RANTS & RAVES
RANT
No Adams (concussion) and no Jordy Nelson (shoulder) should have meant a productive day for Cobb and a bevy of young receivers. Instead, Cobb didn’t make his first catch until there were 15 seconds left in the third quarter; Geronimo Allison suffered a first-quarter finger injury and didn’t return until late in the game, and Michael Clark (one catch for 5 yards, two drops) and Jeff Janis (one catch for zero yards, one drop) let a golden opportunity slip through their fingers. Cobb flashed in the fourth quarter with a 17-yard TD reception and subsequent two-point conversion catch, and also completed a 10yard flea-flicker pass to Hundley. Tight end Emanuel Byrd, just promoted from the practice squad, had a 29-yard catch during which he sprinted out of a shoe while streaking down the sideline.
RANT
This game may have been meaningless, but don’t tell that to Stafford. Despite taking a pounding all season, the Lions quarterback started and enjoyed another big day against Green Bay’s makeshift secondary. Stafford hit on 20 of 29 passes for 323 yards and three touchdowns (one of 71 yards to Golden Tate, another of 54 to Kenny Golladay) with no interceptions for a glittering passer rating of 140.4. Perhaps as payback for past torment at the hands of the Packers, Stafford capped his big day by scoring a two-point conversion on a razzle-dazzle option pass from Tate.
RANT
Packers safeties Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Josh Jones had some embarrassing lapses. Bad enough that the rookie Jones failed to provide cover over the top for cornerback Davon House on a laser-beam throw to Marvin Jones that went for 56 yards and set up Detroit’s first field goal. On Golladay’s 54-yard TD play, Clinton-Dix appeared to give up on the tackle after getting stiff-armed. It was the latest example of season-long lackadaisical play from a supposed defensive leader.
RANT
Season-ending injuries to right tackles Bryan Bulaga and Jason Spriggs took a toll on the Packers’ offensive line in this game. Stand-in Justin McCray struggled on the outside, as did his replacement at right guard, Lucas Patrick. Savvy Ziggy Ansah led the Lions' assault with three sacks and five hits on Hundley.