The Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions are two of the biggest rivals in the NFC North. Every time these two teams meet, fans expect a close and exciting game. Their Thanksgiving Day matchup at Ford Field was no different. The Packers won a tight battle against the Lions, 31 to 24, in a game full of big plays, tough defense, and smart fourth down calls.
In this article, we will look at the full player stats from this game. We will cover the quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, and defensive players who made the biggest impact. We will also explain the key moments that decided the game. By the end, you will understand exactly how Green Bay earned this win and why Detroit came up short.
Final Score and Game Summary
The Packers beat the Lions 31 to 24 on Thanksgiving Day at Ford Field in Detroit. This win pushed Green Bay’s record to 8 wins, 3 losses, and 1 tie. It also meant the Packers swept the season series against the Lions, which gave them an important tiebreaker in the NFC North race.
The game turned on fourth down plays. Green Bay went for it on fourth down three times and succeeded on all three attempts. Two of those fourth down plays ended in touchdowns. On the other side, Detroit tried to convert fourth down twice and failed both times. This difference in fourth down execution was one of the biggest reasons Green Bay walked away with the win.
Green Bay’s star pass rusher, Micah Parsons, also played a huge role. He got to Lions quarterback Jared Goff several times and made it hard for Detroit’s offense to find any rhythm in key moments.
Quarterback Stats: Jordan Love vs Jared Goff
The quarterback matchup was one of the most talked about parts of this game. Both Jordan Love and Jared Goff played well, but Love’s touchdown passes made the bigger difference on the scoreboard.
Jordan Love (Green Bay Packers)
- Completed 18 of 30 passes
- Threw for 234 yards
- Threw 4 touchdown passes
- Had a passer rating of 124.2
- Rushed 5 times for 4 yards
- Was not sacked in the entire game
Love matched his career high with 4 touchdown passes in this game. Two of his touchdowns came on fourth down plays in the second quarter, which turned out to be very important later in the game. His offensive line protected him well, and he was not sacked a single time. That gave him extra time to find open receivers downfield.
Jared Goff (Detroit Lions)
- Completed 20 of 26 passes
- Threw for 256 yards
- Threw 2 touchdown passes
- Threw 0 interceptions
- Had a passer rating of 132.9
- Rushed for 24 yards
- Was sacked 3 times
Goff actually had a higher passer rating than Love in this game. He started slowly, missing his first three pass attempts, but then completed his next 15 passes in a row. His accuracy was excellent for most of the game. The problem for Detroit was that Goff faced heavy pressure from the Green Bay pass rush, especially from Micah Parsons, who sacked him multiple times at important moments. Even though Goff’s numbers look strong, the sacks and pressure stopped some Detroit drives from turning into points.
Rushing Stats
Both teams tried to run the ball, but the passing game controlled most of this matchup.
Detroit running back David Montgomery scored a 3-yard rushing touchdown, which helped keep the Lions in the game. Detroit also used some wildcat formation plays to try to create extra rushing opportunities, though these did not always work well.
Jared Goff added a 24-yard scramble, which was actually the longest rush of the game for either team. This shows that Goff was able to use his legs when he had no other options.
On the Green Bay side, Jordan Love ran the ball 5 times for only 4 yards. His rushing was not a big part of the game plan. Instead, the Packers leaned heavily on their passing attack to move the ball and score points.
Receiving Stats
The receivers were the real stars of this game, especially for Green Bay.
Dontayvion Wicks had a standout performance for the Packers. He caught two touchdown passes, including a very difficult 22-yard catch on fourth down where he barely got both feet in bounds before being hit. He also caught a short 1-yard touchdown pass later in the game. Wicks was a key part of Green Bay’s offense on this day.
Christian Watson also had a big impact. He caught a long 51-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Love in the third quarter. This play covered most of the field in just two plays and gave Green Bay a comfortable lead.
Romeo Doubs caught a 2-yard touchdown pass on another fourth down conversion in the second quarter. This score, combined with Wicks’ first touchdown, gave Green Bay a strong lead going into halftime.
