Recap: Packers snatch Lions’ soul, score 31 unanswered en route to 42-21 win

Nolan Bianchi
The Detroit News

Published 4:12 PM EDT Sep 20, 2020

Game summary

The Detroit Lions took a 14-3 lead in Green Bay against the Packers on Sunday, but, per usual, the Matt Patricia-led squad faltered when the opposition applied the heat, and gave up 31 unanswered points as Detroit was ran off of Lambeau field in embarrassing fashion.

Packers running back Aaron Jones had a career-best 168 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 18 attempts, and added 68 yards and another touchdown through the air.

Final leaders

Passing

DET — Matthew Stafford: 20/33, 244 yds., 2 TD, 1 Int.

GB — Aaron Rodgers: 18/30, 240 yds., 2 TD

Rushing

DET — Adrian Peterson: 7 atts., 41 yds.

GB — Aaron Jones: 18 atts., 168 yds., 2 TD

Receiving

DET — T.J. Hockenson: 4 recs., 62 yds.

GB — Aaron Jones: 4 recs., 68 yds., TD

Lions change it up, turn it over on downs instead of punting ball away

Matthew Stafford throws complete to Quintez Cephus for 36 yards on first down.

Stafford throws incomplete on the next play, and is then sacked on second and third down.

The Lions will go for it on fourth-and-16. His pass is defended down the sideline by Josh Jackson.

Packers 42, Lions 21 (2:13 4th)

Tim Doyle is in at quarterback for the Packers. A.J. Dillon rushes for a loss of 1 on first down.

Two-minute warning

A.J. Dillon is stopped for no gain on second down.

Timeout #2 Detroit (1:54 4th)

Dillon ices the game with a 12-yard run on third-and-11.

Packers are in victory formation.

FINAL: Packers 42, Lions 21

Packers get ball back up 21 points in fourth

Green Bay takes over at its own 36.

A.J. Dillon rushes for 3 yards on first and second down, each.

Timeout #2 Green Bay (4:40 4th)

Rodgers throws on third down, his pass is batted at the line, Rodgers catches it, and is tackled for a loss of 6.

Timeout #1 Detroit (4:30 4th)

J.K. Scott’s punt goes out of bounds at the Detroit 10.

Packers 42, Lions 21 (4:21 4th)

Lions go three-and-out, lose 20 yards in process

Jamal Agnew returns the kickoff to the 23.

Matthew Stafford throws incomplete on first down, resulting in an intentional grounding penalty. Stafford is sacked for a loss of 10 on second down. It’s third-and-20. D’Andre Swift rushes for no gain on third down.

The Lions will punt.

Packers 42, Lions 21 (6:14 4th)

Dagger time: Packers erase all semblance of hope

Aaron Jones rushes for 4 yards on first down. An illegal shift makes it second-and-11. Jones gets 7 yards on second down.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling burns Jeff Okudah down the sideline and hauls in a 41-yard reception on third down. Huge bummer. First-and-10 at the Lions 27.

Jones rushes for a yard on first down. Jamaal Williams rushes for 3 yards on second down. Aaron Jones catches a 9-yard pass on third down.

Jones picks up his third touchdown of the day on a 14-yard rush.

A two-point conversion makes it a nice, square, 21-point lead for Green Bay.

Packers 42, Lions 21 (7:59 4th)

Lions cut into Packers lead to open fourth

The Lions take over at the 25, now down 34-14.

Matthew Stafford hits D’Andre Swift for an 8-yard completion. Swift takes a second-down carry for 2 yards and a first down.

Quintez Cephus catches a 9-yard pass on the next play. Swift catches a pass over the middle, hurdles a defender, and gets to the Green Bay 39 for a gain of 17 yards that’ll bring the third quarter to a close.

End 4th: Packers 34, Lions 14

Stafford hits Danny Amendola for 8 yards on first down. Swift goes up the middle for a gain of 1 on second down. Adrian Peterson rushes up the middle for a gain of 6 to keep the drive alive.

Stafford throws it to world-class deep threat Marvin Hall for a 24-yard touchdown pass.

