Despite a late rally GB comes up short...
With his team facing third-and-9 late in the fourth quarter, scratching and clawing for first downs to melt the clock and preserve a 12-10 lead, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford thought he was going to be sacked.
Surrounded by bodies, he tucked the ball to prevent a fumble and sidestepped to his left, toward the green grass that would open a throwing lane. Lifting his feet to avoid swiping arms, Stafford broke free outside the left hash marks.
He fired a strike to Calvin Johnson for 13 yards and a new set of downs. Four precious, time-wasting downs.
Needing only chunks of 10 yards to preserve a victory, the Lions offense chugged to life. A reverse to Golden Tate picked up a first down. A pass to Tate over the middle gave way to horrific tackling by the Green Bay Packers and a 43-yard gain.
The ball moved to within 12 feet of the end zone and a historic upset. On second and goal, Stafford fired a strike to Lance Moore that scored a touchdown that looked to be enough to snap a losing streak in the state of Wisconsin dating back to 1991.
But kicker Matt Prater missed the extra point, his second of the day, and breathed a sliver of life back into Lambeau Field. With the score 18-10 in favor of the Detroit Lions, the Packers, with just under 2 minutes to go, needed only a touchdown and 2-point conversion to tie.
The touchdown came on a rifled pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers to backup tight end Justin Perillo, who snuck between two layers of the defense for a crucial score. The 2-point conversion went awry when defensive back Crezdon Butler knocked the ball away from Davante Adams in the end zone.
Still, the Packers were given another chance. The onside kick attempt clanged off the hands and right shoulder of receiver Calvin Johnson, one of the most sure-handed players in the National Football League, and rookie Damarious Randall made the recovery.
Trailing 18-16, the Packers needed just a field goal to win. They had 36 seconds to do it. They moved into position with passes from Rodgers to Adams, setting up a 52-yard attempt by Mason Crosby.
The kick came off Crosby's foot low and with a strange spin. It never came close, falling short and right. Somewhow, the Lions prevailed, 18-16.
The Packers losing streak has reached three consecutive games.
Turning point: An unsightly first half that featured putrid third-down conversion rates for both teams ended in a stalemate, 3-3. But running back Ameer Abdullah brought the opening kickoff out from several yards deep and returned in 104 yards to within inches of the end zone. Micah Hyde dragged him down at the 1-yard line. The Packers’ defense stopped the Lions twice before succumbing on third down, when Stafford connected with tight end Brandon Pettigrew for a touchdown that changed the complexion of the game. Through two quarters the Packers played disappointing football, especially on offense, but found themselves tied on the scoreboard. After Pettigrew’s touchdown, they had to dig themselves out. Game on.
Big number: 42 — Receiving yards for Jared Abbrederis on the crucial touchdown drive that closed the margin to a one-score game midway through the fourth quarter. Ahead of Jeff Janis on the depth chart, Abbrederis caught passes for 4 yards, 6 yards before hauling in a vital 32-yarder down the right sideline to give the Packers a goal-to-go opportunity.
What went right: A frantic comeback attempt against the Carolina Panthers last week featured plenty of no-huddle offense and crisp passing by Rodgers, and it looked early on like that momentum would carry over to Sunday’s game. Behind plenty of quick throws from Rodgers — four to Davante Adams alone — the Packers moved quickly into field goal range on their first possession. Though the drive ultimately stalled when Rodgers overthrew Adams on the right sideline (more on that later), the profitable 12-play trek was a positive sign for a group that had been searching for itself of late.
Across the ball, the Packers’ defense played very solid football after three consecutive thrashings. They held Stafford to under 250 yards passing and never allowed either tailback — Abdullah or Joique Bell — to get into a rhythm.
What went wrong: The opening drive for the Packers was beautiful, but everything after that was a disaster until — you guessed it — a frantic fourth-quarter comeback. A masterful use of the no-huddle offense by Rodgers triggered the game’s first points, and what followed could only be described as strange. The hyper-accurate Rodgers missed passes high (two to Adams, including one that may have been a touchdown) and skipped other balls short (at least twice) in a performance that was puzzling and atypical. His stat line through three quarters — 18-of-32 for 148 yards, zero touchdowns — embodied a stagnant offense that has been stuck in the mud for a month. Until, of course, they came to life late in the game to nearly pull off the improbable.
