Lions' Stafford 'tired of splitting' with Packers

Detroit — The last time the Lions won the division was in 1993, and they haven't hosted a playoff game since then.

Even though Jim Caldwell said in March the Lions aren't necessarily chasing the Green Bay Packers, who won the NFC North the past four years, quarterback Matthew Stafford said Wednesday the best way to bring the postseason to Ford Field will be to finally beat the Packers at Lambeau Field, which the franchise hasn't done since 1991.

"I feel like we've split with them the last couple years, and I'm kind of tired of splitting with them," he said Wednesday at the team's annual kickoff luncheon at Ford Field. "So, hopefully we can go up there and take care of business."

The Lions won their home games against Green Bay the past two years, with a 19-7 win in 2014 and a 40-10 blowout on Thanksgiving in 2013. However, the Lions lost yet again at Lambeau Field in Week 17, 30-20, in a game with the division on the line last season.

Even though the Packers lost star wide receiver Jordy Nelson to a season-ending knee injury, Lions players still expect them to be a difficult team to beat in 2015.

"Like coach says, it's one week at a time, but they're a team that's always in it, always playing well — great defense, great quarterback," Stafford said. "So, hopefully we'll go up there and do our part this year."

Stafford's comments came at the end of a 10-minute roundtable discussion that also featured safety Glover Quin. After Stafford discussed the need to beat the Packers, Quin had little more to add.

"Definitely," he said.

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