SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 24, 2011
Aaron Rodgers overcame a sluggish start to toss two touchdowns as the Green Bay Packers remained undefeated after 11 games of a season for the first time in franchise history with a 27-15 road triumph over the host Detroit Lions on Thursday.
James Jones reeled in a 65-yard touchdown reception, Greg Jennings had a 3-yard score and fullback John Kuhn rushed in from 1 yard out for Green Bay (11-0), which has won a franchise-best 17 straight games.
Rodgers completed 22 of 32 passes for 307 yards for the Packers, who can clinch a playoff berth should a number of other scenarios fall in their favor later this weekend.
Green Bay, which leads the NFL with 22 interceptions this season, turned three Detroit turnovers into 17 points to silence the crowd at Ford Field. The Lions were also undone by eight first-half penalties - as well as the ejection of defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Late in the second quarter, defensive end Ryan Pickett tipped a Matthew Stafford offering, which landed in the hands of linebacker Clay Matthews deep in Lions' territory.
A pass interference call put the Packers in prime position before Jennings reeled in his eighth touchdown of the season.
Green Bay doubled the advantage after Kuhn capped an 11-play, 77-yard drive to begin the second half. Suh unwittingly extended the series after kicking center Evan Dietrich-Smith and was promptly ejected.
After linebacker Rob Francois intercepted Stafford on Detroit's ensuing drive, Rodgers found Jones streaking across the middle for a scoring strike. Rodgers has tossed multiple touchdown passes in every game this season.
Stafford was intercepted three times and has nine in his last three games for Detroit (7-4), which traveled into Green Bay territory on four occasions in the first half. Despite owning a sizable advantage in time of possession (20:02-9:58), the Lions had no points to show for it.
Calvin Johnson reeled in his 12th touchdown of the season and Keiland Williams rushed for a 16-yard score for Detroit.