By Moses Joshua 
An underwhelming hire in Detroit could quietly reshape the NFC North race before the 2026 season even kicks off.
The NFL offseason rarely hands out wins on paper, but sometimes one team’s decision becomes another’s advantage. For the Green Bay Packers, still licking their wounds after a season-ending loss to the Chicago Bears, that moment may have arrived courtesy of their biggest divisional rival.
When reports surfaced that the Detroit Lions had agreed to hire Drew Petzing as their new offensive coordinator, the reaction around the NFC North was swift—and not especially flattering toward Detroit. While the move filled a vacancy, it also raised eyebrows, especially given the caliber of names the Lions were previously connected to. For Green Bay, that hesitation out of Detroit may feel like the first small victory of the 2026 offseason.
A Hire That Fell Short of Expectations
Detroit’s search for an offensive coordinator carried lofty expectations. After cycling through play-callers and watching their offense lose its bite, the assumption around the league was that the Lions would swing big. Interviews reportedly included some of the most respected offensive minds in football, fueling anticipation of a splashy hire.
Instead, Detroit landed on Petzing, most recently the offensive coordinator in Arizona. While he brings experience and a reputation for solid fundamentals, his résumé doesn’t quite match the buzz that surrounded Detroit’s search. During his time with the Cardinals, Petzing’s offenses never cracked the league’s top tier in scoring or total yardage.
There were positives. Tight end Trey McBride flourished under his watch, and Arizona’s rushing attack ranked among the NFL’s best in back-to-back seasons. Still, Petzing now steps into a very different situation—one without Kyler Murray’s improvisational ability to paper over schematic shortcomings.
For a Lions team trying to reestablish itself as the division’s offensive standard, the hire felt more safe than bold.
Why Green Bay Should Be Smiling
The Packers know firsthand how much coaching matters in this rivalry. In 2024, Detroit—then guided by Ben Johnson—ran roughshod through the division and captured another NFC North crown. When Johnson departed, the balance shifted. Green Bay swept Detroit the following season, exposing an offense that struggled to find consistency under John Morton, who was dismissed after just one year.
Given that context, many expected Detroit to respond aggressively. That’s why Petzing’s arrival feels like a missed opportunity—and why it plays directly into Green Bay’s hands.
The Packers don’t need Detroit to collapse; they simply need the Lions to stall. If the offense takes time to adjust or fails to reach another gear, Green Bay suddenly has a clearer path back to the top of the division.
A Division Full of Question Marks
Detroit’s decision doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The NFC North is shaping up as one of the league’s most unpredictable divisions entering 2026.
Chicago enjoyed a surprising run last season, but their success leaned heavily on close-game fortune and an unsustainably high turnover rate. Minnesota remains talented but unsettled, particularly at quarterback. And Green Bay, despite a late-season slide fueled by injuries, showed enough early to suggest they’re not far off.
In that environment, coaching edges matter. Offensive creativity, adaptability, and in-game problem-solving often decide divisional games. By opting for a coordinator whose track record suggests steadiness rather than innovation, Detroit may have narrowed its own margin for error.
An Early Shift in Momentum
None of this guarantees success for Green Bay, nor does it doom Detroit’s season before it begins. But optics matter in the NFL, and perception often becomes reality. While the Packers continue to sort out their own internal questions, their rival’s choice has quietly tilted the conversation.
Sometimes the biggest offseason win isn’t a blockbuster signing or a headline-grabbing trade. Sometimes it’s watching your rival blink first.
And on this Monday afternoon, the Lions may have done just that—handing the Packers a subtle, but meaningful, early edge.