Detroit Lions vs Green Bay Packers Match Player Stats On Dec 28, 2014

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 28, 2014

Packers 30, Lions 20: Aaron Rodgers threw for a pair of touchdowns and ran for another despite re-injuring a calf muscle as host Green Bay clinched a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs.

Rodgers finished 17-of-22 for 226 yards and returned from his injury to help the Packers (12-4) break away from a third-quarter tie to wrap up their fourth consecutive NFC North title and the No. 2 seed in the conference. Randall Cobb had four receptions for 80 yards and two touchdowns and Micah Hyde returned a punt for a score as Green Bay avenged a 19-7 loss at Detroit in Week 3.

Matthew Stafford threw for 217 yards and three touchdowns - two to Calvin Johnson - for the Lions (11-5), who dropped to the No. 6 seed and will play at NFC East champion Dallas on Sunday. Theo Riddick also had a late TD reception but it wasn't enough as Detroit remained winless in Green Bay since 1991.

Rodgers aggravated his left calf injury with 2:24 left in the second quarter, crumbling to the turf as he flipped a 4-yard TD pass to Cobb for a 14-0 lead, but the Lions answered with 20 seconds left in the half on Stafford's 20-yard strike to Johnson - which came one play after a penalty for roughing the QB on third down. Detroit drew even midway through the third when Stafford floated a 4-yard pass to Johnson.

Rodgers returned to thunderous applause on the ensuing possession and immediately marched the Packers 60 yards in seven plays, capped by a 13-yard scoring pass to a cutting Cobb to reclaim the lead with 3:33 left in the third. After Green Bay recovered a fumble by Joique Ball, Green Bay doubled its lead on a 1-yard sneak by Rodgers and added a safety before Stafford's late TD pass to Riddick with 1:45 to play.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Eddie Lacy rushed for 100 yards on 26 carries as Green Bay finished 8-0 at home. ... Rodgers extended his league records of 36 TD passes and 418 attempts at home without throwing an interception. ... Johnson's two scoring passes gave him seven in his last five games at Green Bay. ... Hyde's first-quarter punt return was the third of his career for a touchdown, tying a franchise record held by Desmond Howard and Will Blackmon.