Lions embarrass Pack on Turkey Day

Week 13
November 28, 2013 - 11:30 a.m. - FOX
Ford Field
Detroit, Michigan

Packers 10 - Lions 40

The Packers suffered a drubbing at Ford Field by the hands of the Detroit Lions in front of a national audience on Thanksgiving Day.  In a game the Packers needed badly to keep up in the NFC North playoff race, they dropped the turkey leg.

The defense was absolutely dreadful.  And the offense was missing in action.  The Packers defense gave up a total of 561 yards of offense to the Lions.  The Lions had 320 passing yards and added 241 rushing yards.  The defense couldn't stop anyone. Another scary stat, the Lions possessed the football for forty minutes.  The Lions possessed the football for nearly three total quarters of the football game.  One of the worst performances I've seen from this defense in a long time.  No heart. No effort.

Photo credit: detroitlions.com

Because they are the Detroit Lions, Matthew Stafford and company did their best to keep the Packers in the game in the first half.  Despite dominating the Packers defense, the Lions could not capitalize on long drives in the first half and committed several turnovers to give the Packers some type of hope.  On the opening possession of the game, the Lions were driving, but Reggie Bush fumbled inside the Green Bay 10-yard line.  In the second quarter, Nick Perry sacked Stafford and forced a fumble which was recovered by Morgan Burnett and returned for a touchdown.  On the very next possession, Tramon Williams intercepted Stafford in Green Bay territory.  Of these three turnovers, the Packers scored seven points, which happen to come from the defense (Burnett touchdown).  The Lions scored two touchdowns to finish the half leading 17-10.  And the Packers only trailing by seven at halftime was a miracle.

The Packers would have been better off staying in the locker room eating turkey than returning to play the second half.  The team was blasted as they were outscored 23-0 in the second half.  Detroit just took it to Green Bay as the Lions won on Thanksgiving for the first time in ten years.  Matt Flynn was horrible.  Flynn finished the day with 139 passing yards, one interception, and two fumbles.  Flynn was also sacked seven times, including one for a safety.  Eddie Lacy was shut down with only 16 rushing yards on the day.

The playmakers for Detroit got the job done.  Matthew Stafford threw for 330 passing yards and two touchdowns.  Reggie Bush rushed for 117 yards and one touchdown.  And Calvin Johnson hauled in six balls for 101 yards and a touchdown.

The season is truly on ice from this point forward.  There is still a slim chance, but the light at the end of the tunnel is getting dimmer.

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Detroit Lions  7-5
Chicago Bears  6-6
Green Bay Packers  5-6-1
Minnesota Vikings  3-8-1