team doesn’t respect us. We shouldn’t be an underdog, no matter what the record says. Going out there, I think we’re going to fight our ass off, play smashmouth football, just cause of the respect factor.
Like, we all got here someway, somehow. Yeah, he’s a Hall-of-Famer, but I just don’t respect the way he’s been talking about my guys all year, and the way that team views us. So we’re going to go out there and prove something.
To be fair to Aaron Rodgers, the Detroit Lions haven’t given him much reason to respect them over the years. While he has been dominating the NFC North, they have rarely risen out of the bottom of the division.
This year they are beginning to change that narrative and a win to keep the Packers out of the playoffs would certainly go a long way towards changing the way he views their team.
Even though they may already be eliminated from playoff contention before this game even starts, there is no doubt the Detroit Lions will have plenty of motivation for this game on Sunday night.