Twenty-two years ago a quarterback named Brett Favre slew the Detroit Lions in a playoff game with a late cross-field 40-yard touchdown pass to Sterling Sharpe at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich.
On Thursday night, Aaron Rodgers made a play every bit as incredible as his predecessor's with time already expired to give the Green Bay Packers a hard-to-believe 27-23 victory over the hard-luck Lions.
Given life on a facemask penalty against Detroit's Devin Taylor on what would have been the final play of the game, Rodgers made the Lions pay in storybook style.
He avoided the three-man rush, bounced right and pulled up just before the line of scrimmage.
Strangely, the Lions weren't paying much attention to tight end Richard Rodgers, the biggest man in the vicinity at 6 feet 4 inches and 272 pounds.
The high-arcing, 65-yard throw came down to Rodgers, who grasped the ball securely with both hands above his head among a pack of half a dozen players. The closest defender was linebacker Tahir Whitehead.
There was no question that the second-year tight end had the ball for a 61-yard touchdown.
There also was no question that the Packers had escaped because the defense played exceptionally well for the final three quarters and the nearly comatose offense rose up in the second half.
"My goodness," coach Mike McCarthy said. "Just before the ball was snapped, we were talking on the headphones that if anyone can get it there, Aaron can.
"What a great throw...what a great catch. A big-time play at the last possible moment of the game. We needed this."
The Packers improved to 8-4, one-half game behind Minnesota in the NFC North. The Lions (4-8) had their three-game winning streak snapped.
Green Bay also is 3-2 in the division (the Vikings are 3-1). The two teams meet Jan. 3 at Lambeau Field.
Three times in the last month the Packers had failed at the end with a chance to pull out comeback victories against Carolina, Detroit and Chicago. In games decided by 4 points or fewer, McCarthy entered with a 14-23-1 (.382) record whereas Rodgers was 8-20 (.286).
This game, this moment, will be remembered forever by both coach and quarterback.
The Packers avoided a sweep by the Lions, which would have been their first since 1991. McCarthy, 16-4 against Detroit, won for the first time at Ford Field since 2012.
"Tough one to lose," Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. "I thought we fought hard. We just didn't make enough plays at the end."
"Tough pill to swallow," said Matthew Stafford, the Lions quarterback. "We played a good game against a good football team. To be in that position at the end against that team, you have to play well."
Clinging to a 23-21 lead with 3 minutes 4 seconds left, the Lions converted on third and 12 with a 29-yard strike to T.J. Jones to the Detroit 47. Just 2:15 remained, and Caldwell decided to take the ball from Stafford's hands and run Joique Bell three straight times. The net was minus-3.
The clock stopped once, for the 2-minute warning, before Sam Martin punted to the Green Bay 21. Twenty-three seconds showed.
"I think we made the right decision," said Stafford. "They have no timeouts. We can play the sidelines. You feel good about your chances there."
After an incomplete deep pass to Randall Cobb, Rodgers fired deep to Jared Abbrederis near the Detroit 20. The Packers risked a penalty on the bench when a cluster of players and coaches led by inactive guard T.J. Lang howled for pass interference.
There was no call.
Six seconds were left. Rodgers completed a pass to James Jones and the Packers began lateraling it to one another. It was an incomplete pass, but Taylor was penalized for striking the quarterback illegally.
Although time had expired, the Packers received one more play. This time, did they ever make it count
The Packers could hardly have been more aimless and ineffective in the first half. In seven full possessions, they were shut out for the second straight half, gained 78 yards and mustered six first downs (two by penalty).
Green Bay rushed for 16 yards in 15 carries.
On Thursday night, Aaron Rodgers made a play every bit as incredible as his predecessor's with time already expired to give the Green Bay Packers a hard-to-believe 27-23 victory over the hard-luck Lions.
Given life on a facemask penalty against Detroit's Devin Taylor on what would have been the final play of the game, Rodgers made the Lions pay in storybook style.
He avoided the three-man rush, bounced right and pulled up just before the line of scrimmage.
Strangely, the Lions weren't paying much attention to tight end Richard Rodgers, the biggest man in the vicinity at 6 feet 4 inches and 272 pounds.
The high-arcing, 65-yard throw came down to Rodgers, who grasped the ball securely with both hands above his head among a pack of half a dozen players. The closest defender was linebacker Tahir Whitehead.
There was no question that the second-year tight end had the ball for a 61-yard touchdown.
There also was no question that the Packers had escaped because the defense played exceptionally well for the final three quarters and the nearly comatose offense rose up in the second half.
"My goodness," coach Mike McCarthy said. "Just before the ball was snapped, we were talking on the headphones that if anyone can get it there, Aaron can.
"What a great throw...what a great catch. A big-time play at the last possible moment of the game. We needed this."
The Packers improved to 8-4, one-half game behind Minnesota in the NFC North. The Lions (4-8) had their three-game winning streak snapped.
Green Bay also is 3-2 in the division (the Vikings are 3-1). The two teams meet Jan. 3 at Lambeau Field.
Three times in the last month the Packers had failed at the end with a chance to pull out comeback victories against Carolina, Detroit and Chicago. In games decided by 4 points or fewer, McCarthy entered with a 14-23-1 (.382) record whereas Rodgers was 8-20 (.286).
This game, this moment, will be remembered forever by both coach and quarterback.
The Packers avoided a sweep by the Lions, which would have been their first since 1991. McCarthy, 16-4 against Detroit, won for the first time at Ford Field since 2012.
"Tough one to lose," Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. "I thought we fought hard. We just didn't make enough plays at the end."
"Tough pill to swallow," said Matthew Stafford, the Lions quarterback. "We played a good game against a good football team. To be in that position at the end against that team, you have to play well."
Clinging to a 23-21 lead with 3 minutes 4 seconds left, the Lions converted on third and 12 with a 29-yard strike to T.J. Jones to the Detroit 47. Just 2:15 remained, and Caldwell decided to take the ball from Stafford's hands and run Joique Bell three straight times. The net was minus-3.
The clock stopped once, for the 2-minute warning, before Sam Martin punted to the Green Bay 21. Twenty-three seconds showed.
"I think we made the right decision," said Stafford. "They have no timeouts. We can play the sidelines. You feel good about your chances there."
After an incomplete deep pass to Randall Cobb, Rodgers fired deep to Jared Abbrederis near the Detroit 20. The Packers risked a penalty on the bench when a cluster of players and coaches led by inactive guard T.J. Lang howled for pass interference.
There was no call.
Six seconds were left. Rodgers completed a pass to James Jones and the Packers began lateraling it to one another. It was an incomplete pass, but Taylor was penalized for striking the quarterback illegally.
Although time had expired, the Packers received one more play. This time, did they ever make it count
The Packers could hardly have been more aimless and ineffective in the first half. In seven full possessions, they were shut out for the second straight half, gained 78 yards and mustered six first downs (two by penalty).
Green Bay rushed for 16 yards in 15 carries.
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