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1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
Final |
| Packers |
0 |
13 |
14 |
7 |
34 |
| Lions |
7 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
12 |
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Live Game Stats (NFL.com) | Press Box Notes |  Game Photos
**
PACKERS-LIONS POST-GAME QUOTES
GREEN BAY PACKERS HEAD COACH MIKE McCARTHY:
(On the game) "There was definitely adversity in the game today. If you look at us in the past, through the season, we could have handled it better, so I was proud of the way our team fought through that and how one phase picked up for the next phase. We didn't start the game very well on special teams and frankly we didn't play very well on special teams today."
(On the offense) "I thought the productivity of our offense with the ability to move the football and generate some points was a big factor. Once again, our football team is about defense. Our defense was huge today with the ability to keep taking the football away from (their) offense; that was the No. 1 factor in our success today."
(On why he thought the defense was so successful) "We played some more people. We had some different combinations. We were able to stop the run No. 1. I don't know exactly what the total was. I thought we were playing at a very high level. Stopping the run, generating turnovers has been a staple of our defense, and we need to continue to do that. I think we definitely have room for improvement but we had a good day today."
(On CB Charles Woodson) "We matched him on Calvin (Johnson) a bunch. I'm sure you noticed that he has the ability to still try to keep you running the football as much as possible. He had an incredible day today. Once again, I don't know who is playing better football than Charles Woodson in the National Football League, but he has a huge day today."
(On QB Aaron Rodgers 68-yard pass to Donald Driver) "It wasn't the design of the play but I think it was a heck of a throw. I think it starts up front. Obviously the protection was very good, he extended the play and Donald got behind (the secondary). When he threw it, I looked up to see where Don was, I was impressed that he got the ball there, and I think the safety was surprised too."
PACKERS WIDE RECEIVER DONALD DRIVER:
(On winning the Galloping Gobbler Award) "First, I have to thank God and my family. You've got to be thankful for them because that's what comes first."
(On what kind of a difference he saw in the offense when QB Aaron Rodgers has time to throw) "Well, we said we can make plays and that's the thing. Our offensive line allowed us to make down-the-field (throws) and we did exactly what we needed to do, and that was everyone step up and make a play."
(On why the offense struggled in the red zone) "Just didn't make the plays and that's one thing that you have to correct, and we corrected it and you saw us putting points on the board after that."
(On his thoughts of playing in the Thanksgiving Day game) "It's still feels special. You play this game a long time and you realize that Thanksgiving is a great opportune stage to play on. This was the first time I was able to win the Turkey after everybody messed with me saying that I've never won it before."
(On the rest of the season) "We can't talk about the playoffs yet. We still have a lot more games to play. It was just an opportunity to go out there and make plays. We had three games in 12 days and we went out there and executed and won all three of them."
PACKERS QUARTERBACK AARON RODGERS:
(On winning today) "I think it's good for us – three games in twelve days – two home games we needed to win and this one to get to 7-4. It'll give us a little time off to rest and recover and it's an important win for us. We knew the kind of effort that Detroit was going to bring and we started off pretty much giving them seven points. We battled back, stuck with the game plan and guys made plays so we were able to come out on top."
(On whether Detroit was predictable on defense) "I wouldn't say predictable, I'd say that'd be a slight at Coach Schwartz and their defensive players. I think they stayed aggressive on defense. They brought a lot of pressure, kind of amped up the pressure in the second half. They run a different scheme which was giving us matchup problems, a scheme we don't see a lot of times. We were able to make some plays and ad-lib at times. I thought the line did a great job giving me time. There were a couple of times where I held the ball for four or five seconds – maybe more. When you have that kind of time with the kind of players that we have in our receiving corps we feel like we're going to make plays."
