GREEN BAY – Somewhat lost in the frustrating 24-14 defeat to the Lions on Sunday was the good work the Packers did defensively in two early goal-to-go situations.
They came agonizingly close to getting the stop on the first one, and did get it on the second. Here's how those situations went down.
Play No. 1: First-and-goal from the Green Bay 8, first quarter, 1:43 left
Result: 1-yard run by RB David Montgomery
On the first goal-to-go series to conclude Detroit's opening possession of the game, second-year DL Karl Brooks (94) really stood out. Here he takes on a double-team from RG Kevin Zeitler (71) and RT Penei Sewell (58) and holds the point long enough to keep LB Quay Walker (7) and S Javon Bullard (20) both clean so they can stop Montgomery in his tracks.
Play No. 2: Second-and-goal from the Green Bay 7, first quarter, 1:01 left
Result: No gain for Montgomery
Next snap, Brooks has an impact again. This time, he splits Zeitler and Sewell to get some leverage on the ball carrier and steer him into a crowd. On the outside, DL Lukas Van Ness (90) makes a strong move to shake the block of LT Taylor Decker (68) to wrap up Montgomery for no gain.
Play No. 3: Third-and-goal from the Green Bay 7, first quarter, :19 left
Result: 2-yard run by Montgomery
On third down, Lions QB Jared Goff sees something and changes the play, moving Montgomery to the other side. The Packers engage in a hand signal to alert everyone to an adjustment based on the Lions' alignment. Ultimately, it's another Montgomery run with Zeitler pulling to block DL Kingsley Enagbare (55). Brooks beats Sewell's block to give Montgomery nowhere to go on the interior, and CB Keisean Nixon (25) nicely fills outside Enagbare to set another edge and force Montgomery to cut back. There, LB Edgerrin Cooper (56) and Bullard are in pursuit to finish the play.
Unfortunately, three great run stops keeping the Lions outside the 5-yard line go for naught, as the Packers jump offside on fourth-and-goal, moving the ball half the distance, and the subsequent pass gives Detroit its first touchdown.
Play No. 4: First-and-goal from the Green Bay 10, second quarter, 1:12 left
Result: 3-yard run by Montgomery
Late in the second quarter, the Packers do get the goal-to-go stop they almost had previously. On first down, give credit to DL T.J. Slaton (93), who takes on the block from C Frank Ragnow (77) and almost spins Ragnow completely around in order to be the first to get his arms on Montgomery trying to slip through the hole. From the back end, S Xavier McKinney (29) is unblocked and helps clean up.
Play No. 5: Second-and-goal from the Green Bay 7, second quarter, 1:07 left
Result: 2-yard loss by Montgomery
Next snap, the TFL is set up by the anticipation of LB Isaiah McDuffie (58), who shoots the C gap (between the T and TE) so fast, TE Brock Wright (89) is diving to try to block him before he collides with Montgomery. Elsewhere, DL Rashan Gary (52) makes TE Sam LaPorta (87) whiff on the crossing block to finish the play.
Subsequently, a third-down blitz forces a quick throwaway by Goff, and the Packers limit the Lions to the field goal they were hoping to get initially.
In all, that's five goal-to-go carries for Montgomery for 4 total yards. Solid work, but the Lions' aggressiveness and one pre-snap miscue still resulted in 10 points.
