GREEN BAY, Wisc. – The Detroit Lions have won the NFC North Division in back-to-back seasons, but they didn’t look anything like favorites in the first test of 2025.
Green Bay, a trendy pick to steal the division crown after the acquisition of pass rusher Micah Parsons, dominated the Week 1 matchup. They jumped out to an early two-score lead and never looked back.
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Most notably, the pass rush was non-existent and John Morton failed to get the Lions into the end zone until garbage time in his first game since replacing Ben Johnson as offensive coordinator.
Lack of pass rush shows early
One of the storylines of the offseason was how the Lions addressed -- or failed to address -- the defensive pass rush.
Aidan Hutchinson is back on the field after missing most of 2024 due to injury, but the Lions didn’t add anyone else to help pressure the quarterback.
That reared its ugly head early Sunday, as the Packers easily converted three long third downs on their opening drive. Jordan Love was allowed to stand comfortably in the pocket and polished off the drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Tucker Kraft.
Green Bay converted a third and 7 to begin the next drive, too, but the Lions managed to stand tall in the red zone and force a field goal that made the score 10-0.
After a long Lions drive stalled and ended in a field goal, the Packers wasted no time with a 48-yard pass into the red zone on the very first play.
On play No. 2, Jayden Reed beat Terrion Arnold for a 17-yard touchdown reception.
Three drives. Three scores. And the Packers led 17-3 with 8:34 until halftime.
Stagnant offensive half
Other than the 16-play, 78-yard drive that ended in a field goal, the Lions failed to crack the scoreboard in the opening half.
That’s mostly because they only got the ball three times.
Right before the half, the Lions marched 55 yards down the field over 13 plays, but came away with nothing thanks to a Jared Goff interception on third and 7 in the red zone.
Goff had just 75 passing yards in the first half on 13-of-16 passing.
David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs combined for 46 rushing yards on 14 carries before the break.
Botched interceptions
The Lions looked to have a chance to get back in the game late in the third quarter, while trailing 17-6.
A rare pressure against Love caused an errant pass that hit Alex Anzalone right in the hands. It would have given the Lions excellent field position, but he couldn’t hang on.
The very next play, Brian Branch made a diving interception and returned it for a touchdown, but flags on the Lions -- both before and after the pick -- negated the turnover and gave the ball back to Green Bay.
The Packers ultimately drove across midfield and pinned the Lions inside their own 10-yard line heading into the fourth quarter.
No signs of life in 4th quarter
Facing an 11-point deficit and starting from their own 8-yard line, the Lions showed no signs of life in the final period.
First, Goff took a sack on the half-yard line, and then the Lions waved the proverbial white flag with runs up the middle on second and 17 and third and 16.
The ensuing punt was fielded and returned to the 36-yard line. The Packers gave the Lions a taste of their own medicine, converting a fourth down and bullying their way into the end zone to cement the win.
Green Bay tacked on another field goal after a four-and-out drive that went for zero yards by the Lions.
As a final cherry on top of a banner day for the Lions, Parsons -- who spouted off about how much he dislikes Detroit earlier in the week -- picked up his first sack as a Packer, chasing down Goff from behind on the final drive.
Isaac TeSlaa touchdown
The only real positive for the Lions on the day came with 55 seconds left on the clock, when rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa made an unbelievable one-handed catch and managed to get both feet down while falling near the end zone.
That touchdown made the final score a little less horrifying, at 27-13.
Overall, it was a dominant performance by the Packers in all three phases, and a difficult first showing from the new-look Lions.