Late in the third quarter, the Lions drove into scoring position but on third-and-9, Stafford’s pass deep down the middle was intercepted by Packers safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix at the 6. And on third-and-3 from the Packers’ 48, Stafford beat a blitz with a short pass to receiver Golden Tate, who broke two tackles en route to a 43-yard gain.
Advertisement
The Lions’ defense has been terrible this season, as they rank in the bottom half of the league in both passing and rushing defense. After the game against the Chargers, the Packers suffered their worst loss of the season against the Denver Broncos.
Sure enough, Rodgers targeted Butler, but as Green Bay receiver ran his out route in the end zone, Butler tipped the pass right before it reached Davante Adams’ hands and fell incomplete. Packer kicker Mason Crosby missed a 52-yard field goal attempt with five seconds to play as a second consecutive attempted comeback failed at the end.
The Lions barely held on for their first road win against Green Bay since 1991. Media who were at the game, including the Wisconsin State Journal’s Tom Oates and Green Bay Press Gazette’s Pete Dougherty, noted the team’s official injury report listed the Packers looking at Abbrederis’ ribs. Matthew Stafford has arm talent and Calvin Johnson is capable of going off on any team at any time. Barry Sanders rushed for 85 yards, while Packers quarterback Mike Tomczak completed only 18 of 40 passes on a 10-degree day with sub-zero wind chills.
This is the first of four straight NFC North games in a span of 19 days for the Packers, and a chance to reassert their claim on a fifth straight division title. Security was increased at Lambeau Field and at all NFL stadiums Sunday following the attacks, one of which happened just outside France’s national stadium during a Germany-France soccer match. Stafford secured the lead with a late touchdown to Lance Moore. T.J. Lang was also hurt on James Starks’ overturned fumble.
Abdul-Quddus had most recently spelled Ihedigbo in certain packages Week 8, but he was clearly the guy over Ihedigbo in Green Bay. Starks got another screen for nine, then Richard Rodgers picked up a first down and got out of bounds at the Detroit 23 to stop the clock with 45 seconds left. On the ensuing play, Rodgers found Justin Perillo for an 11-yard touchdown to pull within 18-16.
The Packers weren’t done though.
Advertisement
It was the Packers’ first successful recovery of their own onside kick since Week 9 of 2013, when linebacker Jamari Lattimore did it against the Bears. The Packers’ defense started out the season playing well, but they were exposed in a win against the San Diego Chargers by Philip Rivers a few weeks ago.
