NFL Game Summary - Detroit at Green Bay
(Sunday, January 1st)
Final Score: Green Bay 45, Detroit 41
Green Bay, WI (Sports Network) - The Packers and Lions' regular season finale
resembled a video-game shootout, as Green Bay's quarterback set single-game
franchise records for yards and touchdowns thrown in a 45-41 shootout win.
In a season that saw Aaron Rodgers make headlines on a weekly basis, it was
backup Matt Flynn who put the finishing touches on the Packers' 15-1 campaign
by throwing for an eye-popping 480 yards and six touchdowns, including the
go-ahead score to Jermichael Finley with 1:10 remaining.
With the No. 1 seed in the NFC already secured, Green Bay opted to sit Rodgers
for the untested Flynn, who in his second career start looked eerily similar
to the MVP candidate bundled up on the Green Bay sideline in cold, snowy
conditions.
"It's pretty incredible to look back and see what we did in the game, but
that's what it took to win," Flynn said. "It wasn't as easy as it looked. They
have a good defense. We had a good game plan and executed well."
The Packers will play their divisional round playoff game on Sunday, January
15 at 4:30 p.m. (et).
Flynn outdueled Matthew Stafford, who threw for 520 yards and five touchdowns
for the playoff-bound Lions (10-6), but was picked off by Sam Shields in the
final minute to seal the outcome.
The air assault allowed Stafford to surpass the 5,000-yard passing mark for
the season, becoming just the fourth player in NFL history to do so.
It was the first time in NFL history both quarterbacks threw for more
than 400 yards and tossed five touchdowns, and the 1,000 combined passing
yards set a league record.
Calvin Johnson caught 11 passes for a Lions-record 244 yards and a touchdown,
while Jordy Nelson hauled in nine passes for 162 yards and three scores for
the Packers.
The loss was the 21st straight at Lambeau Field for Detroit, which fell back
into the No. 6 seed after the Falcons beat the Buccaneers later Sunday. The
Lions will now play at New Orleans in the wild-card round, next Saturday night
at 8 p.m. (et). They lost to the NFC South-champion Saints in Week 13, 31-17.
"We have to go out there and execute on offense," Stafford said of the
upcoming matchup. "[The Saints] are playing great on offense. Our defense is
going to have their hands full."
Sunday's back-and-forth contest featured 11 lead changes, one coming when
Green Bay's Donald Driver hauled in a 35-yard touchdown pass with 8:10
remaining in the fourth for a 38-34 advantage.
The offensive showcase slowed slightly with a pair of three-and-outs, but it
took Detroit just six plays to cover 93 yards on its next possession, with
Stafford finding Tony Scheffler for a 12-yard score with 2:39 to go.
James Jones' 40-yard catch along the right sideline on 3rd-and-4 from the
Detroit 46-yard line set up Finley's deciding four-yard score.
Flynn's historic game began inauspiciously with a lost fumble in the opening
minute. Stafford threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to Titus Young four plays
after the turnover.
The Lions were gifted two points on the ensuing kickoff thanks to Pat Lee's
blunder. Jason Hanson's kick skidded into the shin of an awaiting Lee and the
returner watched as the ball bounced completely out of the end zone. Lee,
still standing in the end zone, pulled the ball back over the goal line and
knelt down for what he thought was a touchback. But after a brief talk between
the officials, it was determined to be a safety, and replay confirmed the
ruling.
Mason Crosby capped a 15-play, 64-yard drive with a 22-yard field goal to get
the Packers on the board, and Nelson caught a seven-yard touchdown later in
the first quarter after Kevin Smith lost a fumble.
Johnson's team-record 16th receiving touchdown of the year -- a 13-yard grab
-- gave the Lions the lead back midway through the third, but Ryan Grant took
a screen pass and went up the left sideline for an 80-yard TD two plays later.
Hanson booted a 30-yarder after the teams traded turnovers, and Nelson
countered with a 36-yard touchdown on a jump ball thrown by Flynn with 3:37
left in the half.
Hanson missed a 39-yard try and Crosby was wide left on a 47-yarder before
halftime, and Stafford was picked off on the first possession of the third
quarter.
Stafford shook off his first interception in 151 attempts by throwing a two-
yard touchdown pass to Young with 6:39 left before the fourth.
Flynn countered with a 58-yard TD bomb to Nelson, only to have Stafford
respond by hitting Smith for a two-yard score with 2:07 remaining in the
third. The Lions added two more points on Scheffler's reception.
Game Notes
Green Bay, which swept the NFC North, became the sixth 15-1 team in NFL
history...The Packers went 8-0 at home and own a 13-game winning streak as the
host...Even without playing, Rodgers set an NFL record, as his 122.5
quarterback rating surpassed the 121.1 rating Peyton Manning put up in
2004...Nelson finished with 15 touchdown catches this year. He had six
combined over his first three seasons...The Packers also played without Pro
Bowl linebacker Clay Matthews and cornerback Charles Woodson...Packers
offensive tackle Chad Clifton played the first quarter after missing the
previous 10 games with a torn hamstring...The Lions have not won in Green Bay
since December 15, 1991...Stafford finished the season with 5,038 yards, 42
touchdowns and 16 interceptions.
01/01 22:16:33 ET

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