Packers at Lions – Week 11

Where: Ford Field, Detroit (FieldTurf, indoors)

When: Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET (FOX)

Spread: Packers by 3

Records: Packers (Overall: 6-3, NFC North: 1-0); Lions (Overall: 4-5, NFC North: 0-3)

Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Jan. 1, 2012: Packers 45, Lions 41; Nov. 24, 2011: Packers 27, Lions 15. Series record: The Packers hold a 91-65-7 edge in the all-time series, including a 7-3 mark vs. Detroit at Ford Field.

What matters: Winning divisional games. Coming out of their bye and beginning the home stretch of five NFC North matchups in their final seven games, the Packers are completely focused on winning the division, their oft-stated first goal of every season. Coach Mike McCarthy called the schedule cluster at the end of the year “unique” and said Wednesday, “We’re in a division football competition mindset,” a message echoed around the locker room by players. McCarthy also said that the coaches spent the bye week self-scouting and identified three important (though not exactly earth-shattering) components: winning the turnover advantage, winning the third-down advantage and winning the penalty advantage. Green Bay is sixth in the NFL in turnover differential (plus-4) while Detroit is 12th at minus-4. The Packers are 11th in third-down conversions (41.7 percent) while the Lions are 13th at 40.9 percent. And the Packers are seventh in the league in fewest penalties committed (53) whereas the Lions are 25th with 63.

Who matters: RBs James Starks and Alex Green. The Lions have a good pass defense, the seventh-best in the league (213.4 yards per game). WR James Jones pointed that out during the week and QB Aaron Rodgers also mentioned that it was an improved group. Detroit is more vulnerable on the ground, where they allow 116.2 yards per game (19th in the NFL). In its Week 9 win over Arizona just before the bye, Green Bay showed a newfound ability to run the ball, gaining 176 rushing yards, its most since 2009. It will be on Starks, who has added a spark since returning from injury a few weeks ago, and Green, a young back with big-play ability, to provide the offensive balance necessary to keep the Lions honest and open up the passing game for Rodgers, Jones and company.

Key matchups: Packers LG Evan Dietrich-Smith vs. Lions DT Ndamukong Suh. As the media has unfailingly reminded both players and just about everyone else, these two guys have a bit of a history. The last time Green Bay visited Detroit, on Thanksgiving Day last season, Suh smashed Dietrich-Smith’s head into the ground and stomped on his arm after a play, garnering a fine and earning the hatred of Packers fans. Dietrich-Smith entered that game as an injury substitute; this week, Dietrich-Smith makes his first start of the season at left guard because LG T.J. Lang is starting for injured RT Bryan Bulaga. Both players have taken the same tone on the subject, with Dietrich-Smith it’s just football, and Suh saying it’s in the past. EDS, as his teammates call him, earned the praise of his fellow linemen and Rodgers this week, who say they have confidence in the third-year undrafted utility lineman. He faces a tall order blocking against Suh and other talents Lions defensive tackles Nick Fairley and Corey Williams. … Packers CB Tramon Williams vs. Lions WR Calvin Johnson. It’s simple: Williams had the biggest game of his career last year in the season-finale against the Packers, catching 11 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown. Also, he’s coming off his best game of this season, catching 12 passes for 207 yards and a score last week against the Vikings. Covering the opponents’ top receiver is Williams’ thankless job and he’ll need to be on top of his game Sunday against Megatron.

Injuries of note: Deep breath: WR Greg Jennings (groin/abdomen), LB Clay Matthews (hamstring) and DB Charles Woodson (collarbone) are all out, as is Bulaga, who was placed on injured reserve on Monday. Interestingly, all four of those players didn’t play in last year’s season finale, and not having Matthews and Woodson, arguably the defense’s two biggest playmakers, will hurt.

Inside stuff: Green Bay absolutely owns Detroit. The Packers have won 20 of the last 23 meetings, including 11 of the past 12 since McCarthy took over as coach. The only loss in that span? The 2010 game in which Rodgers was knocked out with a concussion. Rodgers is 6-1 as a starter against the Lions, with 16 passing TDs and just four INTs. Rodgers is coming off a couple subpar outings -- even when he threw four TDs against the Cardinals, when he said he didn’t throw the ball very well -- and he could be primed for a big day.

Connections: Jennings (Kalamazoo/Western Michigan), Lang (Birmingham/Eastern Michigan) and LB Frank Zombo (Sterling Heights/Central Michigan) are Michigan natives and played collegiately in the state. … LB Brad Jones is a native of East Lansing, Mich. … Packers DE Jerel Worthy played at Michigan State.

Stat you should know: .833, as in McCarthy’s winning percentage in games immediately following the bye. Under McCarthy, the Packers are 5-1 after their off week. McCarthy and his staff spent the week self-scouting, the players spent the week resting and recuperating their battered bodies and Green Bay should be ready to roll on Sunday.

Bulletin board quote: “He just better not stomp on me,” RG Josh Sitton said when asked about Suh’s infamous trample of Dietrich-Smith last year. Sitton was the player who had gotten hurt in that game, opening up the spot for Dietrich-Smith. Both Sitton and Dietrich-Smith should get a hearty dose of Suh, who has 4.5 sacks this season but has been called overrated in the media.

Looking ahead: After Detroit, the Packers are on the road again, to New York to face the Giants in the Sunday night game next week. Then, it’s back home for two more divisional games, against the Vikings and the Lions.

Prediction: Packers 30, Lions 24

Follow Packers reporter James Carlton on Twitter: @CBSPackers and @jimmycarlton88.