-
Rob Demovsky
-
Eric Woodyard
Close
Eric Woodyard
ESPN
- Eric Woodyard covers the Detroit Lions for ESPN. He joined ESPN in September 2019 as an NBA reporter devoted to the Midwest area earlier than switching to his present position in April 2021. The Flint, Mich. native is a graduate of Western Michigan College and has authored/co-authored three books: “Wasted, Ethan’s Expertise Search” and “All In: The Kelvin Torbert Story”. He’s a proud dad or mum of 1 son, Ethan. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter: @E_Woodyard
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Thursday night time’s NFC North showdown between the Detroit Lions and Inexperienced Bay Packers at Lambeau Subject noticed the Lions leap out to a quick lead and hardly look again. Detroit took an 11-point lead within the first quarter, which it prolonged to 24 factors by halftime.
After the Packers scored the primary two touchdowns of the second half to attract inside 10 factors, the Lions ultimately pulled away for a 34-20 win.
At 3-1, the Lions are on high of the NFC North, forward of the 2-2 Packers and the 0-3 Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears.
Detroit Lions
There is a new sheriff on the town. After one other huge win over the Packers at Lambeau Subject, the 3-1 Lions are positioning themselves to safe their first NFC North crown. Constructing off a 24-point first-half lead helped the Lions lengthen their division win streak to 6 — and 4 straight over Inexperienced Bay. Detroit has tied the franchise’s longest win streak within the division within the Tremendous Bowl period (1983, 1995) with coach Dan Campbell turning the tide.
Describe the sport in two phrases: Intestine examine. Each the offense and protection held up their finish of the cut price throughout a dominant first half, however Detroit’s offense was shut out within the third quarter, because the Packers bought inside 10 to start out the fourth, earlier than in the end sealing the cope with a powerful end in a hostile setting.
Operating again David Montgomery has a least one dashing landing in his first three video games as a Lion. Regardless of lacking Week 3 with a thigh harm, the previous Bears working again picked up the place he left off with two of his three dashing touchdowns earlier than halftime. He has seamlessly crammed the position of former Lions working again Jamaal Williams, now in New Orleans, who was capable of break Corridor of Famer Barry Sanders’ workforce mark for essentially the most dashing touchdowns in a single season with 17 in 2022. Coming into the sport, Montgomery had two dashing TDs in seven profession video games in opposition to the Packers.
QB breakdown: What began off with an unpleasant drive — Goff was intercepted by Packers security Rudy Ford within the first two minutes — rapidly rotated with a 24-yard landing cross to Amon-Ra St. Brown on the subsequent drive. Goff picked Inexperienced Bay aside at occasions, ending with 210 passing yards, 1 TD and 1 INT whereas finishing 19 of 28 makes an attempt. Goff is now 5-1 in opposition to the Packers in his profession.
Subsequent sport: vs. Carolina Panthers (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 8)
Inexperienced Bay Packers
Possibly the Packers actually aren’t kings of the NFC North anymore. Not in the event that they preserve shedding to the Lions.
It wasn’t simply that the Packers misplaced their fourth straight sport within the collection in opposition to the once-lowly Lions. It was that they had been laughed off Lambeau Subject within the first half. And whereas they confirmed some combat after the break, this was an unpleasant loss.
Any variety of stats can clarify how dangerous a begin it was for the Packers, however this is one: Their 21 yards within the first half had been the fewest by any NFL workforce within the first half of a sport this season, even worse than the Jets’ 39 yards in Week 1. And it was the Packers’ lowest yardage output in any half since Dec. 12, 1982, once they had 19 within the first half of a 30-10 loss to the Lions.
It is a good factor the Packers pulled off that fourth-quarter comeback 5 days earlier in opposition to the New Orleans Saints, in any other case they’d be in a 1-3 gap. As it’s, they’re 2-2 and two video games behind the Lions (3-1) within the division.
Greatest gap within the sport plan: There was definitely multiple of those, but when now we have to select one: The Packers had working again Aaron Jones, their most dynamic offensive participant, for the primary time since his 127-yard efficiency within the season opener, but they did not get him the ball till practically two minutes into the second quarter. To that time, the Packers had 1 complete yard of offense of their first 4 possessions. They had been already behind 24-3 by the point Jones touched the ball for the primary time. In the meantime, Jordan Love began the sport 1-for-7 passing with an interception.
QB breakdown: Love has achieved his greatest work the previous two weeks when taking part in from behind. 5 days after he led an 18-point fourth quarter comeback to beat the Saints, he confirmed related combat in opposition to the Lions. He bought large receiver Christian Watson concerned on the primary drive of the second half, hit large receiver Jayden Reed on a deep ball and ran in for a landing. His numbers ended up being midway first rate (23-for-36, 246 yards, 1 TD and a couple of INTs plus a dashing TD), nevertheless it ended up being empty yardage.
Promising development: Watson’s return bodes effectively for the offense. His first catch of the season after lacking the primary three video games due to a hamstring harm, went for twenty-four yards on a deep crosser. He completed the drive with a wide-open, 1-yard landing catch. Subsequent sport: at Las Vegas Raiders (8:15 p.m. ET, Monday, Oct. 9)