After a 14-3 start, everything went downhill for the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field on Sunday.
When it was mercifully over, the Packers won, 42-21. It seemed like it was even worse.
It’s amazingly easy to pin the blame because it is on most everyone. It starts with coach Matt Patricia but it is not all on him. Six injured starters sat out, but in the NFL that is no excuse.
Detroit’s defense gave up 488 net yards — 259 of them on the ground.
Matthew Stafford looked sharp in the first quarter when the offense moved the ball with a good mix of passes and runs and scored touchdowns on its first two possessions.
Let’s take a closer look at the second quarter, which is where the collapse started. Specifically the final two minutes of the half and then the first four minutes of the third.
The Lions get the ball on their own 7-yard line with 1:45 left in the second quarter off a Packers’ punt. Detroit is leading 14-10.
So you might think they’d run the ball, be happy with a 4-point lead to go into the locker room at the half. You would be wrong.
After a 3-yard scamper by D’Andre Swift, Stafford is sacked for a 10-yard loss. Facing a third-and-16, Adrian Peterson gets the ball. The Lions punt.
Green Bay gets the ball with 1:00 left in the half and on their third play Aaron Rodgers throws a 11-yard touchdown pass to Robert Tonyan down the middle to take the Packers first lead of the game, 17-14.
Detroit gets the ball back with 14 seconds left. Matt Praters misses a 57-yard field goal attempt wide right.
The Packers get the ball to open the third and on the first play from scrimmage Aaron Jones runs up the gut and 75 yards down the field for a touchdown. The Packers led 24-14.
Wait, it gets worse. With 8:37 left in the third, Stafford throws a pick-six on the first play of the series on a pass intended for Danny Amendola. The Packers go up 31-14.
The Lions (0-2) will say they just need to execute. Patricia will say it starts with him. It’s all about the details. They need to play for 60 minutes. You know the script. It’s all been said before. It’s just that the outcome has not changed.
Next up: At the Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. next Sunday.
(Photo courtesy of Detroit Lions. )
Lions Lowdown 