Parsons ready for Packers debut: 'I've never liked Detroit'

Micah Parsons can't wait for his Green Bay Packers debut Sunday against the Detroit Lions.

Parsons said Thursday that he wasn't a fan of the Lions - one of Green Bay's biggest rivals - even before the Dallas Cowboys traded him to the Packers last week.

"I felt like Dallas and Detroit already had a rivalry," Parsons said, according to Ryan Wood of USA Today. "I already got that rivalry built up. I'm excited to play them. I've never liked Detroit. I've never liked them, even when I was in Dallas. It was just always a heavyweight fight."

The Lions and Packers enter the regular season as two of the NFC's top teams. Detroit was the conference's 1-seed in 2024 after posting a 15-2 record, while Green Bay reached the playoffs with 11 wins.

Though the Packers have dominated this all-time rivalry overall, the Lions swept their in-season series last year and are 5-1 versus Green Bay over the past three campaigns. Under head coach Dan Campbell, Detroit has won three out of four games at Lambeau Field.

With Campbell and former coordinator Ben Johnson at the helm, the Lions became known for their offensive firepower and creativity. Johnson left Detroit this past offseason, but the team is still expected to boast one of the NFL's most productive offenses. However, the Lions' viral trick plays and unpredictability on offense haven't impressed Parsons.

"Trick plays are for people who can't beat you straight up," Parsons said. "They won't want to outphysical you; they don't want to be dominant. It's a scare tactic."

Parsons, 26, has faced the Lions twice in his career, collecting 10 tackles, two tackles for loss, and two sacks. The Cowboys won both of those games.