When it comes to defensive proficiency, the 2017 Green Bay Packers haven’t exactly done a whole lot to inspire confidence in their ability to finish jobs. The Packers rank 23^rd in the league in total defense, surrendering just shy of 350 yards per game, including 125 rushing yards per contest, good for 26^th overall. In the passing game, Green Bay is in the dead center of the pack, allowing just north of 223 yards per game, though at times their patchwork secondary has made it seem much worse.

With Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions coming to town Monday night, it would be fair to think the Packers’ defense is in for a long evening. For his career, Stafford is 61-percent passer and averages 277 yards per game through the air. The Lions rely on him heavily, to the tune of over 39 pass attempts per game in his career, and no one expects that to change this week. Even with less formidable targets than he’s had in the past, Stafford still figures to pick on a Packers secondary that has frankly looked lost at times in their first seven games.

All of that would seem to indicate trouble for Green Bay. That is, until you look at Stafford’s career numbers against the Packers.

It’s not as though Stafford has been ineffective—in fact, the story has been quite the opposite. In 13 career games against Green Bay, Stafford has averaged 291 yards per game and boasts a 60-percent completion rate. He’s gone over 300 yards four times and thrown for multiple touchdowns in seven contests, with 25 touchdowns overall in those 13 games.

Still, Stafford owns just a 3-10 record against the Packers. Despite the gaudy statistics, a Stafford-led offense has rarely been able to do enough to get past Green Bay.

So, what’s the deal?

For one, the Lions rushing attack hasn’t exactly been a world-beating operation during Stafford’s time at the helm, hence the high number of pass attempts. That would seem to hold true in 2017, too, as the Lions clock in at 28^th in the league with just over 82 yards per game.

Secondly, Stafford loves throwing the ball to the Packers. Green Bay has intercepted him a league-high 19 times in his career, and only three times in 13 games have they failed to pick Stafford off at least once. Meanwhile, they’ve recorded multiple interceptions six times.

Finally, the Packers have managed to get Stafford to the ground just over twice per game in his time with the Lions. While that may not an eye-popping number, two sacks would be a welcome sight from a Packer pass rush that has come this close too many times this season.

Now, the argument can be made that Matthew Stafford has simply failed to out-duel Aaron Rodgers over the years. Undoubtedly, the Packers have benefitted from having a future Hall-of-Famer to perhaps render Stafford’s play irrelevant. In 11 games in which Rodgers and Stafford both played, the Packers won nine times, averaging just over 28 points in those victories.

The Lions are giving up just over 24 points per game in 2017. With Brett Hundley at the helm, 24 to 28 points may be the ceiling for the Packers offense, which could make for a tight game when all is said and done.

Still, the fact remains that despite Stafford's statistics against the Packers, Green Bay has found ways to win by forcing him to make critical errors.

One thing is for sure—if the Packers can’t force Matthew Stafford into the same mistakes he’s made against them his entire career, it could be a very long night. If they succeed in repeating history, however, they should have every opportunity to come out of Monday night with a victory.