Key events
Lions 21-31 Packers 0:15, 3rd quarter
They wipe their brow with a sigh as Gibbs moves the chains. He races out to the left, makes a man miss, gathers 12 yards. 1st down on Green Bay’s 40-yard line.
Lions 21-31 Packers 1:04, 3rd quarter
Detroit’s response gets off to an iffy start as Montgomery tries to flip the ball back to Goff on a trick play but the quarterback drops it. He recovers but the Lions lose 15 yards. Gibbs sprints in to recover all of the lost yards. That was a lot of work just to bring up 3rd and 5.
TOUCHDOWN! Lions 21-31 Packers 1:40, 3rd quarter
Wicks dives for the pylon and the score! The receiver is having the game of his career in the biggest of spots on Thanksgiving. He darts out left on the goalline and flings himself after making the grab to make sure he gets home for his second touchdown. And that is Love’s fourth touchdown pass, his most in a game this season. Detroit just can’t lay on a glove on Green Bay’s aerial attack.
Lions 21-24 Packers 2:03, 3rd quarter
Huge let off for the Packers as Romeo Doubs fumbles on the five-yard line but the ball pops up and straight into the arms of Quay Walker. That is followed by a KILLER penalty for Detroit. They get called for a face mask on 3rd down when Love had just thrown it away. That should have been a field goal for Green Bay, now they are 1st & Goal.
Lions 21-24 Packers 5:43, 3rd quarter
The Love/Wicks connection just keeps firing for Green Bay. The throw is perfect up the seam, not a defender in sight, the catch is made for an easy 30 yard gain. The Packers are 25 yards away from touchdown number four … just like that. Detroit would be thrilled if they can force a field goal.
TOUCHDOWN! Lions 21-24 Packers 7:25, 3rd quarter
Instant response for Detroit! And it comes as the Lions take Gibbs out of the fold. The drive is built from Goff breaking off the longest run of the game for Detroit with a 24-yard scamper. Next Montgomery rumbles for a 13-yard gain on a short pass then 14 yards straight ahead on the ground. Goff surveys the field and keeps scanning then hits a wide open Isaac TeSlaa who drops into the end zone with hands clamped around the ball. A 17-yard score for the rookie tight end. Game on.
TOUCHDOWN! Lions 14-24 Packers 10:31, 3rd quarter
Nightmare restart for Detroit. Green Bay stay aggressive behind Jordan Love’s big arm that has been so accurate today and it comes up huge! The quarterback drops a dime into Christian Watson’s lap and the receiver walks into the end zone for the 51-yard score. Oh there was a running play too before that for no gain. Matt LeFleur took the hint. Explosive touchdown that really puts the pressure on Detroit now.
Lions 14-17 Packers 11:05, 3rd quarter
Green Bay’s defense start as they finished on working against Gibbs. They force a turnover on downs after stuffing the running back on successive downs forcing losses of one and two yards. You have to admire Detroit’s faith in their star man but he is essentially the only piece that hasn’t been working so far. Strange to go to him twice. Packers take over at midfield.
As all great artistes do to the huge hit that they hate playing but have to begrudgingly, Jack White absolutely murders the riff of Seven nation army. Reminds me of seeing the Pixies this year and Black Francis (no relation) clearly bored out of his mind butchering their big tunes with bizarre fresh takes on choruses and famous lines. Second half on the way.
And out of nowhere Eminem rises out of Jack White’s stage. Hmmm. If the hometown hero is performing as a surprise guest, could he not just have done the whole show? I guess not. Seven nation army incoming!! Take cover.
Half-time: Lions 14-17 Packers
While Tom Brady fakes excitement for Jack White we can rest up after a breathless end to the half. That first quarter had me worried we were in for a stinker after a field goal and three punts in succession. Thankfully the second delivered the goods with Green Bay and Detroit trading touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, touchdown. BOOM!
TOUCHDOWN! Lions 14-17 Packers 0:25, 2nd quarter
“How did he do that?!” wails Kevin Burkhardt in the booth. No idea but the Lions are laughing after Jameson Williams spins out of a tackle for a 22-yard touchdown. The receiver converts a short pass to the left that looked to be going nowhere into a huge score for the Lions. Detroit have adjusted very well to the early loss of St Brown after struggling a little just after the injury. But who wouldn’t struggle to adapt to losing one of the most effective receivers in the league?
