The Green Bay Packers pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat the Detroit Lions 35-31 in a thrilling NFC North showdown on Sunday. The Packers trailed by 17 points in the fourth quarter, but rallied behind quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who threw for 282 yards and four touchdowns, including the game-winning 11-yard strike to Davante Adams with 37 seconds left.
Rodgers leads the charge
Rodgers was in MVP form as he orchestrated the Packers’ comeback, completing 22 of 35 passes and adding 25 rushing yards. He connected with Adams nine times for 121 yards and two scores, while also finding Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Robert Tonyan and Randall Cobb for touchdowns. Rodgers showed his clutch gene as he led the Packers on a 75-yard drive in the final two minutes, converting a fourth-and-1 with a sneak and then hitting Adams for the go-ahead score.
Lions fall short despite strong performance
The Lions had a chance to pull off a huge upset, as they dominated the first three quarters of the game. Quarterback Jared Goff threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns, while running back D’Andre Swift ran for 69 yards and a score. The Lions also got a boost from their defense, which forced two turnovers and sacked Rodgers three times. However, the Lions could not stop the Packers’ late surge, as they allowed 17 points in the final quarter and failed to answer Rodgers’ last-minute heroics.
What this means for both teams
The Packers improved to 2-1 and moved into a tie with the Chicago Bears for the NFC North lead. The Packers showed their resilience and firepower, as they bounced back from a disappointing loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 1 and a narrow win over the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2. The Packers will look to keep their momentum going as they face the Pittsburgh Steelers next week.
The Lions fell to 0-3 and remained at the bottom of the division. The Lions have been competitive in every game, but have not been able to finish them off. The Lions have lost by a combined eight points in their last two games, as they also blew a late lead against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2. The Lions will try to get their first win of the season as they take on the Chicago Bears next week.