Green Bay overcomes Detroit’s trick play See, what had happened was…
DETROIT – The Green Bay Packers clinched at least a first-round bye and one home playoff game at Lambeau Field with a 23-20 victory Sunday over the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.
Owczarski’s observation
The Packers rewarded head coach Matt LaFleur’s scaled-back practice week with an overall lackluster performance in all areas against the woeful Lions, falling behind 17-3 at halftime with errors from the sideline regarding substitution issues, inaccurate and dropped passes and inopportune penalties.
Injuries of varying degrees of severity to Corey Linsley (back), Bryan Bulaga (concussion), Aaron Jones (right hand), B.J. Goodson (neck) and Allen Lazard (left ankle) didn’t help the effort either, though the Packers rallied to tie the game 20-20 late in the fourth quarter and then won it at the gun on Mason Crosby’s 33-yard field goal.
In the end, Aaron Rodgers and Aaron Jones combined for clutch fourth-quarter plays to set up Crosby and the Packers earned a bye in the same breathless fashion they’ve won the majority of their 13 games in 2019.
5 things to watch revisited
Seeking the big payback: The Lions lost at Lambeau Field on a controversial penalty on defensive end Trey Flowers earlier in the year and the 2018 season ended with the Lions knocking out Aaron Rodgers and running a trick play for a 2-point conversion with a victory already secured. The Packers had much to play for Sunday, but the Lions didn’t – would any bad blood boil? There was no indication of that.
Winning the line of scrimmage: The Lions were on their third left guard of the year and their starting tackles had been dealing with injuries. The Packers’ defensive front should have been in position to make a difference but didn’t have much of an impact on the game. The Lions averaged 6.8 yards per rush.
Big opportunity for Aaron Jones: Jones needed two touchdowns to break the franchise record of 20 set by Ahman
Green in 2003 but there weren’t many running lanes to find and Rodgers couldn’t connect with him in the passing game. Jones surpassed 1,000 yards rushing and had a tough running day, but the Lions didn’t allow him to beat them.
Receivers running wild: Lions receiver Kenny Golladay has produced despite being the top target for all the Lions quarterbacks this season, even without much help, and he’d done well against the Packers. In three career games before Sunday the 6-4 wideout had 11 catches for 299 yards and two scores. Golladay caught three balls for 72 yards but suffered a concussion on a 42-yard completion and did not finish the game.
Looking ahead to 2020: The Packers still didn’t know about their 2020 schedule immediately after the game. As NFC North champs, they would host either Philadelphia or Dallas and visit the winner of Sunday night’s game between San Francisco and Seattle.
Game ball
JK Scott, P
The second-year punter was the most consistent performer of the day, punting five times for 221 yards (44.2 average). He pinned the Lions inside the 10-yard line two times.
With just under eight minutes left in the first quarter, Detroit offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell took a play call from the Minnesota Vikings last Monday night by having wide receiver Danny Amendola throw to quarterback David Blough on a fake reverse. As was the case against the Vikings, the Packers did not cover the QB leaking out into a route. But unlike Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs, who overthrew Kirk Cousins, Amendola planted his feet and threw a strike to Blough, who walked into the end zone for a 7-0 Lions lead.
5 numbers
Jan. 11-12, 2020
The weekend of what will be the first Packers playoff game since 2016, and it will be played at Lambeau Field. 1
Challenges won by Lions head coach
Matt Patricia in 2019, on a catch by Davante Adams along the sideline that was overturned in the second quarter. 6
Quarterbacks in NFL history with at least 25 touchdowns in 10 or more seasons, a club Aaron Rodgers joined Sunday with his 20-yard scoring throw to Adams. 19
Touchdowns on the year for Jones, leaving him one short of Ahman Green’s club record of 20 set in 2003. 91.6
Mason Crosby’s field goal percentage on the year, a career best. But his 51-yard miss prevented him from surpassing the single-season franchise record (91.7% by Jan Stenerud in 1981). 2014
The last time a Packers running back had topped 1,000 yards in a season, which Eddie Lacy did with 1,139. Jones joined Lacy as the only two Packers ‘backs to hit that plateau this decade.
Next Gen stat of the day
43.4
Air yards covered on a throw from Rodgers to Adams that counted for 33 yards in the stat book.
Did you notice?
With fullback Danny Vitale missing the game due to a knee injury, the Packers didn’t run many sets with that position in use – but when it was used Matt LaFleur put rookie tight end Jace Sternberger in that role.
Play of the game
With 45 seconds to go in the game, the Packers set up a middle screen to Jones at their own 49-yard line. Rodgers was immediately pressured and had to move to his right and quickly throw it to Jones. Elgton Jenkins managed to get a clean block on safety Miles Killebrew as Lions and Packers fell around Jones’ feet. He raced 31 yards up field to set up Crosby’s game-winning field goal.
Overheard
“Why would you want to come to this game? With this weather…we’re going to lose.” – Lions fan en route to Ford Field on a rainy Sunday.