The Green Bay Packers dropped to 2-2 on the season after being “manhandled” by the Detroit Lions in a 34-20 loss Thursday night.
Neither the offense nor defense came to play in the first half, allowing the Lions to take a 24-point lead into halftime. Last week, the Packers overcame a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the New Orleans Saints, but poor execution and too many self-inflicted wounds made another comeback inconceivable.
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Green Bay came up short in every major facet of their Week 4 matchup against a divisional rival. Detroit won the turnover battle, was more efficient on third and fourth down, gained more yards, and dominated time of possession. Until the last couple of years, the Packers had been the older, domineering brother to the Lions. However, Green Bay has lost four consecutive meetings to a franchise that has adopted a punch-first mentality under Dan Campbell.
For most of the game, the Packers were overwhelmed by the physicality of the Lions. The offensive line failed to generate any push or open up lanes for the running backs. Aaron Jones was the leading rusher with five carries for 18 yards. Protecting Jordan Love was also a massive issue, as he was hit on 11 of his dropbacks and sacked on five.
Green Bay couldn’t control the line of scrimmage on defense, either. Detroit took advantage of light boxes and consistently won at the point of attack to rush for 211 yards, matching the total this Packers defense surrendered in their Week 2 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. David Montgomery was questionable to play with a thigh injury, yet tallied 121 yards on 32 carries with three touchdowns.
Matt LaFleur used the words “humbling” and “embarrassing” to describe his team’s performance.
In 10 days, Green Bay will travel to Las Vegas to face the Raiders in another primetime game on Monday Night Football. They will have to find ways to start faster in games moving forward, but before we look ahead, let’s try to identify a few standouts from the recent loss.
Sep 28, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs (87) catches a pass in the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Following up on his game-winning touchdown against the Saints, Doubs paced all receivers on Thursday. He hauled in a career-high nine receptions on 13 targets for 95 yards and was one of the only bright spots on offense.
Through the first month of the season, Doubs is leading the Packers in targets, catches, yards, and touchdowns, and his connection with Love appears to be getting stronger by the week.
Sep 28, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers safety Rudy Ford (20) returns an interception in the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
According to Pro Football Focus, Ford was the highest-graded player on defense in the Saints game after recording seven tackles, including two that constituted a “failure” for the offense, with two pass breakups.
The seventh-year safety needs to be more consistent on a down-to-down basis, but he flashed again this week, picking off Jared Goff on the first third down of the game. Goff threw an ill-advised pass over the middle that landed in the hands of Ford, who returned it 21 yards into Lions’ territory.
Green Bay eventually settled for a field goal, but Ford’s takeaway gave them an early lead.
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – SEPTEMBER 28: Quay Walker #7 of the Green Bay Packers reacts against the Detroit Lions during the third quarter in the game at Lambeau Field on September 28, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
An unsportsmanlike penalty for Walker leaping over a blocker on a fourth-quarter field goal attempt ended the Packers’ chances of getting back into the game. But despite the boneheaded penalty, he was still the most active player on defense.
Walker put forth a valiant effort against Detroit, contributing a career-high 19 tackles. His performance wasn’t unlike the one in Atlanta when he racked up 17 tackles in a losing effort.
Walker can afford to cut out some of the negative plays, but he looks more confident flying around in Year 2.
While Green Bay Packers special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia looks on, Green Bay Packers place kicker Anders Carlson and punter Daniel Whelan (19) warm up before their game against the New Orleans Saints Sunday, September 24, 2023 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
I had to get a little creative for this one, but Green Bay’s specialists held up their end of the bargain.
Carlson made both of his field goal attempts, including a 50-yarder late in the fourth quarter. The rookie kicker is still perfect on the season through his first five field goals and nine extra points.
Whelan also had a solid day’s work, booming five punts for an average of 51.8 yards. He needs to have a little more touch when trying to pin teams inside the 20, but the Irish-born punter has a solid leg.
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