The Green Bay Packers had their chances but couldn’t capitalize and fell to the Detroit Lions 34-31. The Lions kicked the game-winning field goal on the game’s final play. Josh Jacobs ran for three touchdowns and Christian Watson caught four passes for 114 yards for the Packers, but the defense couldn’t make stops at critical times. The Packers are now 9-4 on the season and will have to make the playoffs as a wild card. Detroit improved their record to 12-1. Here are 10 things we learned from the Packers 34-31 loss to the Lions in Week 14:

Ten Things We Learned from the Packers Loss to the Lions, Number One: The Lions Controlled the Game

As close as the game was, Detroit was the better team for most of it. They outgained the Packers 391-298 and held onto the ball for 36:06 compared to just 23:54 for the Packers.

Green Bay managed to hang tough due to a big interception by Keisean Nixon and a critical fourth down stop that gave the offense a short field, but the Lions controlled the tempo of the game and moved the football much more efficiently than the Packers, who relied on big plays to stay close.

Number Two: The Offense Did Well in the Red Zone

The good news is the Packers offense scored four touchdowns in five trips to the red zone. The bad news is, the one time they didn’t score, they more or less self-destructed and it cost them a chance to win the game. An offensive pass interference call on Watson nullified a touchdown, and the offense never recovered in part due to poor execution and questionable play calling.

But the other four times in the red zone, the Packers properly relied on Jacobs and Tucker Kraft and came away with scores.

Ten Things We Learned from the Packers Loss to the Lions, Number Three: Injuries Took a Toll

The Packers defense entered this game without Jaire Alexander and Edgerrin Cooper, two of their faster players on defense. They really could have used both of them. Then, the Packers lost Evan Williams and Javon Bullard which left their secondary severely depleted by the end of the game.

Zayne Anderson stepped in and made one big stop, but the secondary had no answers for Jameson Williams, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Tim Patrick and Jared Goff was able to complete his last 13 passes.

The secondary played softer than usual, but they really had no alternative with all the key players out of the lineup. The pass rush didn’t provide much help for them either and recorded just one sack and three quarterback hits in the entire game. Jeff Hafley blitzed plenty, but the pressure rarely got there in time.

Number Four: The Run Defense Was Strong

While the secondary struggled, the defense did a good job of stopping the run. Detroit averaged just 3.3-yards per carry and the dangerous duo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs was held in check.

The defense held the edge well and rallied to the ball. They narrowly missed making some big plays but did make four tackles for loss.

The inability to stop the passing game ultimately was the Packers undoing.

Ten Things We Learned from the Packers Loss to the Lions, Number Five: Jordan Love Was Under Pressure

Jordan Love was only sacked once but the Lions had pressure on him for most of the game and registered seven quarterback hits. For most of the night, Love did a good job of keeping his cool and making decisions.

Unfortunately, Matt LaFleur didn’t counter with shorter passes and screen passes to keep the sticks moving and the Packers never really sustained many drives as a result. They scored when Watson made a long catch or on Nixon’s interception. Another drive came after the Packers stopped the Lions on fourth down in Detroit territory.

The Lions defense was decimated by injuries, and it wasn’t surprising that they blitzed often. LaFleur’s inability to game plan for it or adjust to it was costly.

Number Six: Third and Fourth Downs Were Costly

The Lions were much better than the Packers on third down and fourth down and that was another key to their win. The Packers offense went just 1-for-5 in this game on third down and didn’t go for it on fourth down at all.

Detroit on the other hand, converted on 7-of-15 third down chances and 4-of-5 chances on fourth down. That helped the Lions sustain drives and was demoralizing to the Packers defense.

Ten Things We Learned from the Packers Loss to the Lions, Number Seven: Jayden Reed was Ignored

The Packers usually like to throw the ball to Jayden Reed on short passes near or even behind the line of scrimmage. That gives Reed a chance to use his elusiveness and gain yards.

Unfortunately, Reed was a non-factor in this game. The Packers targeted him only once and he did not catch a pass. In a game where Romeo Doubs was out of the lineup, Reed should have been a bigger part of the game plan, especially to counter the Lions blitzes with short passes.

Number Eight: Josh Jacobs Can’t Do it Alone

The Packers tried to feature Jacobs, and he scored three touchdowns. But the Lions limited him to 66 yards on 18 carries.

The only plan “B” the Packers had was long passes to Watson, but without a short passing game, the offense wasn’t consistent throughout the game. That was the biggest reason the Packers had so little time of possession and so few sustained drives.

Ten Things We Learned from the Packers Loss to the Lions, Number Nine: Some Uncalled Penalties Were Costly

There were some uncalled penalties against Detroit that hurt the Packers. It may not have been the reason they lost, but it made things tougher for them. The most flagrant was a hit to the head of Love by former Packers edge rusher Za’Darius Smith. If the penalty was called, the Packers would have kept the drive alive.

While the missed calls hurt, there were bigger reasons the Packers lost this football game.

Number Ten: The Packers Can Beat the Lions

This game taught us that the Packers are capable of going toe-to-toe with a one-loss Lions team on the road. No, they didn’t win, but the Packers came very close and had their chances.

If Green Bay gets a rematch with Detroit in the playoffs, they can win the game if they play just a little better than they did Thursday night.

That should be a reason for hope heading into the mini bye.

 

 

 

Follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers

Click here for more great Packers coverage