By Colton Pouncy, Matt Schneidman and Amos Morale III
The 2024 Detroit Lions are formally off to their finest begin in franchise historical past. With a 34-31 win over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, the Lions additionally clinched a spot within the playoffs.
After a aggressive second half featured 5 lead adjustments, the Lions took the victory behind an 11-play, 53-yard game-winning drive within the ultimate three minutes. With 43 seconds left, Detroit coach Dan Campbell embraced his gutsy playcalling repute by changing a fourth-and-1 from the Green Bay 21.
Two performs later, Jake Bates hit a 35-yard subject aim to present the Lions (12-1) their eleventh straight win.
The late fireworks noticed Detroit overcome each a robust efficiency from Packers working again Josh Jacobs, who scored three touchdowns, and continued accidents on protection. Lions star defensive lineman Alim McNeill was dominated out with a head damage to start out the second half, becoming a member of a rising checklist of key gamers Detroit’s protection has needed to win with out.
One of Campbell’s finest wins but
An completely huge win for the Lions. They have been shorthanded defensively coming in. They misplaced much more as the sport performed out. They have been dealing with a Packers group that was on a sizzling streak, trying to climb the NFC North standings within the ultimate month of the season. And but, it didn’t matter.
The Lions received simply sufficient from their protection. Their offense got here via in each approach. Bates received it as time expired, in dramatic vogue. This is among the finest wins of the Campbell period. A program win in each sense of the time period. — Colton Pouncy, Lions beat author
Detroit now has respiratory room atop NFC
The Lions at the moment are again within the playoffs for the second consecutive years, amid what’s shaping as much as be a particular season. They are 12-1 for the primary time in franchise historical past. They’ve received 11 in a row for the primary time in franchise historical past. They’ve swept the Packers, and are 4-0 within the NFC North this season.
This win provides them respiratory room within the race for the No. 1 seed. They can end the 12 months 3-1 of their ultimate 4 video games and nonetheless safe the No. 1 seed and a second consecutive division title — largely due to this win and the tiebreaker implications of it. You can’t understate how enormous this win was for Detroit. — Pouncy
Packers protection received carved up
In the primary Packers-Lions matchup this season, Green Bay’s protection solely allowed 17 factors in wet situations and held the Lions to a modest 3.9 yards per rush on 32 carries.
Jeff Hafley’s unit wasn’t almost pretty much as good on Thursday night time inside Ford Field, permitting a season-high 34 factors within the three-point loss. Green Bay was positive towards the run, however Jared Goff carved them as much as the tune of 32 completions on 41 makes an attempt for 283 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. The Packers particularly had bother defending screens, which different groups will certainly attempt to exploit, and left far too many pass-catchers huge open all sport with a depleted secondary. — Matt Schneidman, Packers beat author
Jacobs sturdy season continues
Jacobs stated again in Green Bay this week that he loves video games with excessive stakes like Thursday night time’s and relishes the possibility to show each himself and his group proper. It’s protected to say he did each.
The first-year Packer ran 18 occasions for 66 yards and tied a profession excessive with three dashing touchdowns, which he additionally achieved two video games in the past towards the San Francisco 49ers. Jacobs eclipsed 1,000 yards dashing on the season for the fourth time in six seasons and now has seven dashing touchdowns within the final three video games after having 4 within the first 10 video games of the season. — Schneidman
Love improved as the sport went on
After a dismal first half wherein he accomplished solely 3-of-7 passes for 31 yards, Jordan Love performed like a $220 million quarterback within the second half. No play illustrated his potential higher than when he dodged a free rusher deep in his personal territory within the fourth quarter and lofted a dime to huge receiver Christian Watson down the left sideline for a 29-yard acquire.
Love completed the sport 12-of-20 for 206 yards and a landing within the loss after going 9-of-13 for 175 yards and three touchdowns within the second half whereas logging his third consecutive sport with out an interception. — Schneidman
Required studying
(Photo: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
