Packer Central

Live Updates: Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions

The Green Bay Packers (3-5) are facing the Detroit Lions (1-6) on Sunday at Ford Field. Follow along all day for all the scoring, statistical and injury updates.

Bill Huber

In this story:

DETROIT – The Green Bay Packers (3-5) have lost four in a row. The Detroit Lions (1-6) have lost five in a row. Something will have to change on Sunday at Ford Field. Follow along all day for updates.

Final Score

Lions 15, Packers 9

The Packers' do-or-die drive fell short, meaning a fifth consecutive loss and 3-6 record. Here is our quick game story.

Fourth Quarter

Lions 15, Packers 9 (2:00 remaining)

So, the season will come down to this: A do-or-die drive from the Packers’ 43. On third-and-1, Preston Smith and Quay Walker stopped Jamaal Williams for minus-2. On fourth-and-3, pressure by Smith and Walker forced an incompletion.

Injury updates: LB Krys Barnes is being evaluated for a concussion. LT David Bakhtiari is back for this pivotal drive.

Lions 15, Packers 9 (6:36 remaining)

Mason Crosby kicked a 25-yard field goal to make it a one-score game. Aaron Rodgers, who converted a third-and-17 with an 18-yard run in which he pump-faked two Lions into no-man’s land, threw a touch low to Sammy Watkins on third-and-3 from the 7.

Lions 15, Packers 6 (14:51 remaining)

Jared Goff threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end James Mitchell to cap a 13-play scoring drive. Mitchell was wide open; safety Darnell Savage was in the vicinity. Defensive holding on Keisean Nixon on third-and-15 might wind up being the play of the game. The Packers’ season might be on the line over the next 14-plus minutes.

Third Quarter

Lions 8, Packers 6 (4:53 remaining)

The Packers – finally – have scored against the worst defense in the NFL. On second-and-3 from the 20, Rodgers lofted a beauty to Allen Lazard over Jeff Okudah for the touchdown. Rodgers got belted by Josh Paschal, who was working against fill-in left tackle Zach Tom. The Packers went for two to tie the game but Rodgers’ pass to Lazard was broken up by Okudah. Even if the ball was caught, he would have been short of the goal line.

Injury update: RB Aaron Jones (ankle) is questionable.

Lions 8, Packers 0 (9:15 remaining)

Aaron Rodgers just threw his third interception of the game against a defense that entered the day with the worst opponent passer rating in the NFL. On second-and-10 following Jaire Alexander’s interception, Rodgers fired a fastball to Allen Lazard but rookie safety Kerby Joseph grabbed his second pick of the day.

Injury update: Rashan Gary (knee) is questionable. He was carted to the locker room to be examined.

Lions 8, Packers 0 (10:06 remaining)

Did the Packers finally get the break they needed? One play after Kingsley Enagbare was called for roughing the passer – a horrendous call – Jaire Alexander picked off Jared Goff and returned it to the Detroit 23.

Injury update: WR Christian Watson is being evaluated for a concussion.

Lions 8, Packers 0 (11:52 remaining)

The Packers are in a lot of trouble. Left tackle David Bakhtiari was on the bench to start the second half, with Zach Tom in the lineup. On what seemed to be a key third-down conversion to Christian Watson, Watson was hit hard and exited the game. Remember, he suffered a concussion last week. The Packers punted after Aaron Rodgers’ deep pass to Samori Toure was broken up. Rodgers shouted at the heavens after the deflection.

Halftime

Lions 8, Packers 0

The Packers have the edge in yards, 205-151, but it’s hard to overcome two red-zone interceptions. Aaron Rodgers is 10-of-18 for 156 yards – an outlandish yardage total considering what transpired the last few games – but interceptions from the 7 and the 1 have the Packers in a hole.

Second Quarter

Lions 8, Packers 0 (15 seconds remaining)

The Lions have broken the scoreless tie on Jared Goff’s play-action touchdown to practice-squad tight end Shane Zylstra, who couldn’t have been more open if he were a 7-Eleven. The Lions started at their 39 after a turnover on downs. The big play was a 16-yard completion to tight end Tom Kennedy, with an additional 15 yards tacked on by a senseless unnecessary-roughness penalty on Jaire Alexander. Michael Badgley missed the extra point – the snap was terrible – but Alexander was called for running into the kicker. With the ball moved to the 1, Jamaal Williams waltzed in for the conversion.

