The Detroit Lions could not make up a 31-3 deficit in their division opener on Sunday, losing 34-27 on the road to the Green Bay Packers.
The Detroit Lions‘ (1-2) comeback attempt came up short at Lambeau Field on Sunday as they lost 34-27 to their division rival Green Bay Packers (2-1).
The Packers drove right down the field on their first drive, going 75 yards in eight plays and scoring on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers to Davante Adams to take the early lead.
More from Detroit Jock City
- Tigers Sign Manager A.J. Hinch to Long-Term Extension
- Lions vs. Bears Week 14 Opening Odds Disrespect Detroit
- Former Tigers Celebrate Jim Leyland Hall of Fame Call
- This Pistons Team Could be the Worst in Detroit Sports History
- 4 Free Agents Tigers Should Sign During Winter Meetings
The Lions scored a 42-yard field goal from Matt Prater on their first possession to cut the lead to 7-3, only to see the Packers rip off 24 unanswered points. Rodgers threw an eight-yard touchdown to Jordy Nelson to start the run near the end of the first quarter, then found Richard Rodgers on a two-yard touchdown pass early in the second to bolster the lead to 21-3.
The Lions were driving in Packers territory on their next drive when Green Bay cornerback Damarious Randall ripped a pass away from Eric Ebron and returned it into Detroit territory, which the Packers turned into a 36-yard field goal from Mason Crosby to make it 24-3.
After the Lions missed a 43-yard field goal attempt on their next drive, a second touchdown pass from Rodgers to Nelson, this one for 17 yards, gave Green Bay a 31-3 lead with 1:10 left in the half. The Lions were finally able to stop the bleeding just before halftime with a 73-yard catch and run from Matthew Stafford to Marvin Jones to cut the lead to 31-10 at the break.
Detroit opened up the second half with a 12-play, 77-yard drive, capped off by a two-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Anquan Boldin on fourth and goal to cut the lead to 14. The teams traded field goals as the fourth quarter got underway and the Lions defense finally got involved, forcing the Packers to punt twice in the fourth quarter.
A 35-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Marvin Jones cut the lead to seven, but Detroit could not come up with the last stop they needed as Green Bay ran the final minutes off the clock after the Lions opted to kick it deep with three timeouts and 3:34 left.
Game Notes and Analysis
Injury report: Wilson leaves game, Ebron shaken up
Starting safety Tavon Wilson left the game in first quarter with a neck injury and was ruled out in the third. Rafael Bush replaced him for most of the game. Ebron, who was listed on the injury report this week with a back injury and missed the preseason with an ankle injury, left briefly in the second and subbed himself out in the third for a few plays as well, returning to the game both times.
Green Bay tight end Jared Cook (ankle) and fullback Aaron Ripkowski (back) both left the game and did not return.
More from Detroit Lions
- Lions vs. Bears Week 14 Opening Odds Disrespect Detroit
- Signing This Former Pro-Bowl CB Would Be Huge Mistake for Lions
- Forecasting the Rest of This Lions Season (Score Predictions)
- Lions Get Exciting Injury Update on Rookie QB Hendon Hooker
- Betting Preview: Best Bets for Lions vs. Packers Thanksgiving Day Game
Lions offense performs well, fails to finish drives
While the ground game sputtered, the Lions only gaining 50 yards rushing as a team, Matthew Stafford had another excellent day at quarterback, completing 28 of 41 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns, although he was also credited with an interception on the play where Eric Ebron was stripped by Damarious Randall.
The Lions out-gained Green Bay 418-324 in the game and possessed the ball for ten minutes longer than the Packers did, but the interception in Green Bay territory, a missed Prater field goal attempt and another drive which ended in a field goal after stalling out due to penalties and a sack cost the Lions opportunities to score more points, which they needed in order to keep pace with the Packers’ offense.
Marvin Jones emerges as top Lions target
Marvin Jones led the Lions in targets coming into the game with 21 and made the most of the eight he got on Sunday, catching six passes for 205 yards and a touchdown. Jones was the first signing the Lions made this offseason in their efforts to replace the production of Calvin Johnson, and today Jones became the first Lion other than Johnson to have over 200 receiving yards in a game since Roy Williams in 2007.
Offensive line up-and-down, Tomlinson continues to struggle
The Lions offensive line had some good moments in the game on Sunday, but a couple of untimely penalties and breakdowns cost them dearly. Detroit struggled to run the ball, particularly in the first half, as the offensive line gave up a total of nine tackles for loss.
First-round rookie Taylor Decker had the worst day of his young career on Sunday, getting beat for two sacks in the second half and being called for holding, which backed the Lions up and helped to stall out a drive which ended in a field goal.
Laken Tomlinson, who has faced criticism for his subpar performances thus far this season, struggled once again in pass protection and was also flagged for a false start, both of which only amplified the calls for the Lions to activate rookie lineman Joe Dahl for the first time this season.
Lack of depth on defense still huge concern
The Lions were clearly hampered defensively as they were once again without DeAndre Levy and Ezekiel Ansah. At one point linebacker Thurston Armbrister, getting his first start for the Lions, was in coverage on Jordy Nelson in the slot and predictably got torched. Defensive end Kerry Hyder picked up his fourth sack in three games, but the Lions pass rush struggled all day to get to Rodgers, only getting two hits, two sacks and three tackles for loss in the entire game. Cornerback Nevin Lawson gave up a 66-yard pass interference penalty, the longest in at least the past 15 years.
Lions still looking for a kick returner
Andre Roberts struggled as the Lions kick returner on Sunday, returning three kickoffs out of the endzone and failing to reach the 25-yard line each time. The Lions gave Dwayne Washington, who had some success returning kickoffs in the preseason, a chance to return the opening kickoff in the second half but put Roberts back in after Washington’s lone 21-yard return.
Next: Detroit Lions Week Three Game Ball - Marvin Jones
Elsewhere In The NFC North:
The Minnesota Vikings (2-1) won their second game in a row, upsetting the reigning NFC champion Carolina Panthers (1-2) 22-10 on Sunday. The Chicago Bears (0-2) will take on the Dallas Cowboys (1-1) on the road on Sunday Night Football at 8:30 on NBC.
Up Next:
The Lions will be on the road again next Sunday, taking on the Bears at 1:00 on FOX.