RANTS & RAVES
RANT
Hundley spent the bye week in Green Bay taking a crash course in how to succeed as the Packers’ starting quarterback. After being constrained by a conservative game plan in a loss to the New Orleans Saints, Hundley again played it close to the vest at the outset, rarely risking downfield throws. Of his 18 firsthalf passes, 13 were for five or fewer yards downfield, according to ESPN. On the night, Hundley completed 26 of 38 passes for 245 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions and a passer rating of 86.0. He also ran four times for 22 yards and scored for the second straight week, this time on a sneak.
RANT
Word gets around the league quickly when a rookie running back exceeds the 100-yard rushing mark in his first two NFL starts. Such was the case with the Packers’ Aaron Jones, who was a marked man in the eyes of the Lions’ defense. With little threat of the deep pass, the Lions were able to stack the box and limit Jones to 12 yards on five carries. One bright spot: Ty Montgomery, who opened the season as the starter before losing the job to Jones, gained 33 yards on five carries and had an 18-yard pass reception.
RANT
Packers defensive lineman Mike
Daniels, who on Saturday vowed to “deliver some blows” in retaliation for injury-producing hits on Davante Adams and Rodgers by division rivals this season, was called for unsportsmanlike conduct for a shove on the defense’s third snap. Instead of having to punt, the Lions got a first down and scored their first touchdown six plays later. Not a smart play from a supposed team leader.
RANT
The bad injury news isn’t letting up for Green Bay. After welcoming back
Morgan Burnett, who had been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury in Dallas, the Packers lost their veteran safety again to a groin injury in the third quarter. That’s a key loss because Burnett wears the radio helmet on defense and plays a pivotal role in getting everyone into the right spots. On the other side of the ball, the Packers’ regular offensive line started a game together for only the second time this season. But the reunion didn’t last long as right tackle Bryan Bulaga was carted off with what appeared to be a serious knee injury early in the fourth quarter.
BITS AND PIECES
❚ The Packers’ revolving door at long snapper bit them at the end of their opening drive. Derek Hart, cut in training camp but brought back last week after an injury to Taybor Pepper, rolled a field-goal snap that contributed to a
Mason Crosby miss from 39 yards out. The field-goal unit fared much better at the end of the first half, rushing onto the field with the clock running down and no timeouts left. Crosby converted a 35yard attempt as time expired.
❚ Cornerback Damarious Randall once again was in the right place at the right time. Randall, who had in interceptions in each of the previous three games, recovered a fumble forced by Jake Ryan in the third quarter.
❚ Paid attendance was announced as 77,575.