Lions–Packers rivalry

Detroit Lions–Green Bay Packers

Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers
First meeting	November 2, 1930 Packers 47, Spartans 13
Latest meeting	October 7, 2018 Lions 31, Packers 23
Next meeting	December 30, 2018
Statistics
Meetings total	178 meetings
All-time series	GB: leads 100–71–7
Postseason results	GB leads 2–0 January 8, 1994, GB 28, DET 24 December 31, 1994, GB 16, DET 12
Largest victory	GB: 50–7 (1940)
Smallest victory	DET: 3–0 (1934) GB: 3–0 (1934)
Longest win streak	'DET: W11 (1949–54) ': W10 (1940–45, 2005–10)
Current win streak	DET: W3 (2017–)

The Lions–Packers rivalry is an NFL rivalry between the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers. They first met in 1930 when the Lions were known as the Portsmouth Spartans and based in Portsmouth, Ohio. The team eventually moved to Detroit for the 1934 season.

The Lions and Packers have been division rivals since 1933, having both played in the NFL's Western Conference from 1933 to 1970 and in the NFC North since 1970 (known as the NFC Central from 1970 to 2001). They have always met at least twice a season since 1932, without any cancelled games between both rivals (as of today). This is therefore the longest continuously-running rivalry in the NFL.