Packers 0, Lions 0 (2:35 remaining)

On fourth-and-3, Allen Lazard couldn’t control the ball on a beautiful deep ball from Aaron Rodgers vs. tight coverage by defensive back Will Harris. Officially, Harris got a pass defensed. The Lions will take over at their 39.

Packers 0, Lions 0 (14:56 remaining)

On fourth-and-goal, Aaron Rodgers threw it to his favorite player. Not Allen Lazard. Not Robert Tonyan. But left tackle David Bakhtiari. The pass was underthrown and intercepted by Aiden Hutchinson. On third-and-10, Rodgers and Lazard hooked up for a magnificent catch-and-run gain of 47 to the 1. Rodgers looped the ball over cornerback Jeff Okudah, Lazard ran it down and picked up 27 yards after the catch thanks to Christian Watson’s persistent block of safety Kerby Joseph. Dillon was stuffed on first and third downs and Rodgers and Sammy Watkins weren’t reading the same book, let alone reading the same page of that book, on second down.

Injury updates: CB Eric Stokes (ankle/knee) is out. RG Jon Runyan is back in the game.

First Quarter

Packers 0, Lions 0 (3:22 remaining)

The Packers forced a three-and-out. Adrian Amos almost intercepted a pass on second down. That was nothing compared to third down. On third-and-17, Preston Smith made a brilliant play on a screen. He deflected the ball in the air but he and Rashan Gary got in the way of each other to turn an interception and potential touchdown into a harmless incompletion.

Injury updates: CB Eric Stokes was injured and helped off the field by trainers. He was not putting any weight on his right leg. The Packers went with Jaire Alexander and Rasul Douglas as the corners and Keisean Nixon in the slot. He is questionable with ankle/knee injuries.

RG Jon Runyan (knee) is questionable. Zach Tom remains in at right guard rather than former starter Royce Newman.

Packers 0, Lions 0 (4:19 remaining)

With the Packers on the doorstep of an impressive opening touchdown drive, Aaron Rodgers’ pass hit off linebacker Derrick Barnes’ head or shoulder and was intercepted by safety Kerby Joseph. Starting at their own 7 following a fourth-down stop, Rodgers fired a dart to rookie Romeo Doubs for a gain of 18 but Doubs limped off the field and was checked out by the training staff. On the eighth play, right guard Jon Runyan walked off the field with the training staff. It was the eighth play together for the No. 1 line. Rodgers picked up a third-and-10 with a 16-yard run and a third-and-1 with a 19-yard completion to Marcedes Lewis to set up first-and-goal at the 5. The interception came on the next play.

Injury updates: WR Romeo Doubs (ankle) is questionable. He was driven to the locker room after being checked out on the bench. With RG Jon Runyan injured, rookie Zach Tom took over at right guard. It’s his third position in as many weeks, following a start at left tackle vs. Washington and a start at left guard vs. Buffalo.

Packers 0, Lions 0 (10:51 remaining)

Why are the Lions 1-6? Because on fourth-and-1 from Green Bay’s 7, they went with an empty backfield – meaning no run/pass dilemma for the defense. Rashan Gary wasn’t blocked and crushed quarterback Jared Goff, and his pass fluttered incomplete. On the drive, Jamaal Williams ran four times for 17 yards and D’Andre Swift had a 20-yard catch in which Quay Walker missed a tackle.

Pregame Notes

- Rookie Quay Walker and Krys Barnes were in the huddle for the No. 1 defense for warmups. Barnes just returned from injured reserve with an ankle injury and immediately vaulted ahead of Isaiah McDuffie, it appears. Walker will wear the communication helmet. He discussed the challenge this week – and it’s not what you think.

Update: McDuffie started with Walker. It is an early rotation with McDuffie and Barnes.

- Kicker Mason Crosby was wide right from 52 yards but split the uprights from 52 and 54 on his final kicks of his pregame routine.

- The No. 1 offensive line, indeed, will be together for the first time. During warmups, it was left tackle David Bakhtiari, left guard Elgton Jenkins, center Josh Myers, right guard Jon Runyan and right tackle Yosh Nijman.

- Running back Kylin Hill, back from last year’s torn ACL for his season debut, was in the rotation for kickoff returns. So was Keisean Nixon, who’s been in that role and shown some explosiveness the past few weeks.

