The Packers are in Detroit today where they face the Lions for the second time this season. The first meeting in Green Bay earlier this season gave the Packers a scare though they did come out on top 28-26. Rodgers had his second lowest yardage total in the game, accumulating only 181 passing yards and throwing two interceptions. Being inside at Ford Field should benefit the Packers, both the warmth and lack of wind and snow that is slamming the rest of the mid-west right now, will be absent in the dome.
Hopefully the Packers can play with the same intensity that they have the last few weeks. They have won five of their last six, the only loss coming to the 8-2 Atlanta Falcons. Regardless the up and coming Lions are sure to keep the game close even with their third string quarterback, Drew Stanton playing.
First Quarter:
The Packers started the game by kicking off to the Lions and quickly forced a three and out. Two plays later, after a 2 yard gain on a screen to Jennings and a neutral zone infraction penalty on the Lions, Rodgers completed a pass to Quarless for 12 yards and a first down. Unfortunately the Lions were able to strip him of the ball and take over again.
The Lions had success running the ball on the first seven plays of the drive, piling up 45 yards including a 15 yard run by Stanton. The ninth play of the drive wasn't what the Lions wanted though. After Stanton avoided a sack by Matthews, he threw the ball up in the end zone where Tramon Williams read the pass and picked it off.
It looked like a good start to the drive for the Packers when Jackson rushed for nine yards. A quick deep pass was incomplete and a sack however resulted in a three and out for the Packers. A 62 yard punt turned the field position around a bit again putting the Lions relatively deep in their own territory. The defense answered the call forcing the second Lions three and out of the game. The lack of excitement continued after a draw and a delay left the Packers with a third and thirteen which was a an incomplete attempt to Driver. The next Detroit drive finally produced another first down in the quarter, followed by three unsuccessful plays, particularly a ball that was overthrown deep and close to being intercepted again.
The next Packers drive started with a short run by Starks which set up a beautiful play action pass. The pass from Rodgers hit Jennings in the mask and bounced into the hands of Spievey. Three penalties resulted on the play but the one that mattered the most to the Packers was offset when Rodgers left the pocket so the play stood. The defense answered once again though and forced a Lions punt to end the quarter.
Key Players:
Packers - T. Williams 1 int. 1 return 16 yards
Lions - Logan 62 total yards
Second Quarter:
There seems to be no fluency for the Packers so far to start this game. Another three and out started off the second quarter. A nice kick by Masthay and good coverage on the punt put the Lions on their own 22 for their first dive of the quarter.
The drive started well for the Lions, a few good runs and a second down pass for a first down, all highlighted by a double reverse that led to Calvin Johnson running for a first down. Clay Matthews then got to Stanton and forced him back for a 19 yard loss. On the next play Stanton tried to get it all back in one play that resulted in an interception for Charlie Peprah.
Not much happened on the ensuing drive for the Packers though. They started the drive with a screen pass and a short pass which got them a first down. They then attempted to run the next two plays, one of which resulted in two separate holding calls and a second and 18. Rodgers was forced to scramble for seven yards and then completed a short pass to driver but well short of the first down.
Another option run by Stanton got the Lions off on the right foot again, this time resulting in 17 yards. Another option attempt on third and four later in the drive was much less successful and the Lions had to punt.Williams ran around thirty yards on the return just to manage a twelve yard return, setting the Packers up on their own 20.
Ill give some credit to the Lions for their defensive effort but the Packers haven't looked deep since the interception on the dropped pass by Jennings. Rodgers have been happy to drop the ball off to the backs and tight ends picking up 2 or 3 yards per completion. Rodgers had a big scramble that went for 18 yards but took a hard shot and looked dazed and confused before he got up. That gain was offset on the next play when the Packers tried for their third straight play action pass but instead go Rodgers sacked for a loss of 13. On second and 23 ran a draw play for six yards and a drop off pass for a gain of four. A good punt pinned the Lions on their own eight.
After forcing yet another three and out the Packers got the ball back at their own 41 with 1:12 left. Rodgers did not come in for the final series and Matt Flynn was called upon but not able to generate anything but a completion for no gain.
The Lions used their timeouts to stop the clock and got the ball back at their own 35 with 44 seconds left. They ran some short run plays but didn't get anything going, the fans disagreed with the calls and voiced their opinions as the team left the field despite the game being 0-0.
Key Players:
Packers - Defense (2 interceptions, 2 sacks, 0 points allowed)
Lions - Running game (25 rushes for 127 yards)
First Half Thoughts:
I thought that they Packers were trying to force the run too much, and that was before Rodgers got knocked out of the game, that is sure to continue now that Flynn is in for the rest of it. The defense played outstanding holding the Lions scoreless despite the offense turning the ball over twice, forcing two interceptions of their own. It is looking like they will need to continue to play this way and probably generate some points of their own if they want to win this game. Matt Flynn gets a chance to prove himself as a legitimate backup and maybe a starting spot somewhere in the future if he can play well in the second half and lead the Packers to a win on the road
Third Quarter:
The opening drive for the Packers in the third quarter finally yielded some points! Using a mix of screen passes a few runs and quarterback roll outs, the formula that normally results in good things for the Packers, Flynn was able to drive down the field and allow Crosby to knock home a field goal. The third down play for the Packers appeared as if Greg Jennings may have had a touchdown but the coaches decided not to challenge it. Quarless was the main target picking up 31 yards on 2 catches on the drive.