Packers 34, Lions 21 (13:00 4th)

Packers add to lead near close of third quarter

Jack Fox’s punt was fair caught by Tyler Ervin at the Green Bay 14.

Aaron Jones rushes for 11 yards on first down.

He picks up 3 more yards on the next play, setting up second-and-7 at the 28. Jones rushes for 5 yards on second down. Allen Lazard catches a 25-yard pass on third down to keep the chains moving. It’s first-and-10 at the Detroit 42.

Jamaal Williams rushes for 3 yards on first down. Jones gets it again on the next play, picking up 9 and a new set of downs at the Lions 30.

Aaron Rodgers has all day to throw, scrambles, picks up 4 with his feet. Williams rushes for 4 yards on second down. Rodgers’ third-down throw is batted at the line of scrimmage, but there’s defensive holding on the Lions.

Green Bay will get a new set of downs at the 17.

Rodgers’ first-down throw is dropped by Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Valdes-Scantling drops an easy touchdown on second down.

Timeout #1 Green Bay (1:40 3rd)

Rodgers’ pass on third down is behind his running back.

Mason Crobsy’s 35-yard field goal is through the uprights.

Packers 34, Lions 14 (1:32 4th)

Lions go three-and-out while on the ropes

The Lions take over at the 25.

Kerryon Johnson drops a first-down throw. Matthew Stafford hits Quintez Cephus for a 9-yard gain on second down. He misses to Danny Amendola on third down.

We’ll be back in a second.

Packers 31, Lions 14 (7:33 3rd)

Dagger time: Stafford throws pick-6

The Lions take over at the 5.

Matthew Stafford throws a pick-6. We’ll be back in a second.

Packers 31, Lions 14 (8:32 3rd)

Lions defense gets big stop, Lions special teams takes big penalty

Green Bay’s offense takes over at its own 21.

Jamaal Williams probably should have only rushed for 2 yards on first down, but he gets 18 yards instead.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling is called for a false start. It’s first-and-15 at the Packers 34.

Tracy Walker absolutely hammers Rodgers as he lets go of a first-down throw, forcing an incompletion. Aaron Jones goes up and over Darryl Roberts on second down and pulls down a great catch at the Lions 36.

Jones rushes up the middle for 4 yards on first down. Robert Tonyan is wide open on second down and hauls in a 14-yard reception. It’s first-and-10 at the Detroit 18.

The Packers take a holding penalty on first down, setting up first-and-20 at the 28.

Rodgers throws incomplete to Allen Lazard in the end zone on first down, then throws incomplete to Lazard again on second down. Jamie Collins sacks Rodgers for a loss of 11 on third down, knocking the Packers out of field-goal range. A monster sack by Collins.

An unnecessary roughness penalty on Jamal Agnew will put them inside their own 5.

Packers 24, Lions 14 (8:37 3rd)

Lions offense tanks after Packers touchdown

The Lions get it down 10, at their own 25.

Adrian Peterson rushes for no gain on first down. T.J. Hockenson catches a 4-yard pass on second down. Matthew Stafford’s throw to Danny Amendola falls incomplete.

The Lions will punt.

Packers 24, Lions 14 (13:18 3rd)

Jones gives Packers 10-point lead on first play of second half

The Lions will kickoff to start the second half. Jack Fox’s kick goes for a touchback. Packers get it at the 25.

Aaron Jones breaks free up the middle. 75-yard touchdown run. Lions down by two scores.

Packers 24, Lions 14 (14:48 3rd)

Lions nearly get points before half, don’t

The Lions get it at the 25.

D’Andre Swift catches a 12-yard pass. T.J. Hockenson catches a 19-yard pass, getting to Green Bay’s 44. A neutral-zone infraction on the Packers gives Matt Prater a shot at a 57-yard field goal.

He misses. Lions trail by 3 going into halftime. Wash, rinse, repeat.

