Packers Tame The Lions

Packers Perfect on 4th Down, Beat Lions 31-24

Dan Campbell’s ultra aggressiveness on fourth down has undoubtedly been his coaching identity as the head man for the Detroit Lions. The decisions seem to have worked out in Detroit’s favor more often than not the last four-and-a-half years, even the seemingly absurd ones.

Matt LaFleur is no turkey himself, and LaFleur fed Campbell multiple servings of his own recipe for Thanksgiving Thursday in a 31-24 Green Bay victory. The Packers were 3-for-3 on fourth down; the Lions were 0-for-2.

“We came in here with an aggressive mindset and I think that’s one of the ways you have to play against these guys, knowing that you’re going to have to defend four downs,” LaFleur said. “It’s a really good football team. They’ve been one of the premier teams in the league for the last few years now . . . I thought the only way you come into this place – which is not an easy place to play – is you have to be aggressive.”

“I’d rather go down swinging,” LaFleur continued. “Sometimes it can bite you, absolutely. You just have to deal with the consequences.”

Dontayvion Wicks, who is finally healthy after battling injuries for most of the season, had six catches on seven targets for 94 yards and the two scores. “I can’t say enough great things about Wicks. He’s been injured quite a bit, he’s been in and out of the lineup. But he made critical plays all game. I’m just really proud of him and his mental toughness to stay with it,” LaFleur said.

Love continued his Thanksgiving Day excellence. He completed 18-of-30 passes for 234 yards and four touchdowns, good for a 124.2 quarterback rating. Despite the problems with Williams, the Green Bay defense had the Lions’ ground game in a food coma all afternoon. Gibbs finished with 68 yards on 20 carries while David Montgomery had 32 yards on eight rushes.

The Packers (8-3-1) are now a half game behind the Bears in the division (8-3), who play the Eagles tomorrow. The NFL’s oldest rivalry will reconvene next Sunday at Lambeau Field, and then again two weeks later in Chicago.

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Gut Reactions: Packers Tame The Lions

CHTV co-founder Aaron Nagler chats with Packers fans worldwide after Green Bay's 31-24 win over the Detroit Lions.

Packers 31 Lions 24 Game Balls & Lame Calls

Not that we've eaten the turkey, cleaned the dishes, and done some serious digesting, it's time to soak in a huge win from the Packers. They're now at 8-3-1 on the season, and could reclaim the top spot later tonight with an Eagles win over the Bears.

The Packers have officially avenged the season sweep they suffered at the hands of the Lions last season, and repaid it in kind. It's only week 13, but the Lion's loss puts them into a seriously compromised position in the crowded NFC playoff race. With the Cowboys surging and the rest of the wild card field keeping pace, the Lions' chances of making the playoffs dropped to 55%, and 11% on the season.

The Packers, meanwhile, stand with a 93% chance to make the playoffs, and a 68% chance to win the division. They're 2-0 through this crucial divisional stretch of their season, with two match ups against the Bears, another contest with the Vikings, and a home match against the Ravens, who suddenly look very human.

Check out this week’s installment of Game Balls and Lame Calls.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Packers vs Lions

Aaron Nagler hands out the Good, the Bad and the Ugly from the Green Bay Packers Week 13 win over the Detroit Lions.

Packers Snap Counts Vs. Detroit: Week 13, 2025

The Packers elevated DB Jaylin Simpson and LB Jamon Johnson from the practice squad. The Packers released Kicker Lucas Havrisik and signed WR Will Sheppard directly to the 53-man roster. The inactive players due to injury were CB Nate Hobbs, WR Matthew Golden, LB Quay Walker, WR Savion Williams, Edge Lucas Van Ness and DL Karl Brooks. OL Donovan Jennings was a healthy scratch.

Simpson and Sheppard did not play. Devonte Wyatt got rolled up on from behind and left the game and was carted off the field. He reportedly has a season-ending ankle injury.

Check out who played and how much with this week’s Packers Snap Counts.

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The Lass Word: The Packers Are Legit

It was the kind of step the Green Bay Packers needed to take.  Going on the road, against one of the best teams in the league, a stand-alone national TV game, a must win for the opponent.  And yet the Packers still prevailed. 

In the biggest game of the year to date, Green Bay’s key players performed well.  Jordan Love played well.  Christian Watson played well.  Micah Parsons played well.  Yet it still might not have been enough.  The Packers needed one more hero to seal the deal.  One more player to step up and break out.  That player turned out to be Dontayvion Wicks.  In by far the best game of his career, Wicks caught six passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns.  He also saved his head coach from a mountain of second guessing.  His tremendous catch on fourth down in the final two minutes validated Matt LaFleur’s decision to go for it on fourth and three from the Detroit 45 yard line. 

The decision was a significant gamble by LaFleur.  Failure would have given the Lions the ball with a short field, needing a touchdown to tie.  Perhaps it was a vote of confidence for his defense.  But Jeff Hafley’s unit was not exactly a sure thing, having already yielded 256 yards passing and two touchdowns, and 119 yards rushing, and another score.  But Love made an accurate throw despite being under heavy pressure, and Wicks protected the catch with a defender draped over his shoulders.  The first down enabled Green Bay to bleed the final three minutes off the clock, and escape Ford Field with a critically important victory. 

It was the sort of win that establishes, or maybe re-establishes, Green Bay’s credentials as a bona fide contender.  They will finish Week 13 no worse than a half game off the NFC North lead, and if the Bears lose Friday to the Eagles, the Pack will take over first place.  The verdict is now in.  The Packers are legit…

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