Packers vs. Lions: Quick Takes from Green Bay's 19-7 Loss

Quick takes from Green Bay's 19-7 loss to the Lions in Week 3. 

Finally sick of being pushed around by Aaron Rodgers, the Detroit Lions (2-1) assumed the role of football bully Sunday, suppressing Rodgers and vanquishing the Green Bay Packers (1-2) over 60 minutes like few have before in a 19-7 win at Ford Field. 

It was over when…

…Rodgers uncharacteristically missed an open Jordy Nelson on fourth down mid-way through the fourth quarter. A good throw from Rodgers and the Packers close the deficit to 19-14. He instead threw well behind, and the resulting incompletion essentially sealed Green Bay's 1-2 start. 

Game Balls

  • Andrew Quarless: His four catches for 43 yards and a score represented the first tangible contribution from a Packers tight end this season. In the first quarter, Quarless tied the game at seven when he made a leaping catch of Rodgers' red-zone throw down the seam. Yet the fact he earns a game ball here highlights how putrid the Packers were on offense.
  • Julius Peppers: This game could have gotten out of hand had Peppers not made an impressive individual effort to sack and strip Matthew Stafford in the third quarter. He also recovered the fumble, which took points off the board for Detroit. Peppers led the defense with three quarterback hits. 
  • Randall Cobb: His 22-yard punt return was Green Bay's only noteworthy special teams play. 

Key Stats

Rodgers' 162 passing yards were the second-fewest of his career in a game he's started and finished. His career low is still 142 vs. Minnesota in 2008…The Packers have now scored 10 or fewer points just twice in games Rodgers has started and finished. Sunday's seven points represents a new low, replacing the nine points scored against New York in 2010…Green Bay's 223 total yards were its lowest since last November in Detroit (126), and the lowest in a start-and-finish from Rodgers since the Vikings held Green Bay to 184 in 2008…Lacy's first quarter fumble was his first since Week 1 of 2013, a span of 325 carries…Ha Ha Clinton-Dix's interception in the first quarter was Green Bay's first interception from a safety since Dec. 2, 2012, a span of 25 games (including playoffs)…The Packers had nine official quarterback hits…Calvin Johnson caught six passes for 82 yards…The Packers rushed for 76 yards on 22 carries (3.5 yards per rush). The Lions rushed 38 times for 115 yards (3.0)…DeAndre Levy had 10 tackles and two passes defensed for the Lions. Jamari Lattimore led the Packers with nine tackles…Green Bay won the turnover battle, 3-1. 

Other Notes

-- A third straight slow start this season. A third 1-2 start in as many seasons. Not a good look for anyone involved, but it's particularly bad for the head man on the sideline.  

-- The Packers should win 99/100 games when the defense plays as well as it did today. Three takeaways, allowed 3.0 yards per rush, consistently hit the quarterback and mostly contained Calvin Johnson. Tell me the Packers would do those four things today and I would have said Green Bay is 2-1 after a blowout win. Have to be equally encouraged with how well the defense has played (especially over the last six quarters) and discouraged with throwing away what was a golden opportunity provided the defense to win a division game on the road. 

-- The Lions won this game at the line of scrimmage on defense. Detroit made Eddie Lacy a non-factor despite playing two-high safeties, and Rodgers was never comfortable, even against standard four-man rushes. It's like 2012 all over again.  

-- It will be very interesting to roll back the coaches tape and watch the receivers, especially Randall Cobb. The Lions had to scramble this week to employ a healthy third cornerback. It should have been a huge afternoon in the slot for Cobb, but he caught just three passes for 29 yards and was mostly a non-factor. He now has 14 catches, but he also hasn't finished a game averaging more than 10 yards per catch. Like so many of the Packers receivers, he's struggling to get open. Defenses will double Jordy Nelson until another receiver can prove capable of consistently winning one-on-ones. Cobb hasn't. Separation has been hard to come by. 

-- A 1-3 start is staring the Packers right in the face. After being physically manhandled by Detroit, Green Bay will need to go back on the road next Sunday to play the Bears, who take on the Jets Monday night. Huge early season game to finish out the team's first quarter. The Packers haven't been 1-3 since 2006. 

 

Zach Kruse contributes to Cheesehead TV. He is also the Lead Writer for the NFC North at Bleacher Report. You can reach him on Twitter @zachkruse2 or by email at [email protected]. 

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Comments (26)

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

September 21, 2014 at 06:21 pm

Game Ball for Randall Cobb? Was there a quota you had to meet? Third game in a row where I have had occasion to note his lack of productivity, two of which I thought he had mismatches to exploit.

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Zach Kruse's picture

September 21, 2014 at 07:49 pm

I give one to offense, defense and special teams.

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Kid Culi's picture

September 21, 2014 at 06:24 pm

It's a shame that Starks is apparently useless in the passing game, because he appears at this point to be the best runner on the team. Kid needs more carries

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Nerd's picture

September 21, 2014 at 09:04 pm

Seemed to me they were keying on Lacy. Starks had a little more room.

