Detroit has yet to play outdoors in 2024 and has only three games outside a covered field this season. Ironically, they play in the elements. The other two are back-to-back games Week 16 and 17 in Chicago and San Francisco. Both stadiums they lost at late in 2023.
Goff said before the game, “We’ll make sure we’ve got the right spike on,” Lions quarterbackĀ Jared GoffĀ said this week. “Typically, it’s either molded cleats or seven studs and typically on these grass fields you want to wear those seven studs so you’re not slipping around. You see a lot of guys on tape slipping and you don’t want that to be you.”
Crazy Stat: The Lions have won five in a row, with 25 touchdowns and only 20 incomplete passes. This week, Detroit plays outdoors for the first time all season.
Goff is in rarefied air. Detroit’s signal caller was just named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month after an amazing October that saw him lead the Lions to a 3-0 record while leading the NFL in completion percentage (80 percent) and passer rating (149.8). He’s just the third player in NFL history with a passer rating of 125-or-higher in four consecutive games.
He’s playing the best football of his career right now and will be looking to continue his fine play against an aggressive and opportunistic defense, but one that is 19th in pass defense (215.8).
So, let’s go to Lambeau.
First Quarter
The Packers take the football to open the game and quickly earn a first down and then go for it on 4th and inches from the Detroit 43. A run by the tight end Kraft who was in motion earns the Packers a first down. On second down and ten, Jordan Love connects with Christian Watson for 19 yards on the Lions 28. Jacobs on second down runs behind the left guard for 11. The Lions defensive line is being manhandled with physicality. A Love pass to Chris Brooks is incomplete. Green Bay’s McManus boots a field goal. Packers 3, Lions zero. The drive-14 plays- 7:56.
The Lions
The Lions take the kickoff and Montgomery goes for eight on first down. The Lions are keeping the Pack off balanced. as he has three runs for 19 yards. St. Brown connects with two catches for six. Sam LaPorta catches a pass blanketed by a safety for 19. After a one yard reception, Montgomery finishes the quarter with four runs for 19 yards. The quarter ends. Green Bay 3- Detroit 0.
Second Quarter
Detroit goes for it 4th and goal from the Packers five. The Packers encroach and Detroit now tries from just outside the two-yard line. Goff looks for St. Brown and connects on the left and puts a double juke for the score. Detroit 7- Green Bay 3. Scoring Drive: 13 plays, 70 yards, 7:10 Key Plays- Montgomery 8 runs for 39 yards with a long run of 11. The Packers come back with a productive Josh Jacobs. Jacobs rumbles for 37 yards and again for four. The drive eventually stalls. The Packers show going for it on 4th and eight but they are called for too much time. They punt and pin Detroit at their own six-yard-line.
Goff has started the game six for six with a TD and connects with Jahmyr Gibbs for 11. Two running plays go nowhere and Rashawn Gary sacks Goff. Detroit punts and Jack Fox boots it 55 yards in a driving wind. Between the teams, Detroit has run the ball ten times to six Goff passes. The Pack have run the ball eleven times and Love has also thrown it six times. With the Pack starting at their own 18, Love connects with TE Tucker Kraft for six yards. A swing pass to Jacobs is good for 11. Jacobs then goes up the middle for eight more. The Packers go backwards with a drop and a penalty. Then on third and long, the Lions safety Brian Branch connects to the head and gives the Pack a first down. Branch is disqualified from the game. Branch then is called for an unsportsmanlike call and the Packers get 15 yards more. First and ten Pack at the Lions 32. The Packers squander their gift and they attempt a 46-yard field goal and its no good. Lions 7- Packers 3.
The Lions go to the air as Goff connects with St. Brown for 26 yards after starting on the Packers 36. The Lions continue to stay with a short passing game with two completions to Montgomery and a catch for two yards to Allen Robinson. Montgomery steams ahead on second and one and refuses to go down and gains eight. The drive stall from there and Detroit kicks a 27 yard field goal by Jake Bates. 10 plays, 55 yards, 4:25 – Lions 10- Packers 3.
The Packers have :55 to mop up the quarter and after one completion, Love makes a poor decision and flips it to the Lions Kerby Joseph who takes it to the house. The Lions 17- Packers 3.
Key Stats: Lions Jared Goff. Look at this stat line.
Third Quarter
The Lions take the kickoff and their drive sputters after a first down completion from Goff to St. Brown. A defensive holding call extends Detroit’s drive. Two plays later, Gibbs runs for 18 and nearly takes it to the house. The Lions are rolling in the poor weather. It culminates as they go for it on 4th and one. Gibbs out of the shotgun goes up the middle for 15 yards, Bates with the extra point. The drive. 9 plays, 71 yards, 5:28
- After Detroit scores 24 unanswered points, the Packers start their drive on their own 30. They go three plays for seven yards and after punting, they pin Detroit inside their own ten. With the weather getting worse, Detroit starts at their own six and they go three and out.
- Green Bay goes to the air to put together their best drive of the day. The Pack complete three passes in a row and the second one was to Reed for 32 yards.
- The Packers use the sideline for a toe dragging first down by Reed. They connect again on the opposite sideline to Kraft for 13. A pair of Packers fumbled snaps stymie their drive. They put three on the board. Brandon McManus Made 38 Yd Field Goal. 10 plays, 55 yards, 5:09 Lions 24- Packers 6.
Detroit’s response
The Lions go nowhere and its fourth quarter time.
Fourth Quarter
The Lions have been playing a loose zone in the second half and the Pack are putting up excellent second half numbers. Against a Lions defense that is subbing out, the Pack go to the air and on fourth and five, Out of the shotgun, Love passes deep right to Reed for 28 yards. Green Bay goes to the air to Melton for 19 and then run the football. The Packers drive stalls and they call timeout. Love nearly coughs up the football trying to make a play. The Packers run up the middle fails at the Detroit nine. The Lions take over.
Detroit is methodically moving the ball deep in their own zone and run a trick play for Kalif Raymond. It fails for a huge loss. Detroit is stymied from there.
The Packers take the punt and move the football again. Detroit is playing popcorn vendors on defense and give up chunk plays. The Lions are playing guys that rarely play and GB capitalizes. Emanuel Wilson 2 Yd Rush Jordan Love Pass To Christian Watson For Two-Point Conversion Complete. 8 plays, 55 yards, 2:33
Packers 14- Detroit 24.
The Lions take the kickoff and want to kill clock to walk out of Green Bay with their third straight win at Lambeau. The Lions were 3-25 over 30 years not including games in Milwaukee. A heavy dose of Montgomery for 37 yards in six plays moves the chains following GB’s failed onside kick. With the Packers out of timeouts, Detroit uses kneel downs to end the game.
Final- Detroit 24- The Packers 14. The game was a blowout when it counted.
Three Stars
First Star – David Montgomery 17 carries for 73 yards. The stats are not big, but his toughness is. It was surprising to see him at the end of the game.
Second Star- Lions Linebacker had 13 tackles with six being solo.
Third star- Frank Ragnow- Solid on the offensive line and was outstanding against those lined up against him.
Jack Fox- Lions Punter – 4 Punts for 200 yards or a 50 yard average.
Offensive Stats
Roy J. Akers is a multi-media reporterĀ and covers several sports forĀ www.skyviewsports.net