For Detroit, Jameson Williams caught a 22-yard touchdown pass, showing his speed and ability to create separation from defenders. Isaac TeSlaa also caught a touchdown pass, a 17-yard reception that came late in the third quarter. Tight end Sam LaPorta continued to be a reliable target for Goff throughout the game, catching several passes to keep drives alive, even though he did not score a touchdown in this particular matchup.
Defensive Highlights
Defense played a bigger role in this game than the final score might suggest.
Micah Parsons was the biggest defensive story of the game. He recorded 2.5 sacks on Jared Goff, and his pressure disrupted Detroit’s offense at several important moments. One of his sacks came on a critical fourth down play deep in Green Bay territory, which forced Detroit to settle for a field goal instead of a touchdown. Without Parsons’ pass rush, Detroit may have scored more points and possibly won the game.
Detroit’s defense also had some good moments. They forced Green Bay into difficult situations more than once and made stops when they needed them. However, they could not get enough big plays to slow down Green Bay’s passing attack, especially the two long touchdown passes to Watson and Wicks.
Special Teams
Special teams played a smaller but still important role in this game.
Jake Bates, the Lions kicker, made his only field goal attempt of the game from 31 yards. This kick came after Parsons sacked Goff and forced Detroit to settle for 3 points instead of a touchdown, which would have made the score much closer.
Brandon McManus, the Packers kicker, made his extra point attempts throughout the game. His consistency on kicks after touchdowns helped Green Bay build and protect their lead.
The Turning Point of the Game
Many fans and analysts agree that the turning point came in the second half. Trailing 17 to 14 early in the third quarter, Detroit faced a fourth down situation deep in Green Bay territory. Micah Parsons sacked Goff on that play, forcing Detroit to take points off the board instead of scoring a touchdown. This moment shifted the momentum back to Green Bay.
Later, with the game on the line in the fourth quarter, Green Bay converted two more clutch plays. Jordan Love completed a third and long pass to Christian Watson, followed by a fourth down conversion to Dontayvion Wicks. These plays allowed Green Bay to run out the clock and seal the win.
Detroit’s inability to convert their own fourth down attempts, going 0 for 2, stood in sharp contrast to Green Bay’s perfect 3 for 3 record on fourth down. In a game this close, those plays made all the difference.
What This Game Means for Both Teams
For the Packers, this win was huge. It improved their record to 8 wins, 3 losses, and 1 tie, and it gave them the season sweep over the Lions. This sweep could serve as an important tiebreaker later in the season if the two teams end up with similar records in the NFC North standings.
For the Lions, the loss was disappointing, especially since Jared Goff played one of his most efficient games of the season. A 132.9 passer rating with zero interceptions is normally enough to win most games. However, the sacks allowed and the missed fourth down conversions proved too costly against a Green Bay team that executed well in the biggest moments.
This game is a great example of how football is often decided by small details. Both quarterbacks played well, both teams had big offensive plays, but the team that made the most of their fourth down chances and applied the most defensive pressure came out on top.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Green Bay Packers vs Detroit Lions game?
The Green Bay Packers won the game 31 to 24. This win helped them sweep the season series against the Detroit Lions and improved their record to 8 wins, 3 losses, and 1 tie.
Who had the best stats in the Packers vs Lions game?
Jordan Love had the most impressive offensive stats for Green Bay, throwing 4 touchdown passes and finishing with a 124.2 passer rating. Jared Goff also played very well for Detroit, completing 20 of 26 passes for 256 yards with zero interceptions. On defense, Micah Parsons stood out with 2.5 sacks that changed the direction of the game.
Why did the Detroit Lions lose even though Jared Goff played well?
Even though Goff had a strong passing performance, Detroit struggled in a few key areas. They failed on both of their fourth down attempts, while Green Bay succeeded on all three of theirs. Detroit’s offensive line also allowed three sacks, including a costly one from Micah Parsons that forced a field goal instead of a touchdown. These small mistakes added up and were enough to cost Detroit the game.