With his team facing third-and-9 late in the fourth quarter, scratching and clawing for first downs to melt the clock and preserve a 12-10 lead, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford thought he was going to be sacked.
Surrounded by bodies, he tucked the ball to prevent a fumble and sidestepped to his left, toward the green grass that would open a throwing lane. Lifting his feet to avoid swiping arms, Stafford broke free outside the left hash marks.
He fired a strike to Calvin Johnson for 13 yards and a new set of downs. Four precious, time-wasting downs.
Needing only chunks of 10 yards to preserve a victory, the Lions offense chugged to life. A reverse to Golden Tate picked up a first down. A pass to Tate over the middle gave way to horrific tackling by the Green Bay Packers and a 43-yard gain.
The ball moved to within 12 feet of the end zone and a historic upset. On second and goal, Stafford fired a strike to Lance Moore that scored a touchdown that looked to be enough to snap a losing streak in the state of Wisconsin dating back to 1991.
But kicker Matt Prater missed the extra point, his second of the day, and breathed a sliver of life back into Lambeau Field. With the score 18-10 in favor of the Detroit Lions, the Packers, with just under 2 minutes to go, needed only a touchdown and 2-point conversion to tie.
The touchdown came on a rifled pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers to backup tight end Justin Perillo, who snuck between two layers of the defense for a crucial score. The 2-point conversion went awry when defensive back Crezdon Butler knocked the ball away from Davante Adams in the end zone.
Still, the Packers were given another chance. The onside kick attempt clanged off the hands and right shoulder of receiver Calvin Johnson, one of the most sure-handed players in the National Football League, and rookie Damarious Randall made the recovery.
Trailing 18-16, the Packers needed just a field goal to win. They had 36 seconds to do it. They moved into position with passes from Rodgers to Adams, setting up a 52-yard attempt by Mason Crosby.
The kick came off Crosby's foot low and with a strange spin. It never came close, falling short and right. Somewhow, the Lions prevailed, 18-16.
The Packers losing streak has reached three consecutive games.
Turning point: An unsightly first half that featured putrid third-down conversion rates for both teams ended in a stalemate, 3-3. But running back Ameer Abdullah brought the opening kickoff out from several yards deep and returned in 104 yards to within inches of the end zone. Micah Hyde dragged him down at the 1-yard line. The Packers’ defense stopped the Lions twice before succumbing on third down, when Stafford connected with tight end Brandon Pettigrew for a touchdown that changed the complexion of the game. Through two quarters the Packers played disappointing football, especially on offense, but found themselves tied on the scoreboard. After Pettigrew’s touchdown, they had to dig themselves out. Game on.
Big number: 42 — Receiving yards for Jared Abbrederis on the crucial touchdown drive that closed the margin to a one-score game midway through the fourth quarter. Ahead of Jeff Janis on the depth chart, Abbrederis caught passes for 4 yards, 6 yards before hauling in a vital 32-yarder down the right sideline to give the Packers a goal-to-go opportunity.
What went right: A frantic comeback attempt against the Carolina Panthers last week featured plenty of no-huddle offense and crisp passing by Rodgers, and it looked early on like that momentum would carry over to Sunday’s game. Behind plenty of quick throws from Rodgers — four to Davante Adams alone — the Packers moved quickly into field goal range on their first possession. Though the drive ultimately stalled when Rodgers overthrew Adams on the right sideline (more on that later), the profitable 12-play trek was a positive sign for a group that had been searching for itself of late.
Across the ball, the Packers’ defense played very solid football after three consecutive thrashings. They held Stafford to under 250 yards passing and never allowed either tailback — Abdullah or Joique Bell — to get into a rhythm.
What went wrong: The opening drive for the Packers was beautiful, but everything after that was a disaster until — you guessed it — a frantic fourth-quarter comeback. A masterful use of the no-huddle offense by Rodgers triggered the game’s first points, and what followed could only be described as strange. The hyper-accurate Rodgers missed passes high (two to Adams, including one that may have been a touchdown) and skipped other balls short (at least twice) in a performance that was puzzling and atypical. His stat line through three quarters — 18-of-32 for 148 yards, zero touchdowns — embodied a stagnant offense that has been stuck in the mud for a month. Until, of course, they came to life late in the game to nearly pull off the improbable.
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