The Detroit Lions thought they were going to have a Thanksgiving feast. Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers had other plans.
Love threw for three touchdowns as the Packers took advantage of many Lions' miscues and dominated the Lions on Thanksgiving Day, beating Detroit 29-22 and staying alive in the NFC playoff race. Love finished with 268 yards and 39 yards rushing to lead a Packers offense that put up 377 yards in the win.
The Lions put up 464 yards of their own, but they went 1 of 5 on fourth down (0 and 4 to start) and Jared Goff fumbled three times in the loss. Detroit went for it twice in Green Bay territory on fourth down, failing to convert both times. Goff also fumbled on a pass attempt in the first quarter and Jonathan Owens picked it up and easily ran it in for a 27-yard scoop and score to put the Packers up 20-6. The deficit was too big for the Lions to overcome, even if it was in the first quarter.
Love found Christian Watson for a 53-yard gain on the first play of the game, which led to a Jayden Reed touchdown to put Green Bay up 7-0 -- a lead they wouldn't relinquish. The Lions did respond with a Jared Goff touchdown to Sam LaPorta to make it 7-6 (missed PAT by Riley Patterson), but Green Bay went right down the field -- ending in a Love touchdown pass to Tucker Kraft to make it 14-6. Goff's fumble set the Packers up with the two-score lead, and the Lions were overaggressive the rest of the way.
With the victory, the Packers kept pace with the Vikings for the No. 7 seed in the conference. They remain a game in the loss column behind the Vikings for the final playoff spot. The Lions still lead the NFC North, but fall 1.5 games behind the Philadelphia Eagles for home-field advantage in the NFC -- two games behind in the loss column.
Takeaways from this game are below, and enjoy this recap of the Thanksgiving matinee in the live blog below!
Green Bay's defense deserves plenty of credit in this one, specifically the pass rush. The Packers finished with 12 quarterback hurries and three sacks -- all from Rashan Gary. 27 pressures (including seven by Kenny Clark) played a huge role in getting to Jared Goff and forcing three fumbles.
The Packers also scored on their first two possessions as Jordan Love threw touchdown passes to Jayden Reed and Tucker Kraft to put pressure on the Lions. That also caused Detroit becoming over aggressive. Love also threw for three touchdowns on Thanksgiving in what was arguably his best performance of the year.
The Lions were always within striking distance of the Packers, yet their overaggressiveness cost them multiple times throughout the game. Dan Campbell went for it five times on fourth down and didn't convert any of them until the game was basically decided with under three minutes to play.
The Lions went for it on fourth-and-4 from the Packers' 35 in a 20-6 game, but rushed to get the play off before the two-minute warning (they didn't have to), which led to an incomplete pass. They decided to run a fake punt on their own 23-yard line midway through the third quarter in a 23-14 game and failed to gain a yard (Packers scored a touchdown on the short field to make it 29-14). They also failed to convert a fourth-and-7 on the Packers' 12 to keep the deficit at 29-14.
Detroit is the most aggressive team on fourth down in the NFL, and that aggressiveness has served the Lions well. Lots of questionable decisions on fourth down in this one.
Jared Goff fumbling a throwing attempt on second-and-12 at the Lions' 23-yard line led to a Jonathan Owens scoop and score to put the Packers up 20-6 late in the first quarter. Two plays from scrimmage after Green Bay got a Tucker Craft touchdown to take a 14-6 lead, Rashan Gary forced a Goff fumble on a pass he believed was a forward pass.
Goff didn't have control of the ball as it escaped his hand, leading to the easy score. The Packers, meanwhile, had control of the game from that point as the Lions tried to be too aggressive in order to get back into the game.
Jordan Love and Christian Watson were on point throughout the afternoon, but their best play came on a 16-yard touchdown catch with 3:30 left in the third quarter, Watson's final catch on a day which he had 94 receiving yards was on a third-and-3 -- the play after the fake punt failure by Detroit -- as the Packers receiver had a leaping grab on a strong throw from Love that put Green Bay up 29-14.
Love's third touchdown pass was his best throw. Watson's catch was his best reception.
"This isn't something where I wanna get into panic mode. I've got time to look at a couple things. This is the same team that's been here the whole year. We clean a few things up and get back in a rhythm and we'll be just fine." -- Lions head coach Dan Campbell on his team's performance the last three games after the loss. The Lions have lost seven straight games on Thanksgiving and are 32nd in points per game allowed since Week 7.
The Lions (8-3) will play the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Dec. 3 (road game) while the Packers (5-6) host the Kansas City Chiefs on "Sunday Night Football."
GB recovers the onsides kick and the Packers will beat the Lions on Thanksgiving. Packers will win this one 29-22. Huge win for GB as they stay in the NFC playoff race. Packers have won 3 of 4, while the Lions fall two games behind the Eagles in the loss column in the race for home field.
