A nightmare first half for the Green Bay Packers began with a Danny Amendola touchdown pass and ended with a defensive collapse.
The Packers, who need a win to clinch a first-round bye, are down 17-3 at the half to the 3-11-1 Detroit Lions.
It was a stunningly poor effort from Matt LaFleur’s team during the first 30 minutes at Ford Field.
Amendola hit rookie quarterback David Blough on a trick play for a 19-yard touchdown in the first quarter. The Lions forced the Packers to punt on four-straight possessions and then scored a second touchdown on a 1-yard run on fourth down to go up 14-0.
The Packers responded with a field goal, but the Lions went 51 yards in just 20 seconds to counter it with three points of their own.
The Lions have rushed for 117 yards and are 2-for-2 scoring touchdowns in the red zone.
Starting center Corey Linsley suffered a back injury and replaced by Lucas Patrick. Star running back Aaron Jones went down while diving for a pass from Aaron Rodgers but eventually returned.
Rodgers had a terrible half. He completed 6-of-18 passes for 90 yards and took a third-down sack. Jimmy Graham dropped a pass on the first series, but Rodgers’ accuracy has been off for the entire first half.
Blough, a rookie quarterback, is thoroughly outplaying Rodgers, the two-time MVP.
The New Orleans Saints are up 35-0 on the Carolina Panthers and are in a position to force the Packers to play the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the playoffs next weekend.