(On the first deep play to WR Donald Driver) "I was a little worried at the snap that they might be bringing seven guys so I made a quick check and they ended up dropping off and only bringing four. The line did a great job so I went through my whole progression. The right side, I went through (Donald) Driver, and Jermichael (Finley), and came back to Greg (Jennings) and I felt like my time clock was (expiring) so I had to get the ball out. I surveyed what was going on and my line did a great job. That was about as far as I could throw it on that one and (Driver) made a great play and getting it at its highest point."
(On the play of the defense) "We feel like when we get ahead we can play downhill and we have guys who can catch the ball. Woodson seems to make a big play every game and he made two for us. He's always around the ball and he's a big-time player for us. He's been a great player and a great locker room guy since he's been here."
(On being compared to Peyton Manning by Lions' S Louis Delmas) "That means a lot coming from your opponent, especially since we've played them twice now. We have a lot of respect for all of our opponents but Delmas is going to be a very good player in this league. That's high praise and we appreciate that but before I start getting mentioned with Peyton, we have to start winning some playoff games around here."
PACKERS CORNERBACK CHARLES WOODSON:
(On the win today) "We need to keep stacking wins for our season to continue, so it was a good win for us today."
(On what it meant to him for the defensive backfield to play well) "It means a lot because it was a big blow to our defense and to our team, especially two of your starters. The game of football is about execution, it doesn't matter who is out there on the field. Today we executed and got some turnovers, which is big. The offense was throwing it downfield and put up points, and when you got those things working for you – you can put up some points and you got those things going together – you can win some games."
(On how he was able to record two interceptions) "You have an idea of what they're trying to do. A couple of times we were in perfect defenses for me to come off and make some plays on the ball, and it was just a matter of me going in there to make a play."
(On how spontaneous was the Heisman poise) "I kind of thought about it? Being here means a lot and all the fans that I know I still have here. I just wanted to remind those guys what is was like back then when I was at school."
(On if getting two interceptions is considered a good day for you) "It was a good day but I gave up a touchdown, so that kind of puts a little cloud over it for me."
DETROIT LIONS HEAD COACH JIM SCHWARTZ:
(Opening statement) "Disappointing loss. We lost a lot of individual matchups in this game. Defensively we weren't able to four-man pass rush and they made us pay versus the blitz. Offensively we weren't able to run the ball against cover-two and that's been a problem for us. We had a hard time getting open and anytime you're in that situation when they're playing for the pass and we're not able to consistently run the ball you're setting yourself up for plays that we had turnovers on. Most of the scoring early on was due to either big plays or turnovers. They turned the ball over on the (opening) kickoff and we were able to capitalize on it and get some momentum but then we give up a huge play in a two-deep coverage. It wasn't a missed assignment; it was just a physical error. We battled here and there holding them to field goals but we just weren't able to score enough. We were able to keep it close but weren't able to score enough to win the game."
(On when he knew that Stafford would play) "Yesterday afternoon he started feeling a little bit better and then last night he felt a little bit better but we didn't make any decision until this morning. We kept that open the whole week. We knew it was doubtful that he was going to play but we kept it open the whole week just in case he woke up feeling better. He got here early this morning and was able to throw the ball. The shoulder, like we said before, it's not an issue of hurting it worse – it's just a pain management issue. This morning, he was able to go. He's our starting quarterback and if he's healthy and ready to go, he's going to be out there."
(On whether he thought a lack of practice contributed to Stafford's performance) "I mean, we practiced half of one day. It's late in the season, there are a lot of quarterbacks that don't take a lot of practice reps during the week and are able to go out there. (His lack of practice) had nothing to do with us not being able to run the football, not being able to rush the passer and those kinds of things. It was going to hurt, he got his mobility back. Doctors and trainers thought it was as situation where he couldn't make it any worse so we made that decision (to let him play)."
(On whether Stafford looked tentative at times) "I mean, it hurt, but I wouldn't consider him tentative. You don't wake up and play this game by playing tentative, that's not his personality."
(On Pettigrew's injury) "We'll probably know more tomorrow. He wasn't able to finish the game and that's something that will need some serious looking at."
