Division rivalries are usually the most intense battles in the NFL. For the Green Bay Packers, they will face the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, and Detroit Lions twice each season and then battle them for the NFC North title. Most of these rivalries result in close games with each team getting their share wins. But between 1992 and 2014, the Packers won an amazing 24 consecutive games over the Lions when playing at home. That includes a playoff win in 1994 and 23 regular-season meetings. Here is a look back at the highlights of the Packers 24-game home winning streak against the Lions.
On December 15, 1991, the Lions beat the Packers 21-17 at Lambeau Field. Mike Tomczak was the Packers starting quarterback. Running back Vince Workman ran for one touchdown and caught another. The Lions got two touchdown catches from Robert Clark and a 78-yard punt return from Mel Gray to earn the win on a 10-degree day. The Lions improved to 11-4 while the Packers dropped to 3-12. This was the last win for the Lions in Wisconsin for nearly a quarter of a century.
Then, the Packers started their win streak.
Remembering the Packers Home Winning Streak Over the Lions, Win 1: December 6, 1992: Packers 38, Lions 10
Brett Favre completed 15-of-19 passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns as the Packers cruised to an easy win. Sterling Sharpe caught six passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Packers offense. Linebacker Tony Bennett also scored on an 18-yard fumble return.
Win 2: November 21, 1993: Packers 26, Lions 17
Edgar Bennett ran for two touchdowns and Chris Jacke kicked four field goals including a 52-yarder in the Packers win.
Remembering the Packers Home Winning Streak Over the Lions, Win 3: November 6, 1994: Packers 38, Lions 30
Favre threw three touchdown passes including two to Robert Brooks while the Packers defense forced five turnovers including a 10-yard pick six by Bryce Paup in the Packers win. The Lions late rally ended when Packers cornerback Doug Evans knocked down a pass intended for former Packer Aubrey Matthews in the end zone in the final minute. This would be the Lions last trip to Milwaukee County Stadium.
Win 4: December 31, 1994: Packers 16, Lions 12, Wild Card Playoff Game
The Packers defense held future Hall of Famer Barry Sanders to minus-one yard on 13 carries in this game. Defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur moved Reggie White to defensive tackle to help shut down Sanders and it worked. Dorsey Levens scored the only touchdown of the game for the Packers who advanced to the divisional playoff round for the second straight season under Mike Holmgren.
Remembering the Packers Home Winning Streak Over the Lions, Win 5: October 15, 1995: Packers 30, Lions 21
The Packers jumped out to a 20-0 halftime lead and hung on for the win. Favre threw touchdown passes to Levens and Brooks while Edgar Bennett ran for a score. Sanders gained 124 yards rushing for the Lions, but it wasn’t enough to win the game.
Win 6: November 3, 1996: Packers 28, Lions 18
Favre threw for 281 yards and four touchdowns to outduel his predecessor, Don Majkowski who started for the Lions. Terry Mickens caught two touchdown passes while Don Beebe caught a 65-yard bomb from Favre for a score. Sanders ran for 152 yards and a TD. The Packers defense sacked Majkowski five times including a pair by Santana Dotson.
Remembering the Packers Home Winning Streak Over the Lions, Win 7: November 2, 1997: Packers 20, Lions 10
The Packers scored only one offensive touchdown on a pass from Favre to Brooks in the second quarter. The big play on defense was a 50-yard pick six by Darren Sharper that gave the Pack the lead for good at 14-7. It was one of four interceptions of Scott Mitchell that the Packers had in this game including a pair by LeRoy Butler.
Win 8: September 6, 1998: Packers 38, Lions 19
This was a game of big plays for both teams, but the Packers made more of them and won by 17 points. Butler scored on a 32-yard fumble return, Roell Preston returned a kick 101 yards for a score and Antonio Freeman caught an 84-yard touchdown pass from Favre which was his second TD catch of the game.
Remembering the Packers Home Winning Streak Over the Lions, Win 9: November 21, 1999: Packers 26, Lions 17
The Packers trailed 17-12 at the break but scored the only points of the second half to earn the win. Ryan Longwell kicked four field goals while Favre threw for 309 yards and a touchdown pass to Corey Bradford. Levens ran for 47 yards and a touchdown and also caught 10 passes for 99 yards in the win.
Win 10: December 10, 2000: Packers 26, Lions 13
Ahman Green ran for 118 yards and a touchdown and caught a touchdown pass from Favre as the Packers doubled up the Lions 26-13. Longwell booted four more field goals in this game. The defense caused five turnovers including a 43-yard interception return by Tod McBride and a 52-yard fumble return by Na’il Diggs.
Remembering the Packers Home Winning Streak Over the Lions, Win 11: September 9, 2001: Packers 28, Lions 6
The Packers opened the season with a convincing 28-6 win over the Lions two days before the terrorist attacks on 9/11 by Islamist extremists. Green ran for 157 yards and two touchdowns including an 83-yard dash for a score. Favre threw for 260 yards and two touchdowns. The defense sacked Charlie Batch seven times including three by Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila. Sharper added two interceptions.
Win 12: November 10, 2002: Packers 40, Lions 14
The Packers trailed 7-3 after one quarter then scored the next 37 points in the game. Favre threw for 351 yards and two touchdowns while Donald Driver caught 11 passes for 130 yards. Marques Anderson returned an interception 14 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter. Then a 46-yard bomb to Terry Glenn set up a one-yard touchdown run by Najeh Davenport to put the game out of reach by halftime.
