The Detroit Lions met the Green Bay Packers in a key NFC North matchup. They have been NFL rivals for nearly a century. Our Lions vs Packers Week 9 NFL recap assesses where the two teams go after the Lions’ 24-14 victory.
The game brought back memories of the Vince Lombardi-led Packers doing battle with the Lions and their star defensive lineman turned actor (Mongo in Blazing Saddles) Alex Karras. Also, the driving rain and blustery Wisconsin wind brought a sense of the past.
The Lions were a 3.5-point favorite. They covered the spread easily.
Lions Put Stranglehold on NFC South
Detroit (7-2) leads Green Bay (6-3) by one game in the divisional race. More importantly, they have the best record in the NFC and a path to home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Predictably efficient Lions quarterback Jared Goff completed 18 of 22 passes for 145 yards and one touchdown.
Their two-headed running back contributed mightily:
- David Montgomery ran for 73 yards on 17 carries and caught 3 passes for 23 yards
- Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 65 yards on 11 carries and caught 1 pass for 11 yards
Packers’ QB Jordan Love’s Gaffe Proved Costly
With 42 seconds remaining in the first half and Green Bay trailing 10-3 deep in their territory, Packers quarterback Jordan Love made an egregious error. Under an intense pass rush, he flipped the ball right into the arms of Detroit defensive back Kerby Joseph. Joseph ran 27 yards for a touchdown.
Love’s overaggressive mistake put Green Bay in a 17-3 hole heading into halftime.
Overall, the Packers QB played well completing 23 of 39 passes, but he could not get the ball in the end zone through the air. Running back Josh Jacobs ran for 95 yards on 13 carries.
Helmet-to-Helmet Hit Leads to Ejection
NFL safety protocols sparked a rare ejection.
Detroit defensive back Brian Branch hit Green Bay receiver Bo Melton to break up a pass. He led with his helmet and the referees threw a flag.
After reviewing the play, the league office called the game officials. They said Branch needed to be ejected. Branch then made an obscene gesture to the Lambeau Field fans and the Lions were further penalized. He faces a fine and possible suspension.
Coach Dan Campbell on Lions vs Packers NFL Week 9 Recap
To the media, Lions head coach Dan Campbell said succinctly, “We’re built for this.”
His postgame comments to his players:
Campbell’s style rubs off on his players. They came close to a Super Bowl berth in 2023-24. In 2024-25, they are a serious favorite to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas.
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