Green Bay Packers – Page 2

Lions dig hole in division losing to Packers, 31-24; 5 reasons for the loss

DETROIT — Dan Campbell often talks about how games are won or lost on just a few plays. It was no different on Thanksgiving when the Green Bay Packers edged the Lions, 31-24 at Ford Field.

The coach can pinpoint two key plays that were costly.

“We played with the energy – really this game came down to fourth down and those critical moments we were 0-2 and they were able to capitalize on three of them,’’ Campbell said. “Those are the one or two plays that make a difference when you’re playing a really good team.’’

The Lions dropped to 7-5 and remain in third place in the NFC North. The Packers are 8-3-1 in second place. The first-place Bears (8-3) play at the Eagles (8-3) on Friday while the Vikings (4-7) play at Seahawks (8-3 on Sunday.

“Like I told the team, it’s frustrating, I know. We’ve got a lot to be thankful for even after a loss,’’ Campbell said. “We’ve dug ourselves a little bit of a hole, that’s the bottom line, we are in a little bit of a hole, but that’s just what it is there’s nothing more than that. All we’ve got to do is worry about cleaning up this then getting to the next game and winning the next one in front of us.’’

The Lions host the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night, Dec. 4, at Ford Field.

Five reasons the Lions lost:

ONE: How about some pass rush? Packers quarterback Jordan Love had all day back there. He wasn’t sacked and the Lions only had one quarterback hit. The talent is there but something is wrong. Campbell couldn’t pinpoint a reason for the lack of pressure. “I don’t know. It’s a good question, until I watch this game i want to know what this game looks like before I make a comment on that,’’ Campbell said. “I’m not sure.’’

TWO: Detroit’s defense allowed too many conversions on third and fourth downs. The Packers went for it on fourth down three times and converted each one. Also, too many explosive plays were given up. Christian Watson scored on a 51-yard pass play and there were four other plays of 20 yards or more given up to the Packers.

THREE: Conversely, the Lions were 0-for-2 on fourth downs Thursday. They haven’t converted on fourth down since the win over the Commanders on Nov. 9. They were 0-for-5 on fourth downs in the loss to the Eagles and didn’t try one against the Giants. Goff said there is no magic potion. One of the misses was on a fourth-and-3 at Green Bay’s 21 early in the fourth quarter when it appeared Jameson Williams dropped the ball. “I’ve got to connect with Jamo on the one down in the red zone,’’ Goff said. “I’ve got to give him a better throw and if he makes the catch he might score right there …’’

FOUR: The offense got off to a slow start, hey were down 10-0 early in the second quarter. Goff was 0-3 and was sacked once in the first quarter and then completed 15 straight passes until Williams dropped the ball on fourth-and-3 in the fourth. The offensive line did not give Goff enough protection which has become an issue. He was sacked three times — 2.5 courtesy of Micah Parsons. The Lions were playing without center Graham Glasgow, wide receiver Kalif Raymond and tight end Brock Wright. Amon-Ra St. Brown went down in the first quarter and didn’t return. Goff credited Williams (7 catches, 144 yds, 1 TD), Isaac TeSlaa (2 catches, 35 yards, 1 TD) and Tom Kennedy (4 catches, 36 yards) for stepping up.

FIVE: Certainly the Lions have running back talent and they have to be patient with it, but the run calls on third down don’t always seem to be the best option and they keep calling them. The LIons were 8 for 13 on third downs. Jahmyr Gibbs carried 20 times for 68 yards (3.4 yards per carry) and David Montgomery eight for 32 yards and a touchdown.

NEXT UP: Dallas Cowboys at Lions (7-5), 8:15 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 4.

Five things to watch as Lions face Packers in key divisional matchup

Detroit injuries could play a factor; plus updates, prediction

It seems like ages ago, back in Week 1 when the Lions got beat soundly by the Packers in Green Bay. Detroit has been waiting months for the rematch and it’s finally here.

The Packers meet the Lions at 1 p.m. on Thanksgiving at Ford Field.

“Nobody likes losing. We don’t like losing and we don’t like losing to anybody. But you open the year and we go out to their place and they gave it to us pretty good and a division opponent, you don’t want to start that way.’’ Dan Campbell said.

“So, I think any chance you have to – you get another opportunity. That’s one of the blessings of playing somebody in your division twice, you get another opportunity. And so, we’ve got another opportunity in front of us at our place on a short week and we’re looking forward to it. It’s a good team. And this division’s good, I mean we’ve said that. It’s a good division – it’s been good for a while. So, this is good.”

Detroit is coming off a 34-27 overtime win over the Giants to boost their record to 7-4, third in the NFC North. The Packers (7-3-1) routed the Vikings, 23-6, to remain in second place. While the Chicago Bears (8-3) hold on to first in the division.

To say the Lions-Packers game is huge is an understatement. While there will be five games left, the outcome could determine playoff status.

Both teams have developed and changed since Week 1.

“Well, I think it’s – the easy thing to say is I wish we were cleaner in areas. Yeah, I wish we were cleaner altogether,’’ Campbell said. “It’s like you play good on one side and then the other side you’re sputtering a little bit or then the other side you do some things right and then maybe one of the units isn’t as good. And you just want to feel like all three are good.’’

