Kerby Joseph's pick-6 helps Lions
beat Packers 24-14 and take command of NFC North
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[November 04, 2024]
By STEVE MEGARGEE
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — In their first outdoor game of the season,
the Detroit Lions showed they could thrive even in lousy conditions
as they took command of the NFC North.
Kerby Joseph scored on a 27-yard interception return, and the Lions
converted two fourth downs into touchdowns as they continued one of
the best starts in franchise history by beating the Green Bay
Packers 24-14 on a rainy and windy Sunday.
“We’re built for this, man," Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “Just
because we play indoors, it doesn’t matter. We can play anywhere. We
can play in the snow. We can play in the rain. We can play in the
mud. That’s just us. We’re built to win.”
The NFC North-leading Lions are 7-1 for the first time since 1956.
They withstood the second-quarter ejection of safety Brian Branch
and won at Lambeau Field for a third straight year, the first time
they've done that since a run of six straight at Lambeau from
1986-91.
By the time Jared Goff took a knee to conclude his latest efficient
game, the Lions fans in the stands were chanting his name.
“It's pretty cool,” said Goff, who completed his first 11 passes and
finished 18 of 22 for 145 yards and a touchdown. “I heard it all.
Our fans are awesome. They came out and showed out again. It's a lot
of fun to play for a team that has a fan base that travels.”
Over his past last six games, Goff has completed 82.8% of his passes
and has a 140.1 passer rating, both the best over any six-game
stretch in NFL history.
Detroit took the lead for good on the first play of the second
quarter when Goff hit Amon-Ra St. Brown for a 3-yard touchdown on
fourth-and-goal. Jahmyr Gibbs capped the opening drive of the second
half by rushing for a 15-yard touchdown on fourth-and-1 to extend
the Lions’ lead to 24-3.
Green Bay’s Jordan Love went 23 of 39 for 273 yards with an
interception, one week after he left in the third quarter of a 30-27
victory at Jacksonville with a groin strain. Jayden Reed had five
catches for 113 yards and Josh Jacobs rushed for 95 yards.
The Packers (6-3) outgained the Lions 411 yards to 261 but wasted
several opportunities. Green Bay drove inside Detroit’s 35-yard line
on three possessions without scoring. The Packers' four trips to the
red zone resulted in one touchdown and two field goals.
“They played a clean game, much cleaner than we did,” Packers coach
Matt LaFleur said. “I was disappointed with the number of penalties
and just self-inflicted wounds that we had. You can't do that
against a really good football team.”
The game turned late in the second quarter, with Detroit’s starting
safeties playing featured roles.
Green Bay trailed 7-3 when Branch was ejected for a helmet-to-helmet
hit on Packers receiver Bo Melton during a pass incompletion near
Green Bay’s sideline. Branch also drew an unsportsmanlike conduct
penalty for gesturing to the Lambeau Field crowd, giving the Packers
a first down at the Detroit 32 rather than facing third-and-20 from
their own 38.
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Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph returns an interception for a
touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the
Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP
Photo/Morry Gash)
But the Packers failed to capitalize on the situation. Their drive
ended with Brandon McManus sending a 46-yard field-goal attempt wide
left. Detroit marched down the field on its next series and extended
its lead to 10-3 on Jake Bates’ 27-yard field goal.
Green Bay got the ball back with less than a minute left in the
half. Facing second-and-2 from Green Bay’s 38, Love rolled right
under pressure. Love's pass was intended for Jacobs but went
directly to Joseph, who caught it with arms outstretched and raced
down the Lions sideline to the end zone.
“I didn't see him when I threw it,” Love said. “I just saw Josh kind
of trying to get out of there. The ball didn't go where I wanted it
to.”
Joseph’s pick-6 was his sixth interception of the season, tying
Green Bay’s Xavier McKinney for the NFL lead. He’s picked off a pass
in five of Detroit’s last six games and became the first safety to
intercept at least 14 passes through his first three seasons since
Hall of Famer Ed Reed did it from 2002-04.
“One thing I always tell myself is I'm chasing a gold jacket,”
Joseph said. “I always tell the boys, ‘What do you want your legacy
to be?’ Every time I'm out there, I'm just showing on tape this is
who I am and this is who I'm going to be.”
Joseph has four interceptions against the Packers.
Green Bay opened the game with a 14-play drive that lasted nearly
eight minutes but settled for McManus' 30-yard field goal.
Then the Lions scored the next 24 points to take control.
“We're supposed to be the dome team who can't play outside,” Goff
said. “We're supposed to be the team that can only win one way. I
think we've shown a handful of times we can win in multiple ways.
We're chameleons.”
Injuries
Packers DL Colby Wooden and Lions LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin suffered
shoulder injuries. The Packers played without CB Jaire Alexander
(knee), S Evan Williams (hamstring) and C Josh Myers (wrist). The
Lions didn’t have DL Josh Paschal (illness) or LB Malcolm Rodriguez
(ankle).
Up next
Lions: At Houston next Sunday night.
Packers: After a bye, at Chicago on Nov. 17.
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