(On not being able to capitalize on momentum from the win over Cleveland) "Sure, you're disappointed anytime you lose but not just over a different team or anything else. We can't turn the ball over and expect to win. I think that's the big part: fumbles, interceptions – like I said, a lot of that due to not being able to consistently run the football. We had some good boxes, which mean good numbers for us to run the ball. We got beat up front and weren't able to capitalize."
(On the run game's ineffectiveness of late) "We threw it a bunch last week; we threw it a bunch against Minnesota. It's not like we're running it 50 times a game. We have been coming out and throwing it but you have a hard time winning in this league if you're one-dimensional. You still have to run the ball. I don't want to take a cop-out and say that we can't do it so we (should) quit trying. That's not our philosophy. We need to find a way for it to work and not abandon it."
(Whether Stafford rushed himself back into action) "No, I don't think so. There's a difference between wanting to play and being able to. We said very early on what steps needed to happen for him to be able to do it. It happened that he came back. I look at it as a positive that he was able to come back so quickly and was so willing to do it. I don't look at it as a negative at all."
(On how Green Bay was able to contain WR Calvin Johnson) "We're doing just about everything we can. We moved him into the slot, we moved him outside. Calvin wasn't 100-percent; he was another guy who was (a game-time decision). We had a nationally televised game and he wanted to come out and help his team. We need him, so again, he wasn't 100-percent and he got out there and battled. We tried to get him the ball but it wasn't enough."
(On defensive breakdowns on the Packers' big plays) "The one was a two-deep coverage – the biggest one that was a long bomb and was just a physical error. The guy gets behind you and you're the deep half. You have to stay as deep as the deepest player. We had the underneath stuff covered. There happened to be a three-man rush on that one. If we stay over the top, the quarterback has nowhere else to go but that play was disappointing."
LIONS LINEBACKER JULIAN PETERSON:
(On the team's performance today) "The biggest thing of it is: last week we did a good job of having all three phases of the game come together. When the offense was down, the defense stepped up. When our offense and defense was down, special teams stepped up. We just didn't get on the same page today."
(On if the Packers did what they expected) "Pretty much what we expected. We had our opportunities, we just didn't take advantage of them when we had the opportunity and they did. We didn't make our plays. As a defense, we did a good job on first and second but we let them keep on getting the third downs. We're normally a pretty good third down team but they did a pretty good job against our numbers and getting third downs."
(On if the mistakes that led to those third down conversions are correctable) "We've just got to do a little better job of paying attention to detail. Sometimes when the play is breaking down we've got to learn how to plaster it and stay up instead of being a spectator. Sometimes you get caught up in ‘oh, oh it's taking a long time,' and we lose that guy and that's when Aaron Rodgers made a couple big plays on us."
(On if the short week had an effect on the performance) "I don't think that had anything to do with it. Both teams went through it; you can't use that as an excuse. We knew we had it, we just have to execute, that's all. The biggest thing is they had three turnovers and we had one. Any time one team gets more turnovers than the next, it's more likely that the team that got the most turnovers is going to win the game. We've just got to find a way to try to get the ball ourselves."
LIONS CENTER DOMINIC RAIOLA:
(On not taking advantage of redzone opportunities late in the game) "We've got to put the ball in the end zone. Even when Coach Schwartz went for a field goal we had to score two more times anyway. A field goal and two scores and two-point conversion, that was a lot but we knew where we were at and we didn't get it done."
(On Stafford and Johnson playing hurt) "They're tough kids. They really want to be out here, and it's the other guys on the field's job to step up around them and show them some more support."
(On if this feels different from Sunday) "It's a different feeling in this locker room, especially with a nationally televised game to come out like that. We came out strong, we just never took advantage of anything and they did. We come out, back-to-back three-and-outs and a turnover in the half and it's 13-7, the field position's not bad. We should take advantage of our opportunities and against a good team like that, they catch up with you, and before you know it you're in a deep whole."