END 2ND: Packers 17, Lions 14

Packers take 17-14 lead before half

The Packers will take over at their own 38.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling nearly comes down with a deep pass down the sideline, and is then drilled by Will Harris. That’s a 15-yard penalty from the spot of the previous play.

It’s first-and-10 at the Detroit 47.

Davante Adams catches a pass over the middle, and Harris brings him down by the horse collar. That’s 15 yards to the end of the run.

Jamaal Williams goes up the middle for 13 yards.

After an incompletion to Valdes-Scantling, Rodgers hits Robert Tonyan for the easiest touchdown you’ll ever see in your life. Just a complete meltdown to close the half by the Detroit Lions.

Packers 17, Lions 14 (0:14 2nd)

Lions final drive before half a total disaster

The Lions take over at their own 7.

D’Andre Swift rushes for 4 yards on first down. Matthew Stafford is sacked for a loss of 10 yards on second down, bringing up third-and-16 at the Lions 1.

Timeout #3 Green Bay. (1:15 2nd)

Adrian Peterson rushes for 4 yards on third down. There’s a holding penalty on Oday Aboushi, which will stop the clock. Just a horrible penalty for the Lions to take with Aaron Rodgers coming off the sideline.

Jack Fox’s punt is fair caught at the Green Bay 38.

Lions 14, Packers 10 (1:00 2nd)

Lions defense gets big stop before half

Aaron Rodgers scrambles for 8 yards on first down. Jamaal Williams picks up the first down, and then some, with an 11-yard rush on second down.

Williams rushes for 4 more yards on the next play. Rodgers hits Davante Adams on second down for a 17-yard gain that’ll give the Packers a new set of downs at midfield.

Offensive holding on the next play backs the Packers up to their own 40, bringing up first-and-20. Rodgers scrambles, hits Marquez Valdes-Scantling for an 8-yard pickup. Jones rushes for 5 yards on second down. It’s third-and-7.

Two-minute warning

Rodgers throws it up to Valdes-Scantling down the sideline, but it’s just a touch too far. Duron Harmon lit up Valdes-Scantling as he extended for the ball.

Injury alert: Packers WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling was hurt on the play and is being looked at by the training staff.

The Packers line up to go for it on fourth-and-7 at their own 47, but simply try to draw an offsides penalty.

After a 5-yard delay-of-game penalty, J.K. Scott pins the Lions at their own 6.

Lions 14, Packers 10 (1:45 2nd)

Penalty backs Lions up, forces first punt of game

Mason Crosby’s kickoff goes for a touchback. Lions get it at the 25.

Kerryon Johnson gets to the left edge for a gain of 8 yards on first down. He’s stopped after a gain of only 1 on second down, bringing up third-and-1. Johnson finds a hole for 3 yards to keep the chains moving.

The Lions go play-action on the next play, but Matthew Stafford’s deep throw to Marvin Jones is broken up by Jaire Alexander. He throws just a touch too far for Danny Amendola on second down, bringing up third-and-10.

Amendola hauls in the third-down throw from Stafford, picking up 13 yards to midfield.

Stafford tries to dump it off to Jones on first down, but Jones can’t hold on. Stafford hits Jamal Agnew for a loss of 1 on second down, and a penalty on Oday Aboushi will cause a loss of 15 more yards.

Stafford hits T.J. Hockenson for 10 yards on third-and-26. Not enough. Lions will punt.

Jack Fox’s punt is perfect, going out of bounds at the Packer 10.

Lions 14, Packers 10 (6:07 2nd)

Packers answer with touchdown, cut Detroit’s lead to 14-10

Green Bay will get it at the 25 after a touchback.

Aaron Jones takes it for a 4-yard gain on first down, ending the first quarter.

END 1ST: Lions 14, Packers 3

Amani Oruwariye is called for defensive holding on second down. The Packers get a free first down at the 34.

Jones rushes for a 5-yard gain on first down. Jones gets wide open over the middle on second down and catches a pass for 22 yards. Oruwariye was also called for another holding penalty, but it was declined.

Green Bay has a first down at the Lions 39.

Davante Adams beats Jeff Okudah on first down for an 11-yard reception.

