The Green Bay Packers swept the season series from the Detroit Lions after a 31-24 win in the Motor City on Thanksgiving afternoon. Jordan Love threw four touchdown passes while Micah Parsons recorded 2.5 sacks to pace the Packers. The win improves the Packers record to 8-3-1 while the Lions drop to 7-5. Here are 10 things we learned from the Packers 31-24 win over the Lions in Week 13:

Ten Things We Learned from the Packers 31-24 Win Over the Lions in Week 13, Number One: Jordan Love Came Through

Love played a strong game against a good Detroit defense. His completed 18-of-30 passes for 234 yards and four touchdowns. While that’s not an exceptional completion percentage, Love took his shots downfield instead of throwing high percentage shorter passes.

The Packers did not turn the ball over despite the noise from a hostile crowd. Love kept his composure and directed the offense with confidence. He felt in control throughout this game.

The Packers took the lead on their first possession and the Lions never pulled even. Every time Detroit scored, Love and the Packers answered. The Packers got the ball back up seven points with 2:59 left in the game and maintained possession of the ball until the final gun.

Number Two: Fourth Downs Mattered

The Packers won this game on fourth down. Green Bay went for it on fourth down three times and made all three of them. Two of those tries resulted in touchdowns on fourth down.

On the flip side, the Lions were 0-for-2 on fourth down. While Dan Campbell has the reputation for being bold on fourth downs, in this game, it was the Packers and Matt LaFleur who benefitted most from being daring and going for it on fourth down.

Ten Things We Learned from the Packers 31-24 Win Over the Lions in Week 13, Number Three: Dontayvion Wicks Stepped Up

Last week, it was Christian Watson who stepped up and became the number one target for the Packers offense. While Watson had a solid game with four catches for 80 yards including a 51-yard touchdown, it was Dontayvion Wicks who led the team in catches and yards.

Wicks caught six passes on seven targets for 94 yards and two touchdowns. He did a great job of getting both feet down on one of those scores.

With the game on the line and the Packers facing a 4th and 3 at the Detroit 45 with 1:55 left, Love found Wicks for a 16-yard gain that clinched the win for the Packers.

Entering this game, Wicks had just 20 catches and had yet to score a touchdown, but this was his best performance of the season so far. With Matthew Golden out and Jayden Reed not yet back in the lineup, Wicks rose to the occasion for the Packers.

Number Four: Michah Parsons Dominated

Getting pressure on Jared Goff was vital in this game and Parsons provided it. He recorded 2.5 sacks, had three tackles for loss and four quarterback hits.

When the Packers defense put pressure on the quarterback, Parsons was almost always a part of it. He also did a great job against the run.

Parsons has been a real difference maker for the Packers since they traded for him before the season started. He now has 12.5 sacks on the season with five games to go.

Ten Things We Learned from the Packers 31-24 Win Over the Lions in Week 13, Number Five: The Packers Contained Jahmyr Gibbs

Jahmyr Gibbs is the catalyst of the Lions offense. For the second straight game this season, the Packers contained Gibbs and prevented him from doing significant damage.

Gibbs carried the ball 20 times but gained only 68 yards, a 3.4-yard average. If you take away his long run of 18 yards, he averaged just 2.6-yards per attempt on his other 19 carries.

As a receiver, Gibbs had three catches for 18 yards and a long gain of just seven yards. The Packers accomplished this without Quay Walker who was inactive for the game. Isaiah McDuffie stepped up and led the team with 12 tackles including two tackles for loss.

Containing Gibbs played a big role in the Packers sweep of the Lions this season.

Number Six: Josh Jacobs Was Back

After missing last week’s game with a bruised knee, Josh Jacobs returned to action and was productive. He carried 17 times for 89 yards, an average of 4.9-yards per carry. While he didn’t look 100 percent healthy, he picked up important yards and even had a 29-yard dash in the first half that was a critical part of a touchdown drive.

Getting Jacobs back for this game was important as his presence and effectiveness kept the Lions defense honest. A healthy Jacobs will be critical down the stretch for the Packers.

Ten Things We Learned from the Packers 31-24 Win Over the Lions in Week 13, Number Seven: The Packers Offensive Line Stepped Up

The Green Bay offensive line played well in this game. The Lions never sacked Love, and they recorded just two quarterback hits. Aiden Hutchinson was kept away from Love which was another key to this game.

The offensive line also did a good job when they blocked for the run. The Packers averaged 4.2-yards per rush and broke several long gains.

The addition of rookie Anthony Belton at right guard and the use of Darain Kinnard as a sixth offensive lineman on several plays has helped solidify the line’s play.

Number Eight: Devonte Wyatt Injured

Defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt left the game with what looked like a serious injury. He had to be removed on a cart.

The injury occurred in the fourth quarter. Warren Brinson accidentally rolled up on Wyatt at the end of the play. He will likely be out for the rest of the season.

Wyatt’s ability to put pressure on the quarterback from the interior has been an important factor for the defense this season. Now, Jeff Hafley will have to figure out how to replace Wyatt’s pass rush ability.

Ten Things We Learned from the Packers 31-24 Win Over the Lions in Week 13, Number Nine: The Packers Play Calling Was Bolder

The Packers play calling was not conservative in this game and was also less predictable. A week ago, LaFleur knew he didn’t need to score 30 points to beat the Vikings and their struggling offense. This week, he knew he would need more points to beat the Lions.

The Packers mixed run and pass well and went for it three times on fourth down. The Packers tried to throw downfield often and were successful several times, including the 51-yard bomb to Watson.

Green Bay needs LaFleur to call strong games to have a chance to do some damage this season. The win in Detroit was a good start.

Number 10: Bring On the Bears

This was a big win for the Packers. They have swept the season series from the Lions and are now 3-0 this season against NFC North opponents after going 1-5 a year ago.

Now, the Packers have a mini bye before facing the Bears at Lambeau Field next Sunday. The Bears will have just one less day of rest, but that’s the same as the Packers playing on Sunday and the Bears on Monday night.

The Bears enter their Friday game against the Eagles in first place but are they as good as their record? Beating Chicago next weekend would be a huge step forward for the Packers this season and set them up for a dramatic finish to this season.

The mini bye should also give Quay Walker, Golden and Reed more time to heal for the stretch drive. Bring on the Bears.

 

 

 

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