A devastating combination of drops, penalties and a disastrous, game-turning pick-six doomed the Green Bay Packers in a disappointing 24-14 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday at a rain-soaked Lambeau Field.
The FOX broadcast credited the Packers with six drops, including one by running back Chris Brooks in the red zone on third down, one by Tucker Kraft on third down before a missed field goal, one by Dontayvion Wicks on third down in Lions territory and another by Wicks in the end zone on third down. It rained all game at Lambeau Field, but the Lions had no issues catching the football.
The Packers also committed 10 penalties, including one on fourth down before the Lions’ first touchdown, another on third down extending the Lions’ scoring drive to open the second half and several ill-timed false starts. The penalties amounted to 67 yards. The Lions had only five penalties.
The game turned late in the second quarter when, after the Lions kicked a field goal to go up 10-3, Jordan Love drifted against pressure and threw a ill-advised pick-six to Kerby Joseph while attempting to dump the ball off to Josh Jacobs. What could have been a one-score game or even a tie game at halftime turned into a 17-3 advantage for the Lions, and Dan Campbell’s team took the second half kickoff and extended the lead to 24-3 with a quick scoring drive. The Lions didn’t have a giveaway.
The Packers opened the scoring with a field goal on their opening possession but then watched the Lions score 24 straight points.
Green Bay did get 11 straight points to end the game, but it was too late too late, especially when factoring in that Josh Jacobs was stuffed on fourth down in the red zone in the fourth quarter.
Speaking of the red zone, the Packers finished 1-for-4 scoring touchdowns inside the 20-yard line, including three straight failures to start the game. Emanuel Wilson’s 2-yard touchdown run with just under four minutes left was the only touchdown of the game for Matt LaFleur’s team. The Packers were also 3-for-12 on third down.
The Lions didn’t even play their best game. Detroit averaged 4.7 yards per play and were outgained by 150 yards, but the stats didn’t matter. The Lions were in control from the second drive of the game to the finish.
The Packers are now 6-3 — with two highly disappointing home losses in the division — entering the bye week.
Can the Packers figure out how to finish more plays in the passing game, avoid drive-killing and drive-extending penalties and get Love healthy and playing at a higher level consistently?
In all three losses this season, the Packers beat themselves. That can be seen as encouraging or concerning. One on hand, this team can beat anyone if they avoid the avalanche of self-inflicted mistakes that have overtaken some of these losses. But on the other, repeated mistakes often find a way of happening in big moments during big games — and eliminating them is often the biggest hurdle for a good team trying to be great.
Sunday’s loss at a rain-soaked Lambeau Field highlighted all of the Packers’ warts at the midway point of 2024. Now comes the bye week. The Packers need to get healthy, re-focus and find a way to rekindle what allow LaFleur’s team to catch fire to end last season.