The Detroit Lions couldn’t overcome a slow start and another key injury in a 31-24 loss to the Green Bay Packers in a huge Thanksgiving Day game on Thursday, Nov. 27.
The Packers took a 10-0 lead early as the Lions were forced to punt on their first two drives of the game, but Jared Goff got the offense moving and scored touchdowns on their final two drives of the half despite losing star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown to an ankle injury.
The Lions trailed by three points at the half, 17-14, but got the ball first in the second with a chance to take the lead. They didn’t take advantage, turning it over on downs and allowing the Packers to score a touchdown two plays later.
That was the story of the day for the Lions. Every time they got a bit of momentum, the Packers would land a dagger of their own.
The Lions were able to move the ball most of the day despite a litany of injuries, but it was the Packers making all the key plays.
The Packers slowed down running back Jahmyr Gibbs, holding him to just 68 yards after he went for 218 yards the week before against the Giants.
In the end, the Lions kicked the ball back to the Packers with just under three minutes to go. The Packers made a gutsy call to go for it on fourth-and-3 and got it on an amazing catch to seal the game.
After the loss, the Lions will be back in action on Thursday, Dec. 4, hosting the Dallas Cowboys at Ford Field for an 8:15 p.m. kickoff.
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions slide further in NFC North with Thanksgiving loss to Packers
Reporting by Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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