Lions kick off quest to win NFC North with 1st division game of year against surging Packers at home

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Lions are kicking off their first of six NFC North games against the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings in the Motor City over the next two weeks while a visit from Chicago looms on Thanksgiving.

If the Lions don't make home field an advantage during the potentially pivotal stretch, it will be tough for them to live up to expectations as preseason favorites and win the division for the third time in four years.

Detroit didn't win the NFC North last year in large part because it played poorly in it, going 2-4 against the division-champion Bears, Packers and Vikings.

The Lions (3-2) hope to take a step in the right direction against Green Bay (4-2) on Sunday as they try to track down the undefeated Vikings atop the NFC North.

“Division games are big, man,” Detroit coach Dan Campbell said. “You talk about wanting to win a division, you have got to win division games. That’s something we weren’t able to do last year and that’s why those are important. ... They’re really a game and a half.”

The Lions will play three of the last four games of the regular season on the road against NFC North teams, including a visit to Lambeau Field in Week 18.

Green Bay and Chicago are 1 1/2 games behind Minnesota (5-0) and that makes the stakes high for the visitors at Ford Field, too, in the NFL's only division that has four teams with a winning record.

“Since I’ve been the starter, the division’s been winning a lot of games and it’s been a very tight competition throughout the whole course of the division, through the whole season,” Packers quarterback Jordan Love said. “It’s one of those things where you’ve got to take advantage, you’ve got to win these matchups when they present themselves."

The Packers, who rank last in rushing yards and yards per carry, are expected to get a boost with the return of Josh Jacobs, who pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor charges stemming from an altercation with his then-girlfriend. The three-time Pro Bowl running back was removed this week from the commissioner’s exempt list, which had prevented him from playing in the first six games of the year or practicing with the team.

“It’s going to be a huge addition for us,” Love said. “Excited to have him back.”

Green Bay (4-2) at Detroit (3-2)

When/where to watch: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EDT, Fox.

Latest odds: Lions by 3

Against the spread: Packers 3-3; Lions 2-3.

Last week: Packers beat Cowboys 23-13; Lions had bye, beat Cardinals 45-21 on Oct. 11.

Last meeting: Packers beat Lions 31-24 on Nov. 27, 2025, in Detroit.

Series record: Packers lead 108-78-7.

Packers' passing game against Detroit's defense. Green Bay's Christian Watson has 538 yards receiving and six touchdowns while teammate Matthew Golden has 501 yards receiving and three touchdowns. They are the only duo to rank among the top 10 in the NFL in yards receiving. The Lions are last in the league in passing defense, allowing nearly 300 yards per game.

— Green Bay has won three straight after a 1-2 start.

— The Packers have allowed 24 points during their winning streak, the lowest point total they have given up in a three-game stretch since 2021.

— Packers safety Xavier McKinney has three interceptions to tie for the NFL lead and fellow safety Evan Williams has two.

— Detroit center Cade Mays is expected to make his debut with the team and standout safety Brian Branch is expected to play for the first time since tearing his left Achilles tendon last December.

— Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has a league-high nine scrimmage touchdowns and is third with 747 yards from scrimmage.

— Detroit tight end Sam LaPorta lamented the team hasn't signed him to a long-term extension on the “Pardon My Take" podcast, saying he broke his back last year for the Lions who are not showing him love despite his strong play this season.

AP Sports Writer Steve Megargee in Green Bay, Wisconsin, contributed to this report.

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Dallas Cowboys' Kenny Clark sacks Green Bay Packers' Jordan Love during the second half of an NFL football game in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) celebrates his touchdown reception against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Green Bay Packers' Carrington Valentine reacts to a penalty to negate an interception during the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

FILE - Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs works out during NFL football practice, June 9, 2026, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf, File)

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) celebrates his touchdown run with quarterback Jared Goff (16) against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Calley Means, a top adviser to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and a chief advocate for the Make America Healthy Again movement, resigned from his position with the Trump administration Thursday.

In a statement, Means did not say why he was leaving. His departure comes as leading voices in the MAHA movement have expressed discontent with what they say is the Trump administration’s lack of progress on a variety of issues, including food security and regulating the weed killer glyphosate.

Means said he “leaves with tremendous respect” for President Donald Trump and Kennedy.

“The past two years have seen historic policy and cultural change to confront the chronic disease crisis and healthcare incentives that profit from us being sick,” Means said. “This movement is in the first inning and just getting started.”

Means was hired as a White House adviser early in the second Trump administration. He used his perch at the Health and Human Services Department to attack the nation’s leading physician groups, federal agencies and government scientists, claiming they only protect their own interests.

White House spokeswoman Allison Schuster said the Trump administration is “grateful” for Means’ time and “he has done a fantastic job for the MAHA movement.” A representative from Health and Human Services did not respond to a request for comment.

Health activist Kelly Ryerson, a leader of American Regeneration who is also known as Glyphosate Girl on social media, said she is “impressed that he completed over two years at HHS fighting the food battle, despite all of the obstacles presented by corporate interests.”

“At the heart of MAHA is a shared belief that the nation’s health must not be sacrificed to corporate profit, and that a preventable slide into chronic disease is a threat to America itself,” she said.

Means is the brother of wellness influencer, author and entrepreneur Dr. Casey Means, who failed to be confirmed as surgeon general earlier this year after doubts were raised over her vaccine stance.

Means, along with his sister, came to prominence within the MAHA movement by arguing that ultraprocessed foods, additives and pesticides could be blamed for many of the chronic health conditions facing Americans.

Means brought those arguments into the Trump administration and frequently clashed with senior White House officials who worried about alienating the powerful food industry.

At the same time, Means’ emphasis on food was a source of frustration for other figures within the MAHA movement who wanted to see Kennedy focus on “medical freedom” issues. For many, that meant rolling back federal recommendations and approvals for vaccines.

Despite Means’ efforts, the administration’s progress on food reforms has been slow going.

Kennedy had promised the release of a first-ever government definition of ultraprocessed food in April. Instead, FDA’s acting commissioner, Kyle Diamantas, told a conference that month that defining the class “is really hard.”

In August, Kennedy staffers again suggested a major announcement on the issue was imminent. Instead, the announcement focused on a proposal bringing greater scrutiny to food additives. It made only passing mention of ultraprocessed foods.

In this image provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Calley Means, senior advisor for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, delivers remarks at HHS Headquarters in Washington, Feb. 11, 2026. (Christophe Paul/USDA via AP)