Logan gave the Lions a good start to the next drive, bringing the kick out to the their 43. An illegal contact call prolonged the drive however nothing came of it after that and the Lions punted the ball away, all the way to the Packers ten.
Flynn's third drive of the game once again got off to a good start, a nine yard pass followed by a one yard draw by Jackson. Flynn picked up a third down conversion on the next set with a dangerous twelve yard run, where he chose not to slide at the end. Following that first down Flynn went deep to Jennings for 32 yards, the longest play of the game to this point of the game. Jordy Nelson made tow nice plays on the next two passes catching, the ball and battling forward to pick up extra yardage. From the Lions nine yard line Flynn missed his first pass to Jennings and on the next play hit Levy in the chest for an interception, ending an otherwise very solid drive.
The decision to run the ball out of the end zone didn't hurt the Lions despite starting on their own nine. They got their first third down conversion to move them to the twenty. The next pass was a deep ball from Stanton to Johnson, taking the Lions into Packers territory at the 36. The Packers defense stood tall again though forcing the Lions to attempt 48 yard a field goal to tie the game, which was hooked wide.
Two plays to end the quarter left the Packers facing a third and one at their own 47 as time expired.
Key Players:
Packers - Matt Flynn (9/16, 112 yards, 1 int)
Lions - Calvin Johnson (1 reception 44 yards, 1 rush 13 yards)
Fourth Quarter:
The quarter didn't start as well as the Packers would have liked; Flynn was stopped short of the first down a forced to punt. They chose to kick the ball out of the end zone instead of giving Logan a chance to return it.
Stanton continued to give the Packers trouble with his ability to run, he brought his game total up to 44 yards while picking up a first down. After two more plays, the Lions got their second third down conversion of the game in as many drives on a pass to B. Johnson. The Lions continued to methodically move down the field, mixing up passes and runs to get into the red zone. A screen pass to Heller, went for thirteen yards to cap off the 80 yard touchdown drive to give the Lions the lead.
The Packers return game couldn't generate anything, getting taken down at the 14 yard line. After two minimal gains the Lions committed a pass interference penalty giving the Packers a first down. They couldn't do anything with the opportunity as Flynn was sacked on the next play. The Packers had to punt the ball away to the Lions with 5:27 left and it was returned to the Packers 49.
The defense tightened up again, holding the Lions to five yards but the punt put the Packers on their own nine yard line again. After a run on first down, Flynn was forced to pass the ball. He started with a dart to Jones for 18 yards, followed by a screen pass to Nance that went for 14 yards, Flynn then hit Jennings for nine yards to take the packers to the 49 at the 2 minute warning. Eight and nine yard passes were the focus of the final drive since the Packers had all 3 timeouts remaining. A rush on second and two failed to pick up the first down from the Lions 31 as did a pass over the middle to Driver setting up fourth and one. The Packers went for the game witha deep pass in the end zone to Jennings but he was unable to come up with the catch. The Lions look over and stuffed the ball up the middle for all three plays, basically running out the clock on the game. They did stop the Lions on third down but only three seconds remained. The Lions played it is a normal pass play and a deep throw by Stanton finished off the clock.
Key Player:
Packers - Charlie Peprah (1 int, 5 tackles, 2 assists)
Lions - Will Heller (1 Reception, 1 TD)
Final Thoughts:
The offensive line seemed to be the downfall for the majority of the game, the Lions didn't have to bring more than their front four to bring pressure for the entire game. This allowed the Lions to send more people back into the secondary to give both quarterbacks major problems with completing passes. The running game didn't benefit from this either but didn't help themselves either as they rushed 20 times for only 66 yards.
The defense cannot be blamed for this loss at all despite giving up 190 rushing yards. They made plays, forced turnover and only gave up a single touchdown, forcing the Lions to punt in many crucial situations.
Last play call was a gutsy one but all in all i say a good call. The Lions were getting to a point where they could finally step up and play like they were through the rest of the game. The best chance for the Packers was that corner fade which was only inches away from being complete, making it the call of the season. Flynn played well as a backup other than the interception in the end zone. He put up decent numbers, just couldn't turn it into points for the Packers offense.
In the end the play call didn't didn't work and the Packers lost the game. They have to get back on the horse this week and hope that Rodgers will be good to go next week against the Patriots. The only thing that can control is how they play, if they come back and win their games they need some help to get back into the playoffs. Only time will tell how it will play out and the season will go.
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