Notable moments and games

• Packers 50, Lions 7 (November 24, 1940) – In the most lopsided game in the rivalry's history the Packers raced out to a 43–0 lead and would eventually prevail 50–7. The win moved the Packers to 6-4 and dropped the Lions to 5–5–1.^[1]
• Packers 57, Lions 21 (October 7, 1945) – The Packers set (and still hold) an NFL record by scoring 41 points in a single quarter. The Lions led 7-0 in the 2nd quarter before the Packers scored six consecutive touchdowns, including four receiving touchdowns by Don Hutson. The four touchdown receptions in a single quarter is an NFL record that still stands today. Don Huston also made five of his six extra point attempts in the quarter to give him 29 points for the quarter in total, which is also an NFL record. ^[2]
• Lions 26, Packers 14 (November 22, 1962) – The Packers entered the game 10–0 and in first place in the Western Conference. The Lions were second at 8–2. The Lions jumped out to a 23–0 halftime lead and extended the lead to 26–0 before the Packers scored two late touchdowns. The Lions defense pounded Packers quarterback Bart Starr with 10 sacks. The game was played in Detroit on Thanksgiving and pulled the Lions within one game of the division lead with three weeks left in the season. The Lions and Packers both won their next two games, but in the final week of the season the Lions lost to the Chicago Bears while the Packers defeated the Los Angeles Rams en route to a 13–1 season. The Packers went on to defeat the Giants for their eighth NFL championship.^[3]
• Lions 21, Packers 17 (December 15, 1991) – The Lions staved off a last minute comeback attempt by the Packers offense led by quarterback Mike Tomczak to wrap up a four-point victory over the Packers at Lambeau Field. With the win, Detroit shrunk Green Bay’s lead in the rivalry’s series to six, the closest the all-time record has been since 1938. The game was the last time the Lions defeated the Packers in the state of Wisconsin until 2015, as the Packers held a 24-game home winning streak in the series. That season would also be the last time that Detroit swept Green Bay until 2017.
• Packers 28, Lions 24 (January 8, 1994) – This was the first ever playoff meeting between these two teams. In week 17 the Lions defeated the Packers 30–20 giving them home field advantage for this game. With Green Bay trailing 24–21 late in the game Brett Favre hit Sterling Sharpe for a 40-yard touchdown pass with 55 seconds left, giving Green Bay the lead and ultimately the win. This was the first time the Lions have ever lost a home playoff game, and remains their last home playoff game to date.^[4]
• Packers 16, Lions 12 (December 31, 1994) – For the second consecutive season the Packers and Lions met in the playoffs, this time at Lambeau Field. The Packers held Barry Sanders to -1 yards rushing and the Lions to -4 yards rushing overall. The Packers would never trail as they led 10–0 at half time and would only allow 10 points in the second half before intentionally committing a safety on the last play of the game to run out the clock. This was the Packers' first victory at Lambeau Field against the Lions since 1985 (though they beat the Lions in all four Milwaukee games against them during that time).^[5]
• Packers 31, Lions 21 (December 28, 2008) – The Packers defeated the Lions in week 17 and sent them to the first 0–16 season in NFL history.^[6]
• Lions 7, Packers 3 (December 12, 2010) – Aaron Rodgers was knocked out of the game before the half and would miss the rest of the game as well as the Packers next game against the Patriots. Matt Flynn led the Packers to a field goal that would give them a 3–0 lead in the 3rd quarter. The Lions would score a touchdown in the 4th and go on to win 7–3. This forced the Packers to need to win their final two games of the season to make the playoffs. They would do so and go on to win Super Bowl XLV.^[7]
• Packers 45, Lions 41 (January 1, 2012) – With the Packers having already clinched home field advantage in the playoffs, backup quarterback Matt Flynn started in place of Aaron Rodgers and went on to throw a team record six touchdown passes in a shootout victory over the Lions at Lambeau Field. This is the highest scoring game between both rivals at 86 points, and the first time both teams met after each one accumulated at least 10 regular season victories.
• Packers 30, Lions 20 (December 28, 2014) – The Packers and Lions entered this Week 17 match up with identical 11–4 records. Therefore, this game was for the 2014 NFC North Division Championship. Green Bay jumped out to a 14–0 lead before Aaron Rodgers left the game after re-injuring his calf. Rodgers would return in the second half after the Lions had tied the game at 14. The Packers ended up scoring a pair of touchdowns and forcing a Safety before the Lions scored a late touchdown. Both teams would make the playoffs as the win gave the Packers their fourth straight division championship while the Lions ended up as a Wild Card team.
• Packers home winning streak (1992–2014) – The Lions had not beaten the Packers in a road game from 1992–2014. With Green Bay's 30–20 win over Detroit on December 28, 2014, the Packers had defeated the Lions in the state of Wisconsin 24 straight times, including a Wild Card Playoff game on December 31, 1994. The last Lions victory before the streak began in Wisconsin was a 21–17 win on December 15, 1991. The Lions ended the streak with an 18–16 victory on November 15, 2015.
• Lions 18, Packers 16 (November 15, 2015) – Matt Prater missed two extra-point attempts, including one late in the fourth quarter. With Green Bay trailing 18–10 late in the fourth quarter, the Packers scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive, to trim the Lions lead to 18–16, and failed on the two-point conversion, but then recovered the onside kick when Calvin Johnson couldn't secure the ball with 31 seconds left. Mason Crosby's 52-yard attempt on the game's final play was muffed, giving Detroit their first win in the state of Wisconsin since 1991.^[8]
• Packers 27, Lions 23 (December 3, 2015) – In the largest comeback in series history, the Packers overcame a 20-point deficit to win the game 27–23. The final play, shortly after coined as Miracle in Motown, came after time had expired on the clock due to a defensive facemask called against Detroit (NFL games cannot end on a defensive penalty even if time has expired on the clock; the offense always gets one more snap after a defensive penalty). On the final untimed play of the game, Aaron Rodgers completed a 61-yard Hail Mary pass to Richard Rodgers. The Packers took a knee on the extra point to clinch the game and avoid their first series sweep by the Lions since 1991. This was the longest game-winning, game-ending Hail Mary in NFL history.^[9][10]
• Packers 31, Lions 24 (January 1, 2017) – For the second time in three seasons the Packers and Lions met in week 17 for the NFC North Division Title. The Packers and Lions both entered the game with a 9-6 record. Due to an earlier Redskins loss both teams had clinched a playoff spot before kickoff. The Lions led 14-10 at the half but the Packers went on a 21-3 scoring run on three Aaron Rodgers touchdown passes and appeared to put the game away. However, Matt Stafford hit Anquan Boldin in desperation for a 35 yard touchdown pass with 13 seconds left and forced an onside kick attempt. The Packers recovered and held on to win their fifth division championship in six years.^[11]

Game results

See also

Other rivalries involving the two teams:

• Bears–Lions rivalry
• Bears–Packers rivalry
• Lions–Vikings rivalry
• Packers–Vikings rivalry

References

• NFL.com All-Time Team vs. Team Results
• mcubed.net's Lions-Packers Series History 1966–present