(On their play early in the game) "It was good. We sprinkled some no-huddle in there and stayed on the field and converted some first downs, but like I said, if you don't take advantage of every opportunity against a good team like that it's not going to turn out good."
(On having some time off before their next game) "I think the loss still hurts. I can't really think about days off. We just lost a game, so I think we're going to come in tomorrow and watch the film then take the weekend off and move on."
LIONS RUNNING BACK KEVIN SMITH:
(On QB Matthew Stafford starting in the game) "He's tough. I wasn't shocked. I knew if he could play he would want to play. When he was out there, he gave it his all."
(On his own performance) "I had a bad game. This is the type of game that you hit your head on a wall about. There are a few of them where I was real close to slipping out of them. That's on me. Once your line gets you to the second level, that's on me. But I'm going to keep my faith and I'm going to continue to work hard and I know for sure better days will come."
(On not being able to build on the fast start) "We came out, got a turnover, we scored. Whenever you can do that, the momentum is good, but that alone doesn't get you wins. After that it's about execution."
(On getting noticed for his hard-nosed performances) "I'm just doing my job. It's good when people notice things that you do and all, but whenever you don't get a win, to me it doesn't matter. I go out there and I play the game as hard as I can, but again that doesn't matter either. Playing hard and giving a good effort isn't good enough, that doesn't get you wins."
LIONS QUARTERBACK MATTHEW STAFFORD:
(On when he knew he was going to play and how he felt before the game) "I knew this morning when I kind of did a little test to see how it was going to feel because I'd been feeling better throughout the week. I finally got the go this morning."
(On how it feels now) "Right now? It feels alright."
(On if he needed any medical assistance with it) "Yeah, they put a pad on it."
(On how much his shoulder was a factor in the game) "I don't think it was a factor at all."
(On if he could feel it or if he was worried about getting hit on it) "No. I really … the offensive line played pretty darn good today. I didn't get hit too many times at all. I wasn't worried about it."
(On the sequence at the end of the first half when he was getting hit) "I was alright."
(On the interceptions and what went wrong) "The first two were tough. Third downs. The first one was really trying to throw the ball away, kind of falling away and threw it where our guy catches it or nobody does. That guy made a great pick and kept his toes in bounds. The second one, we're getting in 3rd-and-long and I'm trying to hold the ball and I thought Dennis was going to come out and he hooked it up. I threw it to where I thought he was going. It's just one of those things. The last two – they got a lead and those corners … what's a ball over their head to them? They got help. They know they've got help over the top and (Charles) Woodson's about as good as they come at actually catching the ball. They were squatting on it. That's what they're taught to do. When you've got to throw the ball every down to try to get back into it when you're behind, guys are going to be all over it."
(On if a lack of preparation time was a factor at all) "I don't think so. I really don't."
(On how much this game is simply a "bummer" after the high of the Cleveland game) "Yeah, I mean, obviously it's tough. I don't want to play like this; don't want to turn the ball over as much as I did – that sort of thing. The only thing you can do is keep coming back and get to work, get ready for the next one."
(On if he was determined to play this morning when he woke up) "It felt good enough to. It wasn't a determined factor; I felt like I could play to help us win."
(On if he threw at all this week) "Yeah, I threw some."
**
SCORING SUMMARY & GAME NOTES
4th Qtr
 GB 34, DET 12
GB: Woodson, 38 interception return (Crosby kick), 3:50
1 plays, 38 yards, TOP 0:07
Key plays: Woodson returns an interception from Stafford for a 38-yard touchdown.
 GB 27, DET 12
DET: Hanson, 22 field goal, 5:01
12 plays, 44 yards, TOP 4:17
Key plays: Stafford completed four straight passes to get the Lions into the red zone, and a fifth completion made it first-and-goal. But the Green Bay defense held, and Detroit took the field goal.
