Recapping Thursday Night Football Week 14

The NFL’s week 14 schedule got started on Thursday Night Football in a battle between NFC North rivals. The Green Bay Packers traveled to Detroit to take on Jared Goff and the Lions, who came into the game with only one loss on the season. Detroit, already locked into the playoffs, looked to pad their lead in the North, while the Packers looked to move closer to clinching a spot of their own in the postseason.

Did you miss out on any of the Thursday Night Football action? If so, we’ve got you covered with the recap, stats, and reactions that you need to get caught up.

The Lions Strike First

The Green Bay Packers won the coin toss and opted to defer, giving Detroit the ball to start the game. Jaire Alexander (CB) was out of the game for Green Bay, and it didn’t take long for Goff and company to take advantage. In what could only be described as a perfectly balanced drive, the Lions moved the ball down the field with relative ease.

For a moment, it looked like Green Bay was going to make a stand with Detroit deep in Green Bay territory, but an untimely penalty gave the Lions a fresh set of downs from inside the Packers’ 10. David Montgomery took the handoff and walked into the endzone untouched for his 12th rushing touchdown of the season. A Jake Bates extra point put the Lions up by seven points to start the game.

The Packers’ offense wasn’t able to do anything in response. If it hadn’t been for a pass interference penalty on Detroit, the Packers would’ve gone three and out on their first drive. Ultimately, the penalty didn’t matter, and the Packers punted after only three more plays.

The offenses struggled to get going throughout the rest of the first quarter with both squads trading punts. In the second quarter, it looked like Green Bay was going to get something going, but a Christian Watson fumble gave Detroit the ball in Green Bay territory. That drive resulted in a Jake Bates field goal from 43 yards out, as Detroit took a 10-0 lead over the Packers.

Green Bay Strikes Back

Following the Bates field goal, Green Bay got the ball back with a 10-point deficit. While Green Bay’s defensive line had done an excellent job of controlling the point of attack, the offensive line struggled in the early stages of Thursday Night’s game. That changed, as Green Bay put together a 10-play drive that only saw Jordan Love throw two passes, one of which sailed over the head of Tucker Kraft.

Green Bay fed Josh Jacobs, who went over 1,000 yards on the season in the first quarter, early and often on its first scoring drive. After a defensive pass interference penalty in the end zone gave Green Bay the ball on Detroit’s one-yard line, it was Jacobs who punched it in from only a yard out to put Green Bay on the board for the first time.

Brandon McManus, the long time Denver Broncos kicker, came in for the extra point, and Green Bay closed the deficit to three.

As the first half drew to a close, Detroit had the ball inside the Green Bay five-yard line once again. After stopping David Montgomery at the one, the Packers managed to stop Jared Goff, as Detroit tried their own version of the Eagles’ “tush push.” Dan Campbell and the Lions went for it on fourth down, and Goff found Jahmyr Gibbs for a touchdown, as Detroit extended its lead back to 10 points going into the half.

Green Bay Responds in the Second Half

The Green Bay offense came out of the locker room with something to prove, and they didn’t waste any time at all. A 59-yard pass to Christian Watson, who was looking to make amends for his fumble at the end of a 20-yard reception earlier in the game, put Green Bay deep in Detroit territory.

After only two plays, Jordan Love found Tucker Kraft, the Packers’ tight end who leads the team in touchdown receptions, for six. That catch marked Kraft’s seventh touchdown of the season.

Detroit’s first drive of the second half could not have gone worse. After a couple of running plays that didn’t generate much yardage, Jared Goff threw an interception, something that he hasn’t done much of this season. The pick was Goff’s 10th of the season, which certainly sounds like he’s thrown his fair share, but it’s worth noting that five of those interceptions came in one game against the Houston Texans.

The interception by Kesean Nixon put Green Bay in great position to score, which they did in a hurry. Josh Jacobs put up his second rushing score of the night, and Green Bay took a four-point lead after coming out of the half trailing by 10. The turnaround was a quick one, as Green Bay put up 14 points in only three minutes and 45 seconds.

Detroit Strikes Back

No one expected Detroit’s high-powered offense to stay down. Suddenly faced with a four point deficit, the Lions put together a lengthy, methodical drive that saw Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery both get involved. However, it was Tim Patrick who was on the receiving end of Goff’s second touchdown pass of the night, as Detroit took the lead, 24-21.

The touchdown was a huge moment for Patrick, who missed all of the 2022 and 2023 seasons due to injury. The touchdown was Patrick’s first with Detroit, who he signed with in the offseason after spending the first part of his career with the Denver Broncos.

Green Bay wasn’t able to do anything on its subsequent drive, as they went three and out, returning the ball to Detroit who was looking to extend its lead. However, Detroit’s courageous nature didn’t bode well for the Lions. The team had gone 3-3 on fourth-down attempts on the night, and facing fourth and one, they lined up to go for it again.

After Jared Goff changed the play at the line, he pitched the ball to Gibbs who tried to bounce it outside where he was met by a sea of white jerseys, giving Green Bay the ball near Detroit’s 30-yard line. Love’s arm got the Packers close to the end zone, but that’s when Green Bay turned back to Josh Jacobs, who scored his third rushing touchdown of the night as Green Bay retook the lead.

That lead didn’t last long, as Detroit put together an incredible drive that saw a healthy mix of running and passing. At the end, it was once again Tim Patrick who found himself on the receiving end of a Jared Goff pass as Detroit retook the lead 31-28.

With less than five minutes to go in the game, it looked like Green Bay had retaken the lead, but an offensive pass interference penalty erased a touchdown pass to Josh Jacobs and pushed Green Bay outside the Detroit 15