Analysis: Packers bounce back big, winning against Lions in primetime

Analysis from the Packers’ Week 2 win over the Lions.

The Green Bay Packers got into the win column with a 35-17 victory over the NFC North rival Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field in Week 2.

The defense started off very shaky, letting the Lions go down the field and score a touchdown in just seven plays. Green Bay then answered on an 11-play scoring drive, ending with a four-yard touchdown reception from Aaron Jones — his first of four total in the game.

The two teams would take a tie game at 7-7 into the second quarter, that is until Detroit broke it with another touchdown, this time on a throw from Jared Goff to T.J. Hockenson on a nine-play drive, taking nearly five minutes off the clock to take a 14-7 lead.

Green Bay would end up answering again, mixing both the run and pass into their offensive game plan. Once again, it was Aaron Jones, scoring for the second time in the game, this time from one yard out to tie the game at 14. Detroit ended up going up by three points at 17-14 at halftime.

After halftime, Green Bay would end up receiving the second half kickoff, making it count after converting a huge third-and-12 on a 50-yard pass play to Davante Adams. On third-and-six from Detroit’s 20-yard line, Aaron Rodgers would find TE Robert Tonyan down the seam for a 22-yard touchdown, making the score 21-17 Green Bay — their first lead of the night.

The defense would tighten up on Detroit’s responding drive, stopping them on fourth-and-one courtesy of rookie CB Eric Stokes — the team’s first-round pick out of Georgia from the 2021 draft.

Running back Aaron Jones would score for the third time on second-and-10 from the 11-yard line — his third touchdown of the night, bringing the score to 28-17. Nearing the end of the third quarter, after capitalizing on a forced fumble by LB Krys Barnes, Green Bay would end up scoring once more on a one-yard touchdown run by Jones, set up by a huge block by veteran TE Marcedes Lewis.

Jones had a great night overall with 23 total touches for 115 scrimmage yards and four total touchdowns (three receiving, one rushing). The defense would put the nail in the coffin for Detroit with 3:41 left in the fourth quarter, intercepting Jared Goff courtesy of inside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell.

Overall impression

Overall, this game was a good bounce-back win for Green Bay. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers moved to 9-1 overall on MNF at Lambeau Field and 9-0 overall after a loss. The offense definitely got back on track, scoring 35 points and even with only giving up 17 total points, the defense still has some work to do with overall effort on the field along with players being in the proper position to make plays.

Next week’s primetime game on Sunday night against the 49ers will be a great test of this team’s offensive and defensive fortitude. If they want to achieve a championship, they will need to play a complete game on both sides of the ball for 60 minutes.

We’ll see if the Packers can keep the momentum rolling on the road Sunday night.