The Green Bay Packers are officially the NFC North Champions and are in control of their own destiny. With their 31-24 victory over the Detroit Lions, and losses from the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints today, the Packers are division champions and the number one seed in the NFC.
Recap:
After Aaron Rodgers dominated the conversation with multiple records in two straight games, Davante Adams decided to create some history of his own in Detroit. Adams set the Green Bay Packers franchise record for the most consecutive games with a touchdown (8) against the Lions. The record was previously held by Packers’ great Don Hutson but now belongs to Adams.
With the Lions’ secondary hurting, Matt LaFleur and Rodgers decided to attack with the passing game early. A quick 56-yard touchdown to Davante Adams in the first quarter and an incredible catch from Marquez Valdes-Scantling gave the Packers an early 14-7 lead.
“It reminded me a lot of my rookie year. I had a slow year and then had a huge game against Dallas. It’s tough making plays when you haven’t had your hands on the ball. I have a lot of respect for that man,” said Davante Adams on Valdes-Scantling.
Detroit rallied back to tie the game 14-14 before halftime. Green Bay decided to assert their offensive dominance in the 3rd quarter. With over 13 minutes of possession in the 3rd quarter, the Packers created a 21-14 lead after Rodgers’ second rushing touchdown of the season. A quick drive at the beginning of the 4th quarter gave Green Bay a 28-14 lead after Rodgers hit a wide-open Robert Tonyan to extend the lead.
Matthew Stafford led the Lions down the field for a long drive to close the gap to a one-score game. Unfortunately, at the end of the drive, Stafford scrambled and was injured on a hit from Packers nose tackle Kenny Clark. Stafford would leave the game with a rib injury and not return for the final drive.
The saving grace for the Packers at the end of the game was a 57-yard field goal from Mason Crosby that forced the Lions into an extreme hurry-up mode in a two-score game situation. Backup quarterback Chase Daniels would lead Detroit down the field for a quick field goal, but a failed onside kick attempt ended the Lions’ comeback hopes.
“That is huge by Mason. It’s not easy, and he hasn’t kicked the way he always wanted to in this building. Having the mindset to say,’ Let’s move past whatever happened before and hit this kick,’ that was huge for us,” said Adams on Mason Crosby.
Mason Crosby had a horrific game in 2018 against the Lions at Ford Field. Crosby missed four field goals and an extra point in a 31-23 loss to Detroit. After hitting a game-winning field goal against the Lions in each matchup last year, Crosby continued to be clutch against Detroit in 2020.
Highlights:
An amazing grab by Valdes-Scantling to give the Packers a 14-7 lead.
.@MVS__11 hauls in a beauty from @AaronRodgers12!
TOUCHDOWN! 🙌
#ProBowlVote#GBvsDET | #GoPackGo📺 FOX
📱 https://t.co/2UxGSiVlvn pic.twitter.com/Aq8EKEhQeV— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 13, 2020
D’Andre Swift returned to the starting lineup in style for a game-tying score in the last moments of the second quarter.
He’s Back ❗️❗️❗️
2017 All-American D’Andre Swift (@DAndreSwift) scores a rushing touchdown for the @Lions #OnePride #AllAmericanBowl 🇺🇸
— All-American Bowl (@AABonNBC) December 13, 2020
.@crosbykicks2 with the 5️⃣8️⃣-yard FG! 💰
#ProBowlVote#GBvsDET | #GoPackGo📺 FOX
📱 https://t.co/2UxGSiVlvn pic.twitter.com/pXkEjVMcov— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 14, 2020
A 58-yard bomb from Mason Crosby clinched the game for Green Bay.
Upcoming:
With control of their own destiny, Green Bay will face the Carolina Panthers in Week 15. A rare Saturday afternoon matchup at Lambeau Field. After losses from the Vikings, Saints, and Lions, the 10-3 Green Bay Packers simply have to win out to secure a first-round bye and home-field advantage for the 2020 NFC playoffs.
Detroit falls to 4-8 and with a rib injury to Matthew Stafford, their season is over. Although interim head coach Darrell Bevell has done well in his first two games, the damage had already been done by Matt Patricia in the first 12 weeks of the season. Detroit will look to the 2021 NFL draft, where there are plenty of positions of need for the Lions moving into next season.
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Main Image Credit: Embed from Getty Images
