GREEN BAY – Detroit added a field goal and was looking for more as the third quarter ended with the Lions leading the Packers, 17-3, Monday night at Lambeau Field.
Here's a recap of the first three quarters.
First quarter:
It looked as though the Packers were going to score first, but the Lions did instead and took a 7-0 lead after one quarter.
The Packers won the toss and elected to receive. QB Brett Hundley completed his first four passes and also picked up a first down with a sneak. But the drive bogged down on a first-down sack by LB Tahir Whitehead at the Detroit 25, and K Mason Crosby had a 38-yard field goal try blocked by DT A'Shawn Robinson, as the snap from new long snapper Derek Hart was low.
The Lions appeared to be stopped on a three-and-out on their first drive, but a third-down personal foul on Packers DT Mike Daniels for a head butt kept Detroit's drive and the Lions capitalized. A 15-yard pass to WR Golden Tate and an 11-yard run by RB Ameer Abdullah preceded a 25-yard TD pass from QB Matthew Stafford to WR Marvin Jones, who beat CB Davon House down the sideline. The PAT made it 7-0 Lions with 1:45 left in the quarter.
The Packers went three-and-out on their next drive, losing yardage on first and second down before Hundley scrambled on third down, coming up a few yards shy as the quarter expired.
Second quarter:
Detroit put together a long TD drive and the Packers finally got on the board late in the first half, as the Lions took a 14-3 lead into intermission.
The Lions converted on third-and-10 with a 16-yard pass to Jones and followed with a 19-yard pass to TE Eric Ebron. Two tackles for loss set up third-and-16, which became third-and-11 after LB Clay Matthews jumped offside. Stafford's pass for Ebron over the middle was incomplete, and K Matt Prater hit the crossbar from 55 yards out, no good.
The Packers couldn't take advantage of the good field position, though, going three-and-out. Hundley's third-down pass for WR Davante Adams along the sideline was broken up by CB DJ Hayden. P Justin Vogel's punt, combined with a Detroit penalty, put the Lions on their own 9-yard line to start.
The Lions got moving again on a 9-yard completion to Abdullah, a 17-yard tip-toe sideline catch by Tate on third down, and a 10-yard pass to TE Darren Fells. Stafford converted another third down with a 15-yard pass to Tate to the Green Bay 24. Another pass to Tate for 9 plus two Abdullah runs for a total of 11 made it second-and-2 on the 4. Abdullah took it in from there, and with Prater's PAT, the Lions led 14-0 with 2:47 left in the half.
The Packers got one first down at the two-minute warning on an 8-yard run by RB Ty Montgomery, one play after Hundley's deep ball to WR Davante Adams went off his outstretched hand. A 9-yard run by Montgomery, 8-yard completion to WR Jordy Nelson, and 18-yard screen pass to Montgomery got the Packers to the Detroit 35, and Green Bay used its first timeout with 1:02 left.
Consecutive passes to Adams for 5 and 7 yards made it first down on the 23, and the Packers used their second timeout with 36 seconds left. A 2-yard sack forced the Packers to use their last timeout with 27 seconds left. After an incomplete pass, Adams caught an 8-yard toss over the middle, and the Packers had to run their field-goal unit onto the field to make a 35-yarder on the final snap. Crosby was good, making it 14-3.
Third quarter:
The Lions opened the third quarter with a productive drive. RB Theo Riddick broke off a 14-yard run before Stafford was sacked by DE Dean Lowry on a flea-flicker attempt. The Lions quickly converted on second-and-18, though, as Tate picked up 21 on a crossing route. Stafford found Tate on third-and-5 for 13 to the Green Bay 27, but the Packers' defense held there. Prater was good on a 44-yard field goal to make it 17-3 Lions.
The Packers got a first down on a 12-yard pass to Nelson and then decided to go for it on fourth-and-2 from midfield. But on a quick flip to WR Randall Cobb out of shotgun, Cobb was brought down for a 3-yard loss to S Glover Quin, and the Lions took over.
The Lions converted another third down with a 17-yard pass to WR TJ Jones to get to the Green Bay 27, and Packers S Morgan Burnett left with a groin injury. But Abdullah fumbled on the next snap, and CB Damarious Randall recovered for the Packers.
Green Bay immediately went deep, but a long ball for Nelson was incomplete, with CB Darius Slay in coverage. The fans pleaded for a flag that never came, and the Packers went three-and-out.
The Lions got going again on a 12-yard pass to Tate and a 15-yarder to Ebron. On third-and-10, Stafford hit Jones on a back-shoulder throw for 23 yards to the 15. A 12-yard pass to Jones put the ball on the 1 as the quarter expired.
