In the 2024-25 NFL season, Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell took the phase “four-down territory” to a different level.
The Lions converted 22 out of 33 fourth down attempts for first downs. That 66.7% rate on first down or bust plays helped the Lions secure the NFL’s best record at 15-2.
Apparently, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has been watching.
LaFleur delivered more than a couple cold-blooded calls of his own when he decided to go on fourth down three different times Nov. 27 during a crucial 31-24 victory over the Lions at Ford Field. The result on all three snaps were winning plays.
Twice, Jordan Love threw touchdown passes in the first half after LaFleur elected not to send the field goal team onto the field. And with less than two minutes remaining in the game, LaFleur went for the victory instead of letting his defense finish the fourth quarter.
With less than two minutes left and risking a much shorter field for Jared Goff and the Lions if unsuccessful, LaFleur put the game in Love’s hands on fourth and 3 and the quarterback delivered. He threw a jump ball off his back foot to Dontayvion Wicks and the third-year receiver caught the ball at its highest point while losing his shoe. It was the same kind of clutch play that made the Lions NFC North champions last season.
“I kind of made up my mind prior to (reaching fourth down),” LaFleur said to reporters after the game. “I told Jordan, ‘Hey, we’ve got two downs here, we’ve got to get one of the two. Our guys just made a play.”
Meanwhile, the Lions failed to convert on either of their fourth down tries. Last season, Campbell went five times on fourth down against the Packers in a 34-31 victory and were successful on four of the five plays
Here’s a bit of social media reaction on the Packers’ fourth-down fury:
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: NFL social media reacts to Packers fourth down heroics on Thanksgiving
Reporting by Emmett Prosser, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
