By Blessing 
Several weeks ago, when the Detroit Lions offense looked out of rhythm and several key weapons weren’t being used to their full potential, head coach Dan Campbell made a bold move: he took over play-calling duties from then–offensive coordinator John Morton. Now Detroit is gearing up for a Week 13 matchup against the Green Bay Packers, and it’s clear this isn’t the same Lions team that was handled 27–13 at Lambeau back in the season opener. With Campbell running the offense, Green Bay has one more wrinkle to account for.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur doesn’t believe Detroit’s system has changed dramatically, but as someone who manages Green Bay’s operation himself, he understands how demanding the job can be. Because of that, he had nothing but respect for the way Campbell has stepped in.
Campbell may be calling the plays now, but the main defensive focus for Green Bay hasn’t shifted: contain Detroit’s playmakers. When asked whether the Lions’ offense looks different under Campbell, LaFleur said, “I don’t know [if it’s] necessarily changed,” pointing to Detroit’s mixed scoring output over the last three weeks — 44 points against Washington, just nine against the Eagles, and 34 more versus the Giants.
Even with that inconsistency, LaFleur was impressed. “I think he’s done a heck of a job,” he continued. “Putting his guys in position, and then ultimately, they’ve got a ton of playmakers. Their offensive line, I think, is really talented. And then I think [quarterback Jared] Goff, just watching him play, he’s playing the best football, these last couple years, of his career. He’s playing at an extremely high level. And then you got a bunch of playmakers to throw it to, with Amon-Ra [St. Brown], with [Jameson] Williams. Obviously [Jahmyr] Gibbs and [David] Montgomery are two very special backs. I know they’re missing [tight end Sam] LaPorta, which is a big loss for them, but they got a lot of weapons.”
And that’s been the story: no matter who is holding the play sheet, Detroit’s offense leans heavily on its roster of dynamic skill players. Still, one noticeable shift since Campbell took over has been the increased involvement of Jameson Williams. Before Morton was demoted, there was growing frustration about how little Williams was contributing.
Those concerns have quieted. Morton has returned to an assistant-coach role, where he spent years before replacing Ben Johnson. Campbell has even started wearing glasses on the sideline as he dives deep into the play designs each week. And before a quiet outing last week (zero catches on three targets), Williams had delivered 10 receptions, 207 yards, and two touchdowns across Campbell’s first two games as the primary play-caller — his most productive stretch of the season.
Of course, Williams is just one piece of the puzzle. Amon-Ra St. Brown ranks fourth in the NFL in receiving yards (884 through 11 games). Jahmyr Gibbs sits third in rushing despite splitting 115 touches with David Montgomery. And although losing Sam LaPorta for the season is a major blow, the Lions still have plenty of threats.
Detroit’s defense has also held strong despite a wave of injuries. Entering Week 13, the Lions rank seventh in EPA per play, while the Packers sit 13th. Offensively, Green Bay is fourth in EPA per play and Detroit is sixth. With both teams competing at a high level, Thursday’s game could go a long way toward deciding the NFC North title. For Green Bay, containing Detroit’s offensive firepower might be the key to gaining the edge.