Rodgers stellar, Packers hold off Lions 34-27
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[September 26, 2016]
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Aaron Rodgers
threw four touchdown passes in the first half and the Green Bay
Packers built a 28-point lead over the Detroit Lions, holding on in
the fourth quarter for a 34-27 win at Lambeau Field.
The Packers (2-1) needed every bit of an early fourth-touchdown lead
because Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford lit up a depleted
defense. Stafford hit Marvin Jones or a 35-yard touchdown with 3:34
remaining to bring the Lions (1-2) within 34-27.
Jones had six catches for 205 yards and two touchdowns, including
the easy score to make it a seven-point game.
The Packers bounced back from a loss to the Minnesota Vikings in
Week 2.
On third-and-8 with 3:22 remaining, Rodgers had all day against a
four-man rush before finally taking off to his left and gaining 11
yards. Eddie Lacy, who finished with 103 yards, rumbled for another
first down at the two-minute warning, ruining the Lions' comeback
hopes.
While Rodgers finished the day with only 205 passing yards, the
first-half numbers were startling: Rodgers was 12 of 18 for 174
yards and the four scores for a rating of 137.5. Packers wide
receiver Jordy Nelson, who had 11 catches for 105 yards and two
touchdowns in his first games back after missing 2015 with a knee
injury, had six catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns.
Entering the game, Green Bay ranked 29th with 278.5 yards per game
and 31st with 189.5 passing yards per game, and Rodgers ranked 22nd
with a passer rating of 82.5.
The Packers started strong.
A 33-yard completion to wide receiver Randall Cobb set up Davante
Adams' 14-yard touchdown. After a Detroit field goal, Nelson's
47-yard catch-and-run set up an 8-yard score for Nelson to make it
14-3. On Green Bay's next drive, a 66-yard pass-interference penalty
against Nevin Lawson preceded Rodgers' 2-yard touchdown pass to
tight end Richard Rodgers. Just before halftime, Rodgers hit Nelson
for another touchdown, a 17-yarder against standout cornerback
Darius Slay to make it 31-3.
Stafford hit Jones for a 73-yard touchdown with 32 seconds left in
the half, then clawed back in the game with a 77-yard scoring drive
to open the third quarter. Stafford went 6-for-6, including a 2-yard
touchdown to Anquan Boldin on fourth-and-goal to cut the margin to
31-17.
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Packers quarterback
Aaron Rodgers (12) runs for a first down before being tackled by
Detroit Lions defensive end Brandon Copeland (51) and linebacker
Tahir Whitehead (59) in the third quarter at Lambeau Field.
Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
The Packers finally put the brakes on, though, by wearing out
Detroit's first-round pick, left tackle Taylor Decker. With the
Lions trailing 34-17 but on the move, Packers linebacker Nick Perry
drew a hold against Decker and then beat Decker for a sack to force
a field goal to make it 34-20. On Green Bay's next possession,
linebacker Kyler Fackrell beat Decker for a sack on first down and
Perry chased down Stafford for a sack on third down.
However, Stafford's 35-yard touchdown to Jones made it a one-score
game, and gave Stafford 385 yards and three touchdowns and Jones 205
yards and two scores on six receptions. The Lions never got another
chance, though, en route to their second consecutive loss.
NOTES: Key defensive players littered both inactive lists. For Green
Bay, it was CB Sam Shields (concussion), S Morgan Burnett (groin),
OLB Clay Matthews (ankle/hamstring), OLB Datone Jones (knee) and DT
Letroy Guion (knee). For Detroit, it was DE Ezekiel Ansah (ankle)
and OLB DeAndre Levy (quad). … The Packers scored touchdowns on
their first three possessions, the first time they'd done that since
Week 10 of the 2014 season vs. Chicago. … Packers QB Aaron Rodgers
matched his first-half career high with four touchdown passes, also
in that game vs. Chicago. … Green Bay TE Jared Cook missed the rest
of the game after suffering a second-quarter ankle injury. Cook had
offseason foot surgery.
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