Two-point conversion good. Now Lions need onsides kick. 29-22 with 42 seconds left.
Still some life for the Lions after this Josh Reynolds TD. Lions need a two-point conversion and an onside kick to have a chance here.
The Packers will keep pace with the Vikings for the No. 7 seed in the conference. They remain a game in the loss column behind the Vikings for the final playoff spot. The Lions still lead the NFC North, but fall 1.5 games behind the Philadelphia Eagles for home-field advantage in the NFC -- two games behind in the loss column.
The Lions are 0-for-5 on 4th down. Normally a good 4th down team (how they beat the Chargers).
Just giving possessions and points away at this rate.
Lions still have life after that 38-yard catch. Williams with his second big play of the game. Don't be shocked if Lions go to him again.
Three fumbles on the day for Jared Goff. Three sacks for Rashan Gary. The Lions are 0-for-4 on 4th down and turn it over on downs. Not their day.
We're threw 3. Lions trail 29-14 and have a huge hole to climb out of. TD is huge on this possession.
This fake punt may have changed the game.
Christian Watson TD and today just doesn't look like the Lions day. Watson has 5 catches for 94 yards and a score.
That TD is on Dan Campbell. Lions defense was holding serve up until that point. Packers tried to run Philly Special on 2-point attempt but failed. 29-14 GB late in third.
That Jared Goff throw was high to Amon-Ra St. Brown, but he was open. Lions fake the punt and they don't get it! The Packers were not fooled there. Packers get the ball at the DET 22. Lions giving points now.
The Packers last 5 possessions
Turnover on downs
FG
Punt
Missed 63-yard FG before half
Punt
Lions still have some life.
That third down drop by Romeo Doubs was brutal. Packers will punt and this crowd in Detroit is fired up. Again, DET isn't going away quietly here. They did overcome a 12-point deficit with 5 min left a few days ago.
Didn't matter. David Montgomery gets the first down on the next play and scores a touchdown on the next play. The Lions will go for 2 here. Montgomery looks gimpy after the score.
Montgomery takes a brutal hit (or maybe he did the brutality). Lions get the 2 and its 23-14.
Oh no. That David Montgomery TD is coming back. Holding by Kalif Raymond at the end of the play at the 1-yard line. My opinion -- that's a call that shouldn't be made. TD taken away. 3rd-and-1 now inside the 10.
23-yard run for Jahmyr Gibbs to start the second half. He needs more touches in the final 30 minutes. Look for the big plays for DET after half.
So the Packers get 10 yards after the high, but rare poor punt from Jack Fox. The 63-yard FG by Carlson is short and Kalif Raymond returns it. Gets to about the 32, but that will end the first half.
All Packers here. GB 23, DET 6.
The Lions defense has clamped up. A turnover on downs and a punt in 2 of the last 3 possessions. Packers only have 3 points since the defensive touchdown. If the Lions can get anything before half...
Very interesting the Packers are going for it on 4th-and-6 from the DET 46. They'll take a delay of game for more room to punt.
You know Dan Campbell is going for it here. This is prime Dan Campbell "go for it" territory. Jared Goff throws an incomplete pass as Campbell decided not to allow the clock to run down to 2 minutes. Big mistake there.
Watson is arguing for PI, but official ruled the feet were tangled. Packers will have to settle for a FG.
Jordan Love is 12 of 15 for 175 yards and 2 TD in the first half. It's 23-6 in 2Q.
Again, the NFL is a week-to-week league. This is no where close to how the Lions played as a team all year. Watch for trends -- and here is a disturbing one for Detroit. They have the worst scoring defense in NFL since Week 7. 31st in YAC per reception allowed since Week 8
That drive lasted 8 plays for the Lions, but Dan Campbell didn't want to be aggressive there (even though DET goes for it on 4th down more than anyone). They punted, so they'll still trail 20-6.
See Simone Biles' husband scored a TD! The GOAT of gymnastics is excited.
The Packers botched the exchange and don't get the first down on 4th-and-1 at the 14! Huge turnover on downs. The sleeping Lions may have woken up.
Jared Goff has 7 turnovers in his last 5 games. 5 turnovers in his last 5 quarters.
Jared Goff fumbled again. The Packers will recover, so that's back-to-back possessions with a fumble. Lions laying an egg on Thanksgiving.
Play stands. That's a TD -- another hole dug by the Lions. It's 20-6 GB after the missed PAT.
Oh man. That may be a fumble by Jared Goff. Ball appeared to be out of his hands. Jonathan Owens, husband to Simone Biles, scored a TD for GB. Let's see if this stands.
That's a great play call by Matt LaFleur. Tucker Kraft had the late release and sell on Aidan Hutchinson to get his first NFL TD on 3rd-and-inches.
Two drives, two TDs for Packers. Lions pass defense getting crushed (just like past 5 weeks). 14-6 Packers.
