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Lions vs. Packers


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Rodgers rallies Packers as Lions drop sixth straight Thanksgiving game
 
 

CBSSports.com wire reports

DETROIT -- The Detroit Lions used to take a lot of pride in playing on Thanksgiving.

Lately, the Lions have been getting embarrassed when the nation tunes in to watch them.

Aaron Rodgers matched a career high with three touchdown passes and Charles Woodson grabbed two of his team's four interceptions, giving the Green Bay Packers a 34-12 win over Detroit.

The Lions have lost six straight games on the holiday, setting a franchise record, by an average of 23.2 points and eight of nine in the showcase game. The latest loss was an emotional setback for Detroit (2-9) four days after Matthew Stafford's gutsy play capped its biggest comeback win since 1957.

"It's a different feeling in this locker room -- especially on national television to come out like that," Detroit center Dominic Raiola said.

Before its recent slide, Detroit had won four straight and nine of 12 on Thanksgiving before ex-general manager Matt Millen arrived in 2001 and made a lackluster franchise awful.

Green Bay (7-4) has won three straight since losing to Tampa Bay to improve its postseason prospects.

"We can't talk about the playoffs yet," Packers receiver Donald Driver said.

 

Stafford, playing with a sore non-throwing shoulder, threw one touchdown pass and four interceptions. He threw five TD passes in Sunday's win over Cleveland after trailing by 21.

"When you've got to throw the ball every down to try to get back into it when you're behind, guys are going to be all over it," Stafford said.

Kevin Smith's longest run was 6 yards and he finished with 43 on 18 carries for the Lions.

"This is the type of game that you hit your head on a wall about," Smith said.

The Lions looked as if they were building off their rare momentum by recovering a fumble on the opening kickoff and with Stafford's TD pass to Calvin Johnson.

But the Packers scored 27 unanswered points in the second and third quarters to turn the game into a familiar rout.

"We had to dig deep," Rodgers said. "There's a lot of resolve in this team and I'm confident in our team moving forward."

The Packers have won nine straight against the Lions overall, and coach Mike McCarthy is 8-0 against them.

Woodson returned his second interception for a score late in the game and struck a Heisman Trophy pose in the end zone, just as he did in 1997 at Michigan before going on to win the award.

"Being here in Michigan with all the fans I know I still have here," Woodson said. "I just wanted to remind those guys what it was like back when I was in school."

Woodson also forced and recovered a fumble and had a sack, capping an afternoon that included an announcement of his $2 million gift to the new University of Michigan Mott Children's Hospital.

"It was a good day," Woodson said with a grin.

It was for Rodgers, too, as usual against the Lions.

Rodgers was 28 of 39 for 348 yards and connected with Driver, Donald Lee and James Jones for scores. He has played Detroit four times and those passing totals rank among the top eight in his career.

Driver had seven receptions for 142 yards, including a 68-yard catch, and a TD that gave the Packers a 20-7 lead midway through the third quarter.

Rodgers and Driver both credited their much-maligned offensive line.

"There were a couple times when I held the ball for 4 or 5 seconds -- maybe more," Rodgers said. "When you have that kind of time with the kind of players that we have, we feel like we're going to make plays."

Green Bay played without cornerback Al Harris and linebacker Aaron Kampman, both of whom had season-ending knee injuries in last week's win.

"Our defense was huge," McCarthy said. "That was the No. 1 factor in our success."

Stafford was only 20 of 43 yards for 213 yards, and his four interceptions were one fewer than he had earlier this season. He was listed as doubtful for the game because of his shoulder injury, but his decision-making seemed to be more of a problem than his health.

"I don't think [the injured shoulder] was a factor at all," Stafford said.

Johnson, who was questionable with hand and knee injuries, only had a 9-yard catch to go with his 1-yard score.

In Detroit's last game, Stafford broke an NFL rookie record with 422 yards passing, became the youngest player to throw five TD passes in a game and drew praise for playing with a dislocated, non-throwing shoulder on the final untimed play.

"I told him after the game, 'Around the league, we respect a guy who will come in hurt,"' Woodson said.

Notes

  • Detroit rookie TE Brandon Pettigrew, a first-round pick, hurt his left knee on the first drive and did not return.
  • Green Bay OT Chad Clifton (hamstring) and receiver Jordy Nelson (shoulder) were injured during the game.
  • Stafford joined Dan Marino, Dave Krieg and Vince Ferragamo as the four QBs who have thrown four INTs a game after throwing at least five TDs since 1970, according to STATS, LLC.
  • The Lions are 33-35-2 on Thanksgiving.
Copyright 2010 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and The Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Talk Back
Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Jul 13, 2009

November 27, 2009 12:26 pm
Okay, not exactly running up the score--certainly beating a team by 22 points does not constitute that--but they were doing some things that were similar to that.

