PACKERS INSIDER WITH STU COURTNEY
THE BIG PICTURE
This 30-17 loss to the Lions was a sobering setback for the Packers in their quest to stay in playoff contention and keep open the possibility of an Aaron Rodgers return later this season. At 4-4 and riding a threegame losing streak, they are two games behind the first-place Minnesota Vikings and tied for second place with the Lions. With five of their last eight games on the road, this truly felt like a must-win situation, and the Packers came up empty.
TURNING POINT
The Packers were still in the game trailing 7-0 when Lions kicker Matt Prater hit the crossbar on a 55-yard field goal attempt early in the second quarter. But after an encouraging drive to open the game, the Packers’ offense went three-and-out for a second straight time. The Lions got the ball back at their 9-yard line and proceeded to march 91 yards in 13 plays, with Ameer Abdullah scoring on a four-yard run that was so easy, quarterback Matthew Stafford signaled touchdown almost immediately after pitching Abdullah the ball. Much too easy.
THUMBS UP
Hard to find much positive in this one. On offense, a Packers passing game stuck in neutral most of the night flashed momentarily when Brett Hundley connected with Randall Cobb on a crossing pattern for a 46-yard gain that set up Green Bay’s first touchdown. The Packers’ defense was abysmal at getting off the field on third down, but the embattled unit did make a goal-line stand at the start of the fourth quarter. Three times the Lions were stonewalled trying to score from the 1, with
Blake Martinez forcing a fumble on secson ond down that the Lions recovered. Detroit was forced to settle for a field goal.
THUMBS DOWN
Hundley was largely ineffective, but he got absolutely no help from the defense. The Packers could muster no pass rush and were picked apart by Stafford, the best quarterback still healthy in the division. A Lions offense that has struggled this sea- gashed the Packers with jet sweeps and play-action passes and consistently converted big plays. Even the first appearance on defense of rookie linebacker Vince Biegel (which came in the second quarter) didn’t provide relief. Stafford had a field day, completing 26 of 33 passes for 361 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions for a passer rating of 132.4 against a Packers defense that never forced a punt.