The Green Bay Packers lost three starters to injuries and had a player ejected, but still beat the Lions in Detroit on Thanksgiving, 27-15. The Packers are now 11-0 for the first time in franchise history. After winning their first five games, the Lions have come back to earth and are now 7-4.
Both of the Packers middle linebackers, A.J. Hawk and Desmond Bishop, and left guard Josh Sitton all went down with injuries in the first half, which ended with the Packers leading 7-0. That second quarter score came on a 3-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers to Greg Jennings and was set up by an interception by linebacker Clay Matthews. Packers special teams gunner Pat Lee was ejected in the second quarter after throwing a punch.
The action picked up in the third quarter as the Packers outscored the Lions 17-0 on a 1-yard run by John Kuhn, a 65-yard strike from Rodgers to James Jones and a 35-yard field goal by Mason Crosby. Before Kuhn scored, Detroit defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was ejected after slamming back-up left guard Evan Dietrich-Smith’s head to the turf twice and stomping on his right arm. The Jones TD came a play after reserve middle linebacker Robert Francois made a leaping interception.
Detroit outscored Green Bay 15-3 in the fourth quarter, but the Lions final points came on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Calvin Johnson with just eleven seconds remaining in the game.
Rodgers completed 22 of 32 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns. James Jones had three catches for 94 yards and a score and Greg Jennings added five receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown. B.J. Raji recorded his third sack of the season and Matthews, Francois and Charles Woodson all intercepted passes.
Next up for the Packers is a trip to New York to play the Giants (6-4). That game is Sunday, December 4th and begins at 3:15.