GB 27, DET 9
DET: Grant tackled in end zone, 9:18
Key plays: With the Packers backed up on their own 1, Grant took a handoff and was tackled in the end zone by Delmas. The play was originally ruled a fumble, recovered by the Lions for a touchdown, but Green Bay challenged the call, and Grant was ruled down in the end zone.
3rd Qtr
GB 27, DET 7
GB: Jones, 21 pass from Rodgers (Crosby kick), :38
5 plays, 56 yards, TOP 2:25
Key plays: After the Lions missed a field goal, a shovel pass to Grant picked up 27 yards, and on third-and-2 from the 21, Rodgers hit Jones over the middle and he took it the rest of the way.
Team milestone: With his 45-yard catch to begin the previous drive, Packers WR Donald Driver reached 50 catches in a team-record eighth season. He had been tied at seven 50-reception seasons with Sterling Sharpe and James Lofton.
Injury update: Packers T Chad Clifton has a hamstring injury. His return is questionable.
GB 20, DET 7
GB: Driver, 7 pass from Rodgers (Crosby kick), 6:38
8 plays, 90 yards, TOP 4:28
Key plays: A 45-yard pass to Driver got the Packers across midfield, and a 7-yard catch by Driver converted a third-and-3. Nelson then caught a 19-yard pass for a first down at the 12. The TD pass came on third down.
Injury update: Lions TE Brandon Pettigrew (knee) will not return to the game.
2nd Qtr
GB 13, DET 7
GB: Crosby, 25 field goal, :59
10 plays, 47 yards, TOP 3:43
Key plays: An interception by Williams gave the Packers the ball on their own 46. Consecutive passes of 11 yards each to Grant and Jennings moved the chains twice. Then Grant had runs of 5 and 8 yards for a first down in the red zone, and an 8-yard pass to Finley made it first-and-goal on the 9. But the drive stalled again, leading to another field goal.
GB 10, DET 7
GB: Crosby, 21 field goal,
13 plays, 94 yards, TOP 5:40
Key plays: A 10-yard pass to Jones and a 33-yard catch-and-run by Jennings converted two third downs. An unnecessary roughness penalty on Detroit for a helmet hit on Finley made it first down on the Detroit 25. A 9-yard pass to Finley with a horse-collar penalty added on made it first-and-goal on the 8. A third-down pass to Driver got only to the 2, leading to the field goal.
GB 7, DET 7
GB: Donald Lee, 7 pass from Aaron Rodgers (Mason Crosby kick), 14:54
4 plays, 74 yards, TOP 1:26
Key plays: After an interception by Collins, a 68-yard heave to Driver converted a third-and-11 and made it first-and-goal on the 7. Lee took it in on the first play of the second quarter.
1st Qtr
Injury update: Lions TE Brandon Pettigrew has a knee injury. His return is questionable.
DET 7, GB 0
DET: Calvin Johnson, 1 pass from Matthew Stafford (Jason Hanson kick), 13:04
5 plays, 20 yards, TOP 1:49
Key plays: Detroit's Jordan Dizon recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff by Jordy Nelson, giving the Lions the ball on the Green Bay 20. A 12-yard pass to Brandon Pettigrew made it first-and-goal on the 6, and a roughing-the-passer call on Clay Matthews made it first-and-goal again, on the 3. The TD pass came on second down.
**
The Packers won the coin toss and elected to receive.
Weather: Dome
Today's attendance: 57,383
**
Today's captains: WR Greg Jennings (offense), DE Cullen Jenkins (defense) and S Derrick Martin (special teams)
**
PACKERS INACTIVES:
19 WR Biren Ealy
26 CB Josh Bell
34 RB Ahman Green
47 S Matt Giordano
68 T Breno Giacomini
78 T/G Allen Barbre
74 LB Aaron Kampman
94 DE Jarius Wynn
LIONS INACTIVES:
5 QB Drew Stanton (third QB)
12 WR Derrick Williams
24 S Kalvin Pearson
44 FB Terrelle Smith
50 LB Ernie Sims
67 C Melvin Fowler
74 T Ephraim Salaam
99 DE Dewayne White
LIONS STARTING LINEUP CHANGES:
On defense, Cliff Avril (#92) starts at DE for Dewayne White (#99); DeAndre Levy (#54) will start at OLB for Ernie Sims (#50); Marvin White (#25) will start at S for Ko Simpson (#30), who was placed on I.R. yesterday.
