A new stadium and a new quarterback were not enough to give Detroit its first win of the season.
Brett Favre threw for 357 yards and three touchdowns as the Green Bay Packers held off the Lions with a 37-31 win Sunday at the new Ford Field, spoiling rookie Joey Harrington's first start.
Green Bay (2-1) led by 17 early in the final quarter, but Detroit (0-3) scored two TDs, including a 52-yard pass to James Stewart with 1:37 left to cut the deficit to 34-31.
An offside penalty negated the Lions' recovery on the onside kick, and they were unable to recover their second attempt. Ryan Longwell's 47-yard field goal with 1:15 left put Green Bay ahead 37-31.
With the crowd chanting "Jo-ey! Jo-ey!" Harrington attempted to direct his first fourth-quarter comeback in the NFL, after doing so 10 times at Oregon.
Detroit got the ball at the Packers 48 with 1:03 left after two offsides penalties on Green Bay.
After throwing a 14-yard pass to Scotty Anderson, Harrington lofted a pass just past Mikhael Ricks' fingers on what would have been the game-tying score. On the next play, Tod McBride intercepted Harrington's overthrown pass at the Green Bay 3 with 30 seconds left.
Harrington finished 15-of-35 for 182 yards with two TDs and four interceptions.
Favre completed 31 of 47 passes and on his first of three TD passes, he moved past Warren Moon for fourth on the NFL's all-time list with 292 TD passes. Favre also threw an interception and fumbled.
Green Bay played minus injured running back Ahman Green, out with a quadriceps injury. Najeh Davenport carried the load and ran for 84 yards on 22 carries. Bubba Franks caught nine passes for 62 yards and a TD. Donald Driver caught five for 94 yards and a TD.
Stewart ran for 88 yards and caught two passes for 56 yards, including the 52-yard score that gave the Lions comeback hopes late in the game.
The game was tied at 17 in the first half after Harrington's first career TD pass, a 39-yard connection to Lamont Warren.
Green Bay went ahead for good when it began the second half with a 12-play, 72-yard drive that took 7:04. Favre faked a pass to his right, then threw an 8-yard TD pass over the middle to Robert Ferguson.
Ryan Longwell's 34-yard field goal put Green Bay ahead 34-17 early in the fourth. Cory Schlesinger's 1-yard plunge pulled Detroit within 10 on the ensuing drive.
The Lions scored in the first quarter for the first time this season on Az-Zahir Hakim's 72-yard punt return.
After Favre fumbled on his second drive, Detroit got the ball at the Green Bay 42 but gave it right back.
Harrington's pass was tipped by Steve Warren at the line and picked off by Marques Anderson, who raced 78 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 7 midway through the first quarter.
Favre's 21-yard TD pass to Driver - who was all alone in the end zone - gave Green Bay a 14-7 lead early in the second.
Favre's second turnover led to Detroit's second score. Linebacker Chris Claiborne intercepted Favre's pass and returned it 43 yards to the Green Bay 10. Jason Hanson's 33-yard field goal made it 14-10.
Notes: The following Green Bay players left the game with injuries: David Martin (concussion), Javon Walker (quad bruise), William Henderson (left knee sprain). ... Detroit's Travis Kirschke (left leg), Brian Walker (toe) and Brian Williams (right ankle) left the game with injuries.
-- Associated Press
