Jordan Love starts fast and Parsons
gets a sack in his Green Bay debut as Packers defeat Lions 27-13
[September 08, 2025]
By STEVE MEGARGEE
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Micah Parsons' arrival in Green Bay helped
the Packers put their recent NFC North struggles behind them.
Jordan Love threw a pair of touchdown passes and Parsons had a sack
in his Green Bay debut as the Packers delivered an exceptional
defensive performance in a 27-13 victory over the Detroit Lions on
Sunday.
Opening a season at home for the first time since 2018, the Packers
beat the two-time defending NFC North champions after going 1-5 in
divisional games last year.
“Obviously I think a big goal for us was to be able to come in here
and start the season off fast and start the season on the right
note,” Love said. “To come in here Week 1 at home and get a dominant
win like that is amazing and exactly what we'd been working for.”
The Packers won their 13th consecutive home opener, the longest such
streak since the Miami Dolphins also won 13 straight from 1976-88.
After getting outscored 99-40 in the first half of NFC North games
last season, the Packers got points on their opening three
possessions to take a 17-3 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Love went 16 of 22 for 188 yards with touchdown passes of 15 yards
to Tucker Kraft and 17 yards to Jayden Reed. Josh Jacobs added a
3-yard score in the fourth quarter, giving him a touchdown in a
franchise-record nine straight games.
The Lions, who scored an NFL-high 33.2 points per game last season,
didn't reach the end zone until the final minute against a Green Bay
defense featuring Parsons, who got a huge ovation from the Lambeau
Field crowd when he was introduced before the game.
Parsons had spent the offseason in a contract stalemate with the
Dallas Cowboys before Green Bay acquired him just over a week ago.
The Packers sent two first-round picks as well as three-time Pro
Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark to Dallas in exchange for the star
edge rusher.
Parsons got his first sack as a Packer with just over four minutes
left in the game. He also applied pressure that led to Evan
Williams’ second-quarter interception.
“These last six months were super draining, super toxic for
everyone,” Parsons said. “It’s something that I don’t think no
player should have to go through. I think players’ fates should be
decided earlier. The fact I was traded before the season was really
outrageous and rough. It’s something where I could have been with
these guys getting better and better, and we could have had probably
an even more dominant start.”
The Lions had won at Lambeau Field each of the last three seasons
but never gave themselves much of an opportunity this time after
numerous offseason changes.
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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (11) reacts to a first
down after a reception against the Detroit Lions during the first
half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Green Bay,
Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Detroit lost four-time Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow
to retirement and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive
coordinator Aaron Glenn to head coaching opportunities after setting
a franchise record for wins last season, when they went 15-2.
Jared Goff went 31 of 39 for 225 yards with a touchdown and an
interception. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs were held to a
combined 44 yards on 20 carries.
The Lions netted just six points from their first three drives into
the red zone before Detroit scored its lone touchdown on a 13-yard
pass from Goff to Isaac TeSlaa with 55 seconds left.
“They came out and played outstanding, and we didn’t play good
enough,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “We didn’t coach good
enough, including me, and we didn’t play good enough. Like I told
the team, it’s tough to go in and not certainly play close to your
best game. You hate starting the season off with a loss, and as bad
as that is, it’s not what it appears to be.”
Trailing 17-6 in the third quarter, Detroit appeared on the verge of
getting into the game in the third quarter when Brian Branch scored
an apparent touchdown on a 35-yard interception return. But a
defensive holding penalty on Rock Ya-Sin nullified the play.
Green Bay then scored the next 10 points to put the game away.
“We made some critical errors at the worst times possible,” Campbell
said. “You take those out of the equation, and it looks different.”
Injuries
Lions: Safety Daniel Thomas injured his hand in the first quarter,
and cornerback Terrion Arnold injured his groin in the third
quarter.
Packers: Cornerback Nate Hobbs, who had been listed as questionable,
didn't play after undergoing knee surgery during training camp.
Cornerback Bo Melton (shoulder), defensive lineman Brenton Cox
(groin), offensive tackle Zach Tom (hip) and guard Aaron Banks
(ankle) left in the second half.
Up next
The Packers host the Washington Commanders on Thursday night.
The Lions open their home schedule against the Chicago Bears next
Sunday.
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