Tyler Ervin catches a 4-yard pass on first down. There’s another open Packer over the middle on second down, and this time it’s Allen Lazard getting open for a 10-yard pickup.

Jones rushes for 5 yards on the next play. It’s second-and-5 at the Detroit 9. He gets 2 yards on second down. Third-and-3.

Jones catches a pass out of the backfield and gets into the end zone for a 7-yard receiving touchdown.

Lions 14, Packers 10 (10:09 2nd)

Lions take 14-3 lead against Packers late in first quarter

The Lions take over at the 25 after a touchback.

Matthew Stafford’s throw on first down is thrown straight into the ground, ruled a fumble and loss of 6 yards. The play is reversed after a challenge flag, making it second-and-10. Stafford hits D’Andre Swift for a gain of 9 on second down.

Adrian Peterson gets up the middle for a gain of 5 on third-and-1. It’s a first down for the Lions at their own 39.

Stafford hits Jones at the 47 for a gain of 8. Peterson is wrapped up on second down for no gain. Stafford scrambles for a gain of 4 on third-and-2 to keep the chains moving. It’s first-and-10 at the Green Bay 49.

Stafford’s throw to Swift on first down is made under pressure and falls short of the mark. He goes back to Swift on second down, this time hitting his rookie back for a 14-yard gain that gives the Lions a first down at the Green Bay 35.

Peterson rushes for 1 yard on first down. Peterson again gets the carry on second down, this time setting the right edge, and breaking free down the right sideline for a 25-yard gain. The running game is a full go.

It’s first-and-goal at the 9.

Stafford’s first-down throw to Marvin Hall is dropped. Swift goes up the middle on second down for a gain of 5, bringing up third-and-goal at the 4. Stafford hits Jones in the end zone for a Lions touchdown.

Lions 14, Packers 3 (0:04 1st)

Packers answer with field goal after Lions touchdown drive

Green Bay takes over at the 25 after the early Lions touchdown.

Aaron Jones rushes for 12 yards on first down, setting up first-and-10 at the 37.

Jones goes for 4 yards on the next play, and is then smoked by Jarrad Davis for a loss of 2 on second down. It’s third-and-8. Marquez Valdes-Scantling gets open over the middle, hauls in a throw from Aaron Rodgers, gets to the Detroit 46 for a gain of 15.

Marcedes Lewis catches a pass in the flat that’s good for 4 yards. Rodgers tries to get it to Jace Sternberger in the same area of the field on second down, but the pass is dropped. Tracy Walker breaks up a third-down pass to Robert Tonyan on third down, bringing up fourth-and-6.

Allen Lazard catches a pass on fourth down that’s good for a 10-yard gain and a Packers first down at the Detroit 32.

Jamaal Williams rushes for 7 yards on first down. Rodgers misses to Jones in the flat on second down, then overthrows Jones in the end zone on third-and-3.

Mason Crosby hits the field goal to cut into Detroit’s deficit.

Lions 7, Packers 3 (7:00 1st)

Kerryon Johnson puts Lions up early

The Lions take over at the 25, for the first possession of the game.

Matthew Stafford hits Marvin Jones for a 5-yard gain on first down. Stafford then hits T.J. Hockenson on second down, as the former first-round pick stumbles ahead to the Packers 41 for a gain of 29 yards.

Kerryon Johnson rushes for 4 yards on first down. He’s blown up by Za’Darius Smith in the backfield on second down, but Smith grabs a handful of face mask. It’ll be first-and-10 at the 22.

Johnson rushes for 4 yards on first down. Jones catches a 6-yard pass on second down to keep the chains moving.

Johnson rushes for 7 yards to the Green Bay 5 on first down, then picks up another first down with a 4-yard rush. He gets into the end zone from a yard out to put the Lions up early.

Johnson ran the ball five times for 20 yards.

Lions 7, Packers 0 (10:33 1st)

Pregame

The Detroit Lions will try to get their first win of the young season in a 1 p.m. matchup against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

Follow the action with live updates throughout the game by Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News.