Losing Streak

The Packers have lost four in a row for the first time since 2016. Breaking that skid kicked off the running of the table that included a victory at Detroit in the final game of the regular season.

The Packers are trying to avoid their first five-game losing streak since 2008. That was Aaron Rodgers’ first season as the starter. They snapped that swoon with a victory over Detroit in the final game of the regular season.

The Packers started Sunday in 11th place in the NFC but only one game behind San Francisco for the final playoff spot. With the next three games against Dallas (6-2), Philadelphia (8-0) and Tennessee (5-2), this seems like a must-win game.

“Not really,” Rodgers said when asked if this was a now-or-never game. “I don’t think it ever needs to feel like that. There’s a little bit more urgency, I think, as the season gets into November. Obviously, the weather’s changing, which is usually in our favor. If we can just get a couple of these, then I think we get to start to become that dangerous team we believed at the beginning of the season we’d be.”

Point Spread Grows

The Packers started the week as 3.5-point favorites. About an hour before kickoff, that was up to 5.5 at SI Sportsbook. Interestingly, the line was only four points at FanDuel, where 63 percent of money was on the Packers to cover.

Quarterbacking Matchup

Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers ranks ninth with a 94.5 passer rating. His average completion includes just 4.32 air yards, second-shortest in the NFL. He has fewer passing yards in eight games (1,800) than Detroit’s Jared Goff has in seven games (1,904).

Goff is 11th with a 93.2 rating. He’s 21st in completion percentage but eighth with 7.65 yards per attempt.

“He’s still got it all,” Lions rookie defensive end Aiden Hutchinson said of Rodgers this week. “And I think he’s still all there. I know that media’s talking, a lot of people are talking about him but, man, talented guy. We’re prepared and getting ready to just play your game against him.”

Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn’s unit ranks 32nd in points allowed and is on track to give up the most points in NFL history. He’s taking nothing for granted against Rodgers.

“Well, they still have that guy, so, as long as you have that guy, you have a chance. Listen, this is the NFL and I wish you can go and win the division every year, but you can’t. It doesn’t happen. League parity, free agents, all that. Things change, Draft, things change. That’s what we’re hoping for us as we continue to move on to get – to be in that leadership position as far as this division. So, man, as long as they have that guy, man, anything’s possible for him.”

Packers vs. Lions Inactives

There will be no excuses for a Packers offense that has failed to score more than 21 points for four consecutive games. The No. 1 offensive line, which includes left tackle David Bakhtiari and left guard Elgton Jenkins, will play together for the first time this season. And receivers Allen Lazard and Christian Watson, both of whom were questionable, are active, too.

How to Watch: Packers vs. Lions

TV: Fox. In a matchup between two struggling teams, it will be the Fox “A team” of Kevin Burkhardt (play-by-play), Greg Olsen (commentary) and Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi (sidelines). Check out the viewing map at 506 Sports to see if the game will air where you live.

Live stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial).

Radio: Packers Radio Network (Wayne Larrivee and Larry McCarren; click here for affiliates) and Sirius (Channel 108 or 387 on the app).

Time and date: noon Sunday.

Location: Ford Field in Detroit.

Records: Packers, 3-5; Lions, 1-6.

Green Bay Packers (3-5) at Detroit Lions (1-6)

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Packers at Lions: Inactives

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Quay Walker’s biggest challenge wearing green dot?

Packers at Lions: Final injury report

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How to Watch/Listen/Stream/Bet Packers vs. Lions

Published
Bill Huber
BILL HUBER

Bill Huber, who has covered the Green Bay Packers since 2008, is the publisher of Packers On SI, a Sports Illustrated channel. E-mail: packwriter2002@yahoo.com History: Huber took over Packer Central in August 2019. Twitter: https://twitter.com/BillHuberNFL Background: Huber graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he played on the football team, in 1995. He worked in newspapers in Reedsburg, Wisconsin Dells and Shawano before working at The Green Bay News-Chronicle and Green Bay Press-Gazette from 1998 through 2008. With The News-Chronicle, he won several awards for his commentaries and page design. In 2008, he took over as editor of Packer Report Magazine, which was founded by Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Nitschke, and PackerReport.com. In 2019, he took over the new Sports Illustrated site Packer Central, which he has grown into one of the largest sites in the Sports Illustrated Media Group.

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