Remembering the Packers Home Winning Streak Over the Lions, Win 13: September 14, 2003: Packers 31, Lions 6
The Packers took the lead in the game’s first minute on Green’s 65-yard touchdown run and never looked back. Green finished with 160 yards on 23 carries. The Pack intercepted Joey Harrington three times including a 56-yard pick six by cornerback Al Harris which closed out the scoring. The Packers had an easy time earning their first win of the young season.
Win 14: December 12, 2004: Packers 16, Lions 13
The Lions led 13-0 at the half but the Packers kept the streak alive in the second half by scoring 16 unanswered points. They came on three Longwell field goals and a touchdown pass from Favre to Driver. The winning field goal came with just two seconds left on the clock. The windy conditions and the Packers defense held the Lions to just five pass completions for the game. The win elevated the Pack to first place in the NFC North.
Remembering the Packers Home Winning Streak Over the Lions, Win 15: December 11, 2005: Packers 16, Lions 13
The 2005 Packers were struggling at 2-10, but they were good enough to beat the Lions in Green Bay. Detroit led 13-3 after the first quarter but the Green Bay defense shut them down after that. The lone Packers touchdown came on a 64-yard run by Samkon Gado who ran for 171 yards for the game. The rest of the points came on three field goals by Longwell including the game winner in overtime. Despite not recording a sack or a turnover, the Green Bay defense held Detroit to just 241 yards of total offense in more than four quarters of action.
Win 16: December 17, 2006: Packers 17, Lions 9
The Packers defense shut down the Lions. Detroit kicked three field goals and was held to minus-11 passing yards in the fourth quarter in the 17-9 Green Bay victory. Favre threw three interceptions which kept the game close, but the Packers sacked Jon Kitna six times including three by Cullen Jenkins. Vernand Morency ran for both Packers touchdowns in this game. The Lions managed only 10 first downs in the contest.
Remembering the Packers Home Winning Streak Over the Lions, Win 17: December 30, 2007: Packers 34, Lions 13
The Packers scored on their first three possessions and cruised to an easy win. Favre played early and then was replaced by Craig Nall in the second quarter. Favre threw two touchdown passes and Nall one. Brandon Jackson ran for 113 yards on 20 carries. The Packers finished the season with a 13-3 record in Favre’s final year with the Pack.
Win 18: December 28, 2008: Packers 31, Lions 21
The Lions entered this game 0-15 and the Packers were the last chance they had to avoid the embarrassment of a winless season. The Lions kept the game close, but the Packers won 31-21 to finish the season 6-10. Right after the Lions closed to within 24-21, Aaron Rodgers connected with Driver on a 71-yard touchdown pass to put the game out of reach. Rodgers threw for 306 yards and three touchdowns while both Ryan Grant and DeShawn Wynn gained 106 yards rushing in this game.
Remembering the Packers Home Winning Streak Over the Lions, Win 19: October 18, 2009: Packers 26, Lions 0
The Packers defense blanked the Lions in a dominant performance. The Lions gained only 149 net yards and 10 first downs in the game. Clay Matthews had two of the team’s five sacks and the Pack picked off three passes. Rodgers threw for 358 yards and two scores while Driver caught seven passes for 107 yards.
Win 20: October 3, 2010: Packers 28, Lions 26
The Packers got three touchdown passes from Rodgers and a 48-yard pick six from Charles Woodson to take a 28-14 lead early in the third quarter. The Lions moved the ball with ease in the second half but settled for four field goals by Jason Hanson and fell short 28-26.
Remembering the Packers Home Winning Streak Over the Lions, Win 21: January 1, 2012: Packers 45, Lions 41
The Packers sat Rodgers out of the 2011 season finale and started Matt Flynn in his place. Flynn responded with a record-setting performance in the Packers 45-41 win. Flynn threw for 480 yards and six touchdown passes. Jordy Nelson caught nine passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns. Matthew Stafford also had a huge day for the Lions, throwing for 520 yards and five touchdowns in a game that saw both teams combine for 1,125 yards.
Win 22: December 9, 2012: Packers 27, Lions 20
Rodgers ran 27 yards for a touchdown while Mike Daniels returned a fumble 43 yards for another score as the Packers extended their home winning streak against Detroit. The Lions dominated the statistics, but the Packers big plays helped them earn the win.
Remembering the Packers Home Winning Streak Over the Lions, Win 23: October 6, 2013: Packers 22, Lions 9
Each team only scored one touchdown in this game. The Packers came on an 83-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to James Jones. Mason Crosby made all five of his field goal tries in the game including a 52-yard effort while Nick Perry had a pair of sacks.
Win 24: December 28, 2014: Packers 30, Lions 20
Rodgers threw two touchdown passes to Randall Cobb and ran for another as the Packers won their 24th straight home game against Detroit. Micah Hyde opened the scoring with a 55-yard punt return for a touchdown and the Packers scored on a safety when Stafford was called for intentional grounding in the end zone.
The streak ended in 2015 when the Lions edged the Packers 18-16. The Packers pulled to within two points on a touchdown pass from Rodgers to backup tight end Justin Perillo, but the Packers missed the two-point try. The Packers managed to recover an onsides kick, but Crosby’s 52-yard field goal try was no good and the streak was over after 24 straight games.
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