Detroit Lions fall to NFC North-rival Green Bay Packers 27-13 in season opener
The Detroit Lions fell to the Green Bay Packers 27-13 in the team's season opener at Lambeau Field on Sunday afternoon.
Packers quarterback Jordan Love threw a pair of touchdown passes and Micah Parsons produced a sack in his Green Bay debut.
Opening a season at home for the first time since 2018, the Packers beat the two-time defending NFC North champions after going 1-5 in divisional games last year. The Packers won their 13th consecutive home opener, giving them the longest such streak since the Miami Dolphins also won 13 straight from 1976-88.
After getting outscored 99-40 in the first half of NFC North games last season, the Packers got points on their opening three possessions Sunday to take a 17-3 lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Love went 16 of 22 for 188 yards with touchdown passes of 15 yards to Tucker Kraft and 17 yards to Jayden Reed. Josh Jacobs added a three-yard score in the fourth quarter, giving him a touchdown in a franchise-record nine straight games.
The Lions, who scored an NFL-high 33.2 points per game last season, didn't reach the end zone until the final minute against a Green Bay defense featuring Parsons, who got a huge ovation from the Lambeau Field crowd when he was introduced before the game.
Green Bay acquired the star edge rusher from the Dallas Cowboys in a blockbuster trade a week before the start of the season. Parsons got his first sack as a Packer with just over four minutes left in the game. He also applied pressure that led to Evan Williams' second-quarter interception, thwarting a Lions scoring opportunity.
The Lions had won at Lambeau Field each of the last three seasons but never gave themselves much of an opportunity this time after dealing with various offseason changes.
Detroit lost four-time Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow to retirement and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to head coaching opportunities after going 15-2 and setting a franchise record for wins last season.
Jared Goff went 31 of 39 for 225 yards with a touchdown and an interception. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs were held to a combined 44 yards on 20 carries.
The Lions netted just six points from their first three drives into the red zone before Detroit scored its lone touchdown on a 13-yard pass from Goff to Isaac TeSlaa with 55 seconds left.
Trailing 17-6 in the third quarter, Detroit appeared on the verge of getting back into the game in the third quarter when Brian Branch scored an apparent touchdown on a 35-yard interception return. But a defensive holding penalty on Rock Ya-Sin nullified the play.
Green Bay then scored the next 10 points to put the game away.
Injuries
Lions safety Daniel Thomas injured his hand in the first quarter. The Lions announced that cornerback Terrion Arnold injured his groin in the third quarter.
Packers cornerback Nate Hobbs, who had been listed as questionable, didn't play after undergoing knee surgery during training camp. Packers cornerback Bo Melton (shoulder), defensive lineman Brenton Cox (groin), offensive tackle Zach Tom (hip) and guard Aaron Banks (ankle) left in the second half.
Up next
The Packers host the Washington Commanders on Thursday night.
The Lions open their home schedule against the Chicago Bears next Sunday.
See a full recap of the game below.
Lions' TeSlaa makes eye-opening catch with 13-yard TD reception
Detroit Lions rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa made an acrobatic 13-yard touchdown catch late in the fourth quarter.
The Green Bay Packers lead Detroit 27-13 with less than a minute to go in the game.
Packers score another field goal, lead Lions 27-6
Packers kicker Brandon McManus made a 38-yard field goal with 4:22 left in the game to give Green Bay a 27-6 lead over the Detroit Lions.
Detroit Lions CB Terrion Arnold ruled out with groin injury
The Detroit Lions said in a social media post that cornerback Terrion Arnold has been ruled out for the rest of the game with a groin injury.
Packers RB Josh Jacobs scores short rushing TD
The Green Bay Packers have increased their lead over the Detroit Lions to 24-6 after a 3-yard rushing touchdown from running back Josh Jacobs.
There are just under eight minutes left in the game.
Pick-6 by Lions nullified by penalty
A pick-six by Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch late in the third quarter was nullified after officials called a defensive holding penalty on cornerback Rock Ya-Sin.
An unnecessary roughness penalty called on defensive end Aidan Hutchinson during the same play was declined by the Green Bay Packers.
The Packers lead the Lions 17-6 with 3:05 left in the third quarter.
Lions CB Arnold questionable to return after injury
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold is questionable to return after suffering a groin injury, the team said.
Bates kicks second field goal of the afternoon for Lions
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates made a 27-yard field goal with 9:40 left in the third quarter, his second of the afternoon.
The Green Bay Packers lead the Lions 17-6.
Packers lead Lions 17-3 at halftime
The Green Bay Packers are beating the Detroit Lions 17-3 at halftime.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff has thrown for 75 yards and an interception. Running Back David Montgomery has eight carries for 24 yards.
Jordan Love is 12 of 16 for 167 yards and has thrown for two touchdowns.
Lions QB Jared Goff picked off by S Evan Williams
The Green Bay Packers take over on offense with 1:10 left in the first half after safety Evan Williams intercepted a pass from Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff.
Reed puts Packers ahead 17-3 after 17-yard TD catch
After a 2-play, 65-yard drive that ended in a touchdown, the Green Bay Packers are ahead of the Detroit Lions 17-3.
Quarterback Jordan Love threw a deep pass to receiver Romeo Doubs that was good for 48 yards. On the next Play, Love tossed it 17 yards to Jayden Reed for a touchdown.
Lions on the board after Bates kicks 30-yard field goal
Lions kicker Jake Bates scores the first points of the regular season for Detroit with a 30-yard field goal.
The Lions trail the Green Bay Packers 3-10 with 9:27 left in the second quarter.
McManus kicks 34-yard field goal for Packers
The Green Bay Packers are up 10-0 over the Detroit Lions with 3:58 left in the first quarter following a 34-yard field goal from kicker Brandon McManus.
Green Bay takes early 7-0 lead after TE Kraft scores
The Packers are on the board first after a 15-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Love to tight end Tucker Kraft. Green Bay leads the Detroit Lions 7-0 with 9:26 left in the first quarter.
WR Jameson Williams agrees to contract extension
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams has agreed to terms on a contract extension, the team announced shortly before kickoff on Sunday afternoon.
Learn more about the extension and the impact Williams has made on the team so far here.
Getting to know D.J. Reed
Veteran cornerback D.J. Reed signed a 3-year, $48 million contract with the Lions in March.
He's started 46 games for the New York Jets over the past three years. He allowed just two touchdowns last season.
CBS News Detroit's Rachel Hopmayer recently sat down with Reed to see how he's been fitting in with Detroit so far.
Click here to watch the full interview.