The Packers had their most productive offensive day of the season on Sunday with 484 total yards, and it included a season-best 211 yards on the ground as the Packers accomplished a feat they have only done twice since 1985.
Running backs Ryan Grant and DeShawn Wynn each rushed for 106 yards, becoming only the second Packers tandem to post 100 yards rushing in the same game. It was a career high for Wynn and the duo helped Green Bay pile up 211 yards on 27 carries (7.8 avg.) for the afternoon.
The last time Green Bay had two 100-yard rushers in the same game was during Head Coach Mike McCarthy's first season at the helm when running backs Ahman Green (106) and Vernand Morency (101) accomplished the feat vs. Arizona on Oct. 29, 2006. Prior to that, the last game the Packers had with two 100-yard rushers came on Dec. 1, 1985, vs. Tampa Bay when Eddie Lee Ivery (109) and Gerry Ellis (101) each topped the 100-yard mark.
The Packers got their running game on track early on Sunday with Wynn taking a pitch from quarterback Aaron Rodgers midway through the first quarter 73 yards down the right sideline for the touchdown. The score was the longest run of Wynn's career and the longest run by a Packer this season, as well as the longest by a Green Bay back since Green's 90-yard touchdown vs. Dallas on Oct. 24, 2004.
"It was blocked to perfection," Wynn said. "As soon as I caught the corner I didn't see anybody outside. I saw big Daryn Colledge blocking downfield and it was pretty much wide open. All I had to do was run forward."
Colledge, starting his first career game at right tackle, pulled out to the right to make an initial block at the line, and then moved down field to take out another Detroit player.
"That wasn't all me," Colledge said. "I thought the wide receivers did a great job. The down block was awesome. Jordy Nelson had a great block outside on a corner, the guy I was actually supposed to block. So we got to pick up an extra blocker, and that's what turns common plays into huge plays and that was a big play for us."
Wide receiver Donald Driver also cleared space down the field for Wynn.
"He was saying, 'Come on man, come on man,'" Wynn said. "I tried to tell Driver I am not as fast as he is so you've got to slow down."
Grant's 100-yard day was his first since the Houston contest earlier this month and fourth of the season. He had two 20-plus yard carries, the first a 20-yard gain down to the Detroit 4 to set up quarterback Aaron Rodgers 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jermichael Finley. The second, a 21-yard pickup, came late in the third quarter to help set up a 36-yard field goal from Mason Crosby that put the Packers up 17-14.
Grant's day did include his fourth fumble of the season and first since Week 7 vs. Indianapolis, which came early in the third quarter and the Packers deep in their own territory. The ball came loose after a big hit by Lions safety Kalvin Pearson, and Detroit took over the Green Bay 11, capitalizing two plays later with a 14-yard touchdown reception by wide receiver Calvin Johnson to even the score at 14.
{sportsad300}"That is unacceptable," Grant said. "The guy just got underneath me, but the ball shouldn't come out regardless. It should never happen really."
Green Bay's success on the ground Sunday was even more impressive considering the amount of shuffling required on the offensive line due to injuries. Earlier in the week the team decided to move Colledge to right tackle in place of Tony Moll and insert Josh Sitton into the starting lineup at right guard with Jason Spitz shifting over to the left guard spot.
Center Scott Wells sustained an ankle injury late in the first quarter and did not return. Spitz shifted to take over at center with Allen Barbre coming in at left guard. The line was forced to scramble again in the third quarter when Barbre left the game for good with an ankle injury. Colledge shifted back to his customary left guard spot in place of Barbre with Moll taking over at right tackle.
"I thought our offensive line did a great job," McCarthy said. "We obviously made the change this week with the three position changes, and then we had two injuries that we had to overcome. But the one part that definitely is in place is the flexibility aspect of our offensive line.
"It's hard to do, it's hard to switch positions during the game, let alone switching positions during the week and then having to switch back during the game and have to overcome two substitutions. And then to give us the opportunity to have as productive a day as we did have offensively. It all starts up front. They did a hell of a job."
