The Green Bay Packers (10-3) beat the Detroit Lions (5-8) at Ford Field late Sunday to win the season series and the NFC North title.
Takes quick from the Packers’ win over the Lions:
– With a win in Detroit and a Viking loss in Tampa Bay, the Packers have won the NFC North title for the second time in a row.
– Aaron Rodgers throws three touchdown passes and runs to fourth. He now has 40 total touchdowns (38 passing, two rushing) with three games in 2020. For the 12th time in 13 games he had multiple touchdown passes and a passer rating of over 100.0.
– Downtown Adams grabbed the touchdown pass for the eighth game and created a new franchise. He has at least five catches and eight straight games with a touchdown, which equals the NFL record.
– The Packers won by only seven points, but mostly controlled the game. They were 8 -11 down the third, 3-to-3 in the red zone, averaging 1.4 yards more per game than the Lions and had almost 10 minutes of football.
– Again, the Packers special teams tried to give a game. Possible game changers for every punt and kick in the postseason.
– This is one of the best games of Marquez Waltz-Scandling. He caught six passes, 85 yards from the 3rd week of last year and the maximum he took for a score. His touchdown was a terrible catch at a backshoot ball in traffic.
– The defense fired Matthew Stafford four times in the first half and got a stop to open the second half, but it was another random performance by Mike Pettin’s team. In a second-half touchdown drive, there were five penalties for Packers defense.
– This team will need elite offense to continue to win a Super Bowl. Security and special teams are not reliable enough for the week.
– The Packers hit all three of their second-half possessions before ending the game on their knees. Robert Tonion won with a first-turn for the third straight game.
– The Packers won nearly 70 yards of lions. The Lions completed only 51 quick yards in 15 attempts.
– Rodgers was not fired. The Lions hit him only once. It was a painful win, but Rodgers finished the match.
– Daven Austin initially got some script plays. Looks like he’s still exploding. It will be interesting to see how Matt Loughlor integrates him with the rest of the offense. Bunt handled the income without issue.
– What a wonderful moment for Mason Crosby. What a kick. He scored a huge field goal from 58 yards in the fourth quarter, extending the Packers’ lead to 10 points. Laughlor hoped to deliver him. The celebration with the team players was special. Many of them remember his heartbeat at Ford Field two years ago.
– Packers did not have a turnover, but ended up with 12 penalties. The fines put the offense at a severe level and gave the Lions five free first drops.
– Packers can get the No. 1 seed by winning the last three games. It will happen if this team does not win itself.