Lions 7-17 Packers 0:52, 2nd quarter
The Lions move to midfield after a punishing run up the middle from Montgomery. What has Dan Campbell got in his bag of tricks? Detroit would love another touchdown as they will receive the kick after half-time. As I type that Jameson Williams catches a 26-yard strike. Wise to get the speedster involved with only 52 seconds now and 30 yards to go.
Lions 7-17 Packers 2:00, 2nd quarter
The opening play for Detroit before the two-minute bell shows what the Packers are doing well so far on defense. Gibbs gets the handoff and shows a lot of willing but gets absolutely no where fast despite breaking at least three tackles. Almost half-time and the back has eight carries for 32 yards at four yards a pop. That is a significant downgrade on Gibbs’ average of over eight yards per carry at home across this season.
TOUCHDOWN! Lions 7-17 Packers 2:02, 2nd quarter
Aidan Hutchinson saves a touchdown but the Packers prevail! The pass rusher catches Love as he sprints to the goalline to bring up 4th down. Green Bay just call a timeout before taking a penalty to move them back into field goal territory. Dan Campbell is not amused thinking they didn’t call it in time. 4th and 1 about two yards out. Romeo Doubs runs out to the left and Love finds him with ease for the two-yard score. That is two touchdowns on 4th down plays for the Pack. Bold!
Lions 7-10 Packers 3:02, 2nd quarter
Green Bay keep pushing the ball downfield aggressively. Love hits Luke Musgrave for a 23-yard gain into the red zone. Matt LaFleur is possibly coaching Green Bay with the knowledge Detroit score heavily. Working well so far.
Lions 7-10 Packers 5:02, 2nd quarter
Green Bay are chugging up to midfield rather nicely. Lots of little dink and dunk passes keeping Love clean so far. Well that is until he fumbles a handoff then throws an uncatchable wobbler to bring up 3rd down. The crowd is doing its best to drown Love out but he drops back and powers a fastball at Wicks for a chunky 18-yard gain. On the Lions 35-yard line now.
Jack White formerly of the White Stripes is serving up the half-time show in Detroit. Nice.
TOUCHDOWN! Lions 7-10 Packers 7:54, 2nd quarter
Detroit hit back! David Montgomery gets all three goal to go touches and finishes the drive off with a three-yard score off a direct snap. Solid playcalling from Dan Campbell to forget finesse and bulldoze through Green Bay.
Lions 0-10 Packers 9:22, 2nd quarter
Tom Kennedy! Who?! Who cares. Kennedy fills in for St Brown incredibly well with a 23-yard catch in the middle of the field. Detroit at 1st & goal now.
Lions 0-10 Packers 12:20, 2nd quarter
Jared Goff completes a pass! The quarterback was shut out in the first quarter for the first time in his career. Lions are at midfield until they race on to Green Bay’s 30-yard line thanks to a 18-yard sprint from Gibbs. He is just so fast no one could get near him.
TOUCHDOWN! Lions 0-10 Packers 14:19, 2nd quarter
Green Bay are knocking on the red zone but Detroit hold firm and force the 4th done. The Packers go for it all. Love throws a beauty into the end zone which Dontayvion Wicks just hangs on to after taking a huge hit for the 22-yard score. High risk and high reward for Love and his offense.
Meanwhile the commentary team absolutely botched that play. They seemed to believe the it was going to be overturned due to Wicks’s foot going out of bounds. When the touchdown was confirmed, and the decision was explained, Kevin Burkhardt’s reaction was “correct call” or something of the like. B-b-b but you just said you thought it wasn’t a touchdown! Make up your mind, Kev.
Sky Sports may be regretting the odd decision to broadcast this encounter from an empty AT&T Stadium as the Cowboys test their incredibly loud PA system while Neil Reynolds and company attempt to chop up the action from Ford Field. No idea what Jason Bell said there. Ah well.
Lions 0-3 Packers 1:37, 1st quarter
St Brown is officially questionable to return for Detroit. They could certainly do with him out there with the offense struggling to overcome Green Bay’s mighty pass rush. Meanwhile Josh Jacobs delivers with a 29-yard dash across midfield to Detroit’s 40-yard line.
Lions 0-3 Packers 4:01, 1st quarter
That sack Goff didn’t take on 3rd down in the previous drive, he just took it on this one. Green Bay’s defensive line is dominating so far. Micah Parsons and Kingsley Enagbare share the QB takedown. Punt.