For instance, challenging that fumble with a 22-point lead and barely 2 minutes left?  The Lions were clearly out of the game and were not about to mount a comebac
...(more)
Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 19, 2008

November 26, 2009 7:41 pm
I know this kid stafford is young and a gamer but why do you start this kid 4 days after seperating his shoulder and then you keep him in the whole entire game.Trust me i dont think it would have mattered because green bay was clearly the better team but to jepordize your franchise QB in game that was meaningless. As this game went on you seen how much pain this guy was in but they kept him i ...(more)
Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Nov 18, 2006

November 26, 2009 8:02 pm
The Packer continue there season long trend of beating the bad teams, looking good doing it but can't beat any good teams. That will have to change for them to do anything in the playoffs. They will make the playoffs due to there weak schedule but how far they go depends on how fast they correct that bad offensive line. Don't be fooled by Detroit they are a terrible team.
Reputation:83
Level:All-Star
Since:Jan 30, 2009

November 27, 2009 12:51 am
I just wanted to point this out to anyone who didn't notice. With 2:16 remaining in the game Casey Fitzsimmons caught a Matthew Stafford pass for a short gain and was hit. Almost simultaneously as he hit the ground, the ball came out. He was ruled down by conta ...(more)
Reputation:85
Level:All-Star
Since:Oct 26, 2009

November 26, 2009 4:22 pm
Was anyone else amused by the presentation of the Galloping Gobbler to Donald Driver?  Oh Shoot! Gobble, Gobble! - Donald Driver.  Go Packers! 7-4
Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Jan 18, 2008

November 27, 2009 5:08 am
...but i hear comentators say quite frequently that the "defence is getting tired." when one team's offence is dominating the time of possesion and the other's teams defence "has been on the field a long time." i just don't understand why the defence would get tired while the offense would not? aren't they both on the field for the same amount of time and both working just as h ...(more)
Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 12, 2008

November 26, 2009 9:16 pm
Don't you got something to say?
Reputation:71
Level:Pro
Since:Jun 24, 2007

November 26, 2009 8:03 pm
HE  ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Donald Driver is the Packers' holiday MVP after seven catches for 142 yards and a touchdown.  (US Presswire)
Donald Driver is the Packers' holiday MVP after seven catches for 142 yards and a touchdown. (US Presswire)

 
Scoreboard
Green Bay (7-4-0) «01314734
Detroit (2-9-0)700512
Game Leaders
PackersLions
Pass: A. Rodgers (28-39, 348) M. Stafford (20-43, 213)
Rush: R. Grant (20-61) K. Smith (18-43)
Rec: D. Driver (7-142) D. Northcutt (2-51)
GameTracker
 
Scoring Summary
1ST QUARTER
TDCalvin Johnson, 1 Yd pass from Matthew Stafford (Jason Hanson kick is good), 13:04. Drive: 5 plays, 20 yards in 1:49.
2ND QUARTER
TDDonald Lee, 7 Yd pass from Aaron Rodgers (Mason Crosby kick is good), 14:54. Drive: 4 plays, 74 yards in 1:26.
FGMason Crosby 20 Yd, 6:12. Drive: 13 plays, 94 yards in 5:40.
FGMason Crosby 25 Yd, 0:59. Drive: 10 plays, 47 yards in 3:43.
3RD QUARTER
TDDonald Driver, 7 Yd pass from Aaron Rodgers (Mason Crosby kick is good), 6:38. Drive: 8 plays, 90 yards in 4:28.
TDJames Jones, 21 Yd pass from Aaron Rodgers (Mason Crosby kick is good), 0:38. Drive: 5 plays, 56 yards in 2:25.
4TH QUARTER
SAFETYLouis Delmas, 9:18.
FGJason Hanson 22 Yd, 5:01. Drive: 12 plays, 44 yards in 4:17.
TDCharles Woodson, 38 Yd interception return (Mason Crosby kick is good), 3:47.
Players of the Game
Green Bay

A. Rodgers
Att 39
Comp 28
Yds 348
TD 3
Green Bay

D. Driver
Rec 7
Yds 142
Avg 20.3
TD 1
 
Packers
PassingCP/ATYDSTDINT
A. Rodgers28/3934830
RushingATTYDSTDLG
R. Grant2061015
B. Jackson61407
A. Rodgers1505
ReceivingRECYDSTDLG
D. Driver7142168
G. Jennings453033
R. Grant342027
J. Jones435121
J. Finley32509
D. Lee422110
J. Nelson119019
K. Hall21006
Lions
PassingCP/ATYDSTDINT
M. Stafford20/4321314
RushingATTYDSTDLG
K. Smith184306
M. Stafford321011
A. Brown1505
M. Morris1404
ReceivingRECYDSTDLG
D. Northcutt251047
K. Smith446016
C. Fitzsimmons538012
W. Heller323013
B. Johnson117017
M. Morris216011
B. Pettigrew112012
C. Johnson21019
Complete Player Stats
 
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