The Green Bay Packers (10-3) held on late Sunday at Ford Field to beat the Detroit Lions (5-8), sweeping the season series and clinching the NFC North title.
Quick takes from the Packers’ win over the Lions:
– With a win in Detroit and a Vikings loss in Tampa Bay, the Packers have clinched the NFC North title for the second straight season.
– Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdown passes and ran in a fourth score. He now has 40 total touchdowns (38 passing, two rushing) with three games to go in 2020. He also had multiple touchdown passes and a passer rating over 100.0 for the 12th time in 13 games.
– Davante Adams caught a touchdown pass for the eighth straight game, setting a new franchise record. He has also eight straight games with at least five catches and a touchdown, tying the NFL record.
– The Packers won by only seven points but mostly controlled the game. They were 8-for-11 on third down, 3-for-3 scoring touchdowns in the red zone, averaged 1.4 more yards per play than the Lions and had the football for almost 10 more minutes.
– Once again, the Packers special teams attempted to give away a game. Every punt and kick in the postseason with be potential game-changers.
– This was one of Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s best games. He caught six passes, his most since Week 3 of last year, for 85 yards and a score. His touchdown was a terrific catch on a backshoulder ball in traffic.
– The defense sacked Matthew Stafford four times in the first half and got a stop to open the second half, but this was another uneven performance from Mike Pettine’s group. On one second-half touchdown drive, the Packers defense had five penalties.
– This team will need consistently elite offense to win a Super Bowl. The defense and special teams are just not reliable enough week to week.
– The Packers scored on all three of their second-half possessions before finishing the game with kneel downs. Robert Tonyan clinched the win with a first-down conversion for the third straight game.
– The Packers outrushed the Lions by almost 70 yards. The Lions finished with only 51 rushing yards on 15 attempts.
– Rodgers wasn’t sacked. The Lions only hit him once. It was a painful hit, but Rodgers finished the contest.
– Tavon Austin got a few scripted plays early. He still looks explosive. It’ll be interesting to see how Matt LaFleur integrates him into the rest of the offense. He also handled punt returns without issue.
– What a cool moment for Mason Crosby. And what a kick. He nailed a big field goal from 58 yards out in the fourth quarter, extending the Packers’ lead to 10 points. LaFleur trusted him to deliver. The celebration with teammates was special. Many of them remember his heartbreak at Ford Field two years ago.
– The Packers didn’t have a turnover but finished with 12 penalties. The penalties put the offense in tough positions and handed the Lions five free first downs.
– The Packers can clinch the No. 1 seed with wins over the final three games. It’ll happen if this team doesn’t beat itself.