Lions 0-3 Packers 5:12, 1st quarter
St Brown has gone down the tunnel. Big loss for the Lions if he doesn’t come back out. He was actually rolled up on by two of his teammates. Jahmyr Gibbs bursts out on the next play and finds the 1st down.
Lions 0-3 Packers 6:19, 1st quarter
Oh no more bad luck for the Lions. Amon-Ra St Brown goes down hurt on the first play of the drive. He is staying down holding his leg after being rolled up on from behind. Not good.
Lions 0-3 Packers 7:27, 1st quarter
Green Bay boot it straight back. Terrion Arnold delivers a massive hit on Chris Brooks to end the three-play drive. Boom! Detroit take over with at their 37-yard line after a shifty return from Tom Kennedy.
Lions 0-3 Packers 8:27, 1st quarter
Well that was over quickly. A botched snap, a missed throw and Jared Goff almost taking a huge sack gives the ball straight back to the Packers. Detroit punt.
It’s GOOD! Lions 0-3 Packers 9:17, 1st quarter
Green Bay start mixing in running back Josh Jacobs and move into Detroit territory with ease. They dial up play action and Love holds on for an age, scans the field … has an open receiver but misses him up the right sideline. That would have been a walk-in touchdown. Tom Brady is hurting in the booth after that one. Love misses another throw to bring up 3rd and 10 and throws it away after Detroit cover his targets up. Brandon McManus bangs it home from 45 yards.
Lions 0-0 Packers 13:46, 1st quarter
Well so much for being conservative, Jordan Love comes out slinging on Green Bay’s opening drive. The quarterback finds Christian Watson with a 17-yard strike to move the chains toward midfield.
The anthem has been sung, kick-off incoming. Detroit v Green Bay is going to be a fight of contrasting styles. The Lions want to steamroll all comers behind a freewheeling offense, the NFL’s second highest scorers with 326 points. The Packers will be aiming to shut down Jahmyr Gibbs whose immense production from running back has been key for the home team. The Packers are much more content with keeping quarterback Jordan Love’s play conservative to avoid turnovers while leaning on their stingy, aggressive defense led by Micah Parsons to keep them ahead on the scoreboard.
Of course today’s slate has an official title: the John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration. The legendary player, coach and broadcaster, who died in 2021, always brought the holiday spirit with his overflowing warmth and panache whether musing on the low flightpaths of aircraft or pigeons, doling out giant drumsticks to MVPs or breaking down the x’s and o’s of his famous frankenroast: the mighty Turducken.
Now I’m going to be bold and bet no one has dialled up the chicken/duck/turkey heavy personnel formation from their local butcher but if you have a spread to make the great man jealous then drop me a picture and who you think you will be getting a turkey leg later on.
We miss you, John. Boom!
Preamble
Hello and happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate! I am just going to come out and say it, I am so very thankful for midweek football on at a decent hour in the UK and having the pleasure of bringing it to you, wherever you might be on this beautiful blue marble. I just hope we feast as well on the turf as lots of you will around your tables.
Thanksgiving is all about tradition so our starter is served piping hot from Detroit, as it has been since 1934, and it could be a classic between the (7-4) Lions and the (7-3-1) Green Bay Packers. The records look pretty but they are both still a win behind the Chicago Bears at the NFC North’s summit while Detroit would just miss out on a wildcard as it stands owing to Green Bay’s draw. So victory is the only option, if it wasn’t already, as these great rivals gear up for their 193rd meeting. The Packers hold a significant edge all-time with a 107-78-7 record.
For mains, those (5-5-1) Dallas Cowboys host the (6-5) Kansas City Chiefs in what will be Patrick Mahomes’s Thanksgiving debut. America’s team v the Dynasty. Two heavyweights at times down on their luck this season but still in the hunt for the postseason especially after the thrilling comeback wins they both pulled off last week. The Chiefs knocked off the Colts in overtime as they roared back from 20-9 down in the 4th quarter while the Cowboys said “hold my turkey leg” as they gifted the Eagles a 21-0 lead only to then shut out the Super Bowl champions and win 24-21. Clearly when Dallas and KC are in rhythm they can score in bunches, so, let’s hope the offensive orchestras are in sync from kick-off.
The table is set, bon appétit!
