Micah Parsons may be new to Green Bay, but he needs no introduction to the Packers-Lions rivalry.
The star edge rusher, who was traded to Green Bay from the Dallas Cowboys last week, spent part of his weekly media availability needling the Packers’ Week 1 opponent.
“I never liked Detroit,” Parsons said Thursday, via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky. “I never liked them.”
The Packers and Lions square off Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET) at Lambeau Field.
Why Doesn’t Micah Parsons Like Detroit?
The Lions and Cowboys have played three straight seasons, though an ankle injury prevented Parsons from playing in the 2024 matchup, which Detroit won 47-9. That was also the game where Lions star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson broke his tibia and fibula.
The year before, Dallas edged Detroit 20-19 on a controversial finish in which officials overturned a successful two-point conversion try for the Lions because offensive tackle Taylor Decker was deemed an ineligible receiver.
“It was always just a heavyweight fight every time they came in,” Parsons said, via the Detroit News’ Nolan Bianchi. “They kind of got our guys when I was injured last year — the whole team was injured — so I just think it’s a funny way how things work.
“I’m excited to play them. I know they’re excited. It’s gonna go all 12 to 15 rounds.”
What is the Packers’ Record Against the Lions?
The Lions swept the Packers last season and are 6-2 against Green Bay since Dan Campbell took over as head coach in 2021. They’ve won three straight at Lambeau Field, including a Week 18 victory in 2022 in Aaron Rodgers’ final game as a Packer.
“Man, we love Lambeau,” Campbell told ESPN. “It’s awesome. That’s one of those places, on the eighth day, the good Lord made Lambeau so we can go out there and play in it. … Our guys look forward to it. It’s one of those special places to go play.”
The Packers lead the all-time series 106-78-7.
What Did Micah Parsons Say About Trick Plays?
Parsons also seemed to take a dig at the Lions’ penchant for running trick plays, which became a staple of their attack under offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. The four-time Pro Bowler called them a “scared tactic.”
“Trick plays are for people who can’t beat you straight up,” he said, via USA Today’s Ryan Wood. “It’s like a guy running around the ring all day trying to jab. Meet me in the middle. You know what I mean? Let’s line it up.
“That’s what guys who try to do trick plays do. They can’t beat you head up, they don’t want to out-physical you. They don’t want to be dominant.”
Time will tell if anything changes with a new coordinator calling the shots in Detroit.
Micah Parsons Takes 4-Word Shot at Detroit Before Week 1 Packers-Lions Matchup