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 | Badger Mutual Family of the Game
Seventh-graders in the state of Wisconsin are eligible to enter an essay contest to see their family named the Badger Mutual Insurance Family of the Game. Winners will receive four game tickets, pre-game VIP on-field passes, recognition on the video board during the game and much more. To enter, Wisconsin seventh-graders should write an essay of 500 words or less that tells "Why Education Is Important to Me." Print out a registration form on packers.com. |
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 | Coldwell Banker "Take it to the House"
Two lucky couples will have a chance to win a house courtesy of Coldwell Banker during halftime at every home game. Visit one of Coldwell Banker's Open Houses to sign up!
"Take it to the House" TV Commercial - Real | Windows |
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 | Crunch Time Catch
The Crunch Time Catch presented by Copps and Pick 'n Save gives two contestants the chance to show their skills catching punts. Both contestants will attempt to catch a thirty yard punt. If they succeed they move on to a sixty yard punt for the chance to win an Ariens® snow thrower or lawnmower. |
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 | Kohl's Fan of the Game
Four randomly selected fans will be selected at every Packer home game to win Kohl's Gift Cards. |
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 | Kraft Best Seats in the House Sweepstakes
Watch the game from the "Best Seats in the House". Winners and a guest will watch the game from recliners in the stands. The area will also include a color TV and a fully catered picnic lunch. Entry forms available at participating retailers. |
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 | MasterCard Fan Photographer
All Associated Bank customers who make a signature-based transaction will automatically be entered into the sweepstakes. You and a guest will receive passes to be on the field for the Packers warm-up to take pictures that will be posted on Packers.com. |
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 | Miller Lite End Zone
Watch for Miller promotions throughout the season for a chance to be part of this exciting section. |
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 | Nicolet Water Boy/Girl Sweepstakes
Win a chance to be the Official Water Boy/Girl of the Green Bay Packers. Children between the ages of 8 and 14 may enter by sending in an official entry form available at participating retailers. |
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 | Novartis "Blood Pressure Success Zone"
Stop by the Novartis "Blood Pressure Success Zone" located in the Atrium to have your blood pressure screened. While you are there be sure to pick up information on how you can be eligible to win Packers home game tickets, Packers Pro Shop gift cards and a trip for 2 to the Packers away game in Jacksonville!
To learn more about the program, visit www.packers.bpsuccesszone.com |
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 | Operation Fan Mail
The Green Bay Packers and Festival Foods this season are recognizing military families separated by active duty with a new program, 'Operation Fan Mail.' The families will be recognized on the field during home pregame activities.
To choose families, the Packers and Festival Foods are asking interested families, or friends of eligible families, to submit an essay, 500 words or less, on why a particular family should be saluted. Essays can be sent to: Operation Fan Mail, P.O. Box 10628, Green Bay, WI, 54307-0628, or by clicking here. |
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 | Shopko Kickoff Kid promotion
Packer fans 12 and under can win the opportunity of a lifetime: Packers Honorary Kickoff Kid! One lucky fan will be selected for each 2006 home game to run onto the field after the Packers first kickoff to retrieve the tee. Each winner will receive the opportunity to be on the field during pre-game warm-ups, four (4) game tickets for the winner and his/her family, and a Packers Goodie Bag. Visit participating Shopko stores for your chance to win! |
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 | Verizon Jr. Captain
For every home game one lucky Packers fan between the ages of 7 and 14 is selected to be the Verizon Jr. Captain of the game and join the team captains on the field during the coin toss. Sign up at participating Verizon Wireless locations. verizonwireless.com |
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