Packers lead Lions 20-6 after first quarter
The Packers won the opening coin toss and elected to receive. Green Bay opened with a 53-yard pass from Jordan Love to Christian Watson, the second longest completion of the year.
At the Detroit 22, Love went right back to Watson on an 8-yard slant off the right side. Two plays later, Love turned to Jayden Reed on the left side for a 10-yard touchdown to give Green Bay a 7-0 lead with 12 minutes, 16 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Lions answered back with a 13-yard pass to Jameson Williams on third-and-7. A defensive pass interference penalty moved Detroit to the Packers’ 46 with Jared Goff hitting Sam LaPorta for 31 yards on a corner route.
LaPorta scored a 7-yard touchdown on second-and-goal, but the Packers maintained a 7-6 lead with 8:30 left in the first quarter after Riley Patterson’s missed extra point.
Green Bay charged down field again, with rookie Malik Heath catching a 16-yard pass in the middle of the field to get the Packers’ offense going on its second series.
Watson then elevated to haul in a third-and-8 out from Love, getting both feet down for the 10-yard pickup. AJ Dillon caught a 10-yard crosser in the flat on the next play.
Green Bay moved into the red zone on a 15-yard Reed run. On third-and-1, Love connected with rookie tight Tucker Kraft on a play-action pass to the flat to extend the Packers’ lead to 14-6 with 3:08 left in the first quarter.
It was Kraft’s first NFL touchdown catch. Green Bay finished the first quarter with 150 total yards and eight first downs.
On second-and-12, Rashan Gary came off the edge for a strip sack of Goff that Jonathan Owens returned for a touchdown to extend Green Bay’s lead to 20-6 with 2:12 left in the first quarter after Anders Carlson’s missed extra point. It was Owens’ first touchdown and the first fumble recovery for a touchdown by Packers defensive back since Casey Hayward (Nov. 16, 2014, vs. Philadelphia).
Green Bay earned another takeaway with Lansing, Mich., native Karl Brooks forcing a fumble of a scrambling Goff and recovering it at the Detroit 23. It’s the first time the Packers have had two first-quarter takeaways since a 24-22 win over Cleveland on Christmas Day 2021.
The Packers’ 20 points in the first quarter are their most since scoring 21 against Carolina on Oct. 19, 2014.
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