Five things to watch:

ONE: Look for increased protection for quarterback Jared Goff from offensive line and others. He was sacked three times by the Giants and in the loss to the Eagles, he just did not have much time in the pocket. Green Bay’s Micah Parsons, always a threat, had two sacks against the Vikings and has 10 overall.

TWO: Run the ball. Let Jahmyr Gibbs work his magic. In the loss to the Packers, the run game could not get in gear with 46 total rushing yards averaging a measly 2.1 yards per carry. In part it happened because of miscommunication issues on the line. Rookie guard Tate Ratledge said that was the worst game he’s ever played at any level. The communication seems to have been fixed, Gibbs averaged 14.6 yards per carry in the win over the Giants. So it’s crucial to get Gibbs and David Montgomery in the flow early and often.

THREE: Convert third downs – keep Jordan Love off the field. Again, in that opening loss, Detroit held a big edge in time of possession but did not execute when they had the ball. In the first 11 games they converted on 36.23 percent of third downs. Just not enough. Last season, they averaged 47.6 percent, fourth in the NFL.

FOUR: Defense must pressure Love who has thrown just three interceptions this season against 15 touchdowns. The LIons defense must also tighten up in third-and-long situations. It was an issue with the Giants. “It’s one thing here, it’s one thing there. Some of it has been penalties, it’s the way we play and we’re not going to go away from the way we play,’’ Campbell said. “That’s the style that we’re going to challenge. Some of it, if we are going to pressure, we don’t always get home. So, I mentioned this the other day, you get strung out. That happened a few times. We had a couple of things, just tackling in space that got us. But when you go across the board and you look at them in totality, it’s really one guy here, one guy there. And so, there again, we’ve just got to play as one. We want them in second-and-long, we want them in third-and-long. We’ve got to be better, and we will be better. We’ll be better.”

FIVE: Special teams must keep up the good work. Kicker Jake Bates and punter Jack Fox were huge in the overtime win against the Giants. Bates was 5 of 5 on field goal attempts, nailing a career-high 59-yarder to tie the game late and send it to overtime. The Giants had lousy field position all game getting nailed back by Fox’s punts.

LIONS INJURIES: OUT — C Graham Glasgow, TE Brock Wright, S Kerby Joseph, EDGE Josh Paschal, WR Kalif Raymond; QUESTIONABLE — CB Terrion Arnold, EDGE Marcus Davenport, T Taylor Decker, OL MIles Frazier, G Tate Ratledge, T Penei Sewell, WR Isacc TeSlaa and RB Sione Vaki.

PACKERS INJURIES: DL Kari Brooks, DL Lukas Van Ness, WR Jayden Reed and WR Savion Wllliams; WR Matthew Golden, CB Nate Hobbs, CB Kelsean Nixon and LB Quay Walker.

PREDICTION: Lions 28, Packers 27

It’s been a bumpier road this season for the Lions: Will it pay off?

November success hinges on matchup against Packers

ALLEN PARK — Will November be a month to remember for the Lions? So far they have two wins and two losses. It all hinges on the Packers game on Thanksgiving.

Detroit is 7-4, Green Bay is 7-3-1. In their first meeting in Week 1, the Packers dominated, 27-13. Both teams are different now. Green Bay also is 2-2 this month.

The Lions needed overtime on Sunday to beat the lowly, two-win Giants. They routed the Commanders and lost to the Vikings.

Then there is this gem: The Lions are one of two teams in NFL history to produce 24-plus passing TDs, 15-plus rushing TDs and 8-or-fewer turnovers through the first 11 games of any season. The other team was the 2012 Patriots.

After 11 games, the Lions are one big puzzle and so different from last year when they finished 15-2.

On Monday, coach Dan Campbell said the obvious – of course he would like to see his team play cleaner in some areas and he’d like all three units to complement each other game-in and game-out.

“Also, maybe this is this year, you know, as we continue to clean things up just find a way to win, just find a way to win,’’ Campbell said on Monday. “Kind of like what happened yesterday. Along the way let’s get our confidence up, let’s get a little momentum, let’s feed off each other. Say what you want, yesterday, at the end of the day, the best thing that happened was we did complement each other.’’

In the fourth quarter when they needed a big stop in the Red Zone, the defense came up big. When Jake Bates was asked to kick a 59-yard field goal – boom, he did so. Jahmyr Gibbs put the offense on his back scoring on the first snap of OT. Then Aidan Hutchinson came up with the only sack of Giants QB Jameis Winston all day. It may not have been pretty throughout – the Lions never led until overtime – but they dug deep to win.

“At the end of the day, you take it the way it comes and you just try to improve along the way. You just never know, 15-2 felt great last year until you get booted right out,’’ Campbell said, referring to the first-round playoff loss to the Commanders.

“It’s like, hey man, maybe we have to go the hard road and just win, let’s just win and find a way every week and grind it out.’’

Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson echoes Campbell heading into Thanksgiving.

“We found ourselves with a couple losses early and I think right now we are just heads down, grinding these wins out and really just focused on the next game — that’s the Packers,’’ Hutchinson said. “Focus on being 1-0 this week, if we adopt that mentality it will serve us in the end. And I think going to the playoffs when we are hitting our stride, that’s the most ideal time to do that.’’

UP NEXT: Packers (7-3-1) at Lions (7-4), 1 p.m. Thursday at Ford Field. FOX will carry the game with Tom Brady and Kevin Burkhardt in the booth.