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Wiscokid's picture

September 21, 2014 at 06:55 pm

Totally wasted the defensive effort in a very winnable game. MM and the offense lost this one.

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4thand1's picture

September 21, 2014 at 07:22 pm

I missed the game but was dumbfounded when I heard the score. 7 fucking points?!!???? But you were proven wrong again yousuckcow, they held a team to under 20 points.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

September 21, 2014 at 09:15 pm

"I guess Rodgers has heart"

Does he still? He looks timid to me. The guy with a chip on his shoulder who wants to punish the NFL for not drafting him earlier is a thing of the past.

Rodgers is a business man now, building his brand and having the media shot pictures of him with his partner is what's important to him. He's like Tom Brady or David Beckham now.

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murphy's picture

September 21, 2014 at 09:21 pm

Did you just imply that Brady doesnt play with heart?

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

September 21, 2014 at 09:28 pm

That's what your upset about?

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murphy's picture

September 21, 2014 at 10:06 pm

Upset, sure. You are telling us that an apple is an orange and then comparing it to a rutabaga.

Also, kudos for sliding a "celebrity girlfriend" comment under the radar.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

September 21, 2014 at 10:28 pm

A rutabaga? Wow, point taken...

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NickPerry's picture

September 22, 2014 at 09:57 pm

He's Hollywood now. Maybe less time in front of a camera and more in film study would help. When you read about Rodgers being in Appleton recently to shoot a commercial for Ford, well it's not a wonder he's playing like this.

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murphy's picture

September 21, 2014 at 09:15 pm

Oh, bullshit. I will take good play calling and solid execution over some false sense of swagger.

Your 49ers seem to be lacking swagger and heart these days. Thank goodness they got to play against Romolicious or they may well be winless.

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4thand1's picture

September 21, 2014 at 09:42 pm

Don't look now, yousuck, but the 9ers are 1-2 and were lucky to beat the cowpies in Dallas, thanks to Romo stinkin up the 1st game. you suck.

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murphy's picture

September 21, 2014 at 10:13 pm

They certainly tore it up against Drew Stanton.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

September 22, 2014 at 02:01 pm

I think we have mostly overlooked the contributions Joe Philbin made to the offense and especially the game planning. I find it telling that of all of the Packers Assistants and all of their success in 2010-12 he's the only one who was hired away.

Compared to what's happened to the Patriots, Ravens and Giants coaching staffs the Packers assistants are an unwanted group. They don't even get interviewed.

Edit - McAdoo was hired away too, forgot about him. We'll see how that works out.

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Mojo's picture

September 21, 2014 at 07:31 pm

It will be easy to put the highlights package together for GB this week.

1. Rodgers to Quarless - TD.

2. Peppers strip sack fumble recovery.

3. Game mercifully ends in around 2 hours and 40 plus minutes.

That's it.

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4thand1's picture

September 21, 2014 at 09:43 pm

I'm glad I missed it.

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NewNikeShoes's picture

September 22, 2014 at 12:32 am

you forgot the 2 interceptions.

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Imma Fubared's picture

September 21, 2014 at 07:41 pm

This is not a talented team. Our hero's:

Cobb has done nada since getting his bell rung last year, nothing. Its now Jordy or no one. Quarles is doing fine but they need more.

Davante Adams, the analyst questioned why him. He caught a ton of 5 yard passes playing on a spread offense. He showed no other abilities.

Rogers the tight end? Draft analyst coked. They said he was a 5th rounder at best and questioned why Ted would spend a three ;ick on the guy. Haven't seen him catch a ball yet. Its game seven.

Mathews? His role now is so confused even he forgot how to play football. Now he is injured again. Call him Mr Brittle.

Guys you cannot rely on anymore: Bulaga, Mathews, Cobb, Perry, Raji, Sherrod, Barclay.

This team will be 1-5 and out of the playoffs by game 6 and I for one will NOT be scratching my head asking why.

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Amanofthenorth's picture

September 21, 2014 at 08:02 pm

If Arod is our problem...it`s a good problem to have.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

September 21, 2014 at 09:07 pm

How many commercials is he scheduled to shoot this week?

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TKWorldWide's picture

September 21, 2014 at 10:53 pm

A bad game. But I refuse to overreact.

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The GrEEn kNiGhT's picture

September 22, 2014 at 05:56 am

With guys like peppers and Tramon paying off. It blows my mind how conservative Teddy is with Free Agency. Like what gives? I haven't been able to watch all our games but why are we struggling running the ball with Lacy so much? Is it the center or the line?

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jmac34's picture

September 22, 2014 at 07:41 am

FYI, Tramon was a UDFA which is not the same as a FA

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

September 22, 2014 at 02:04 pm

Ted pulls the trigger when he feels the value is good and the chance for success is very high. To bad with the biding wars that happen this is rare. His strategy has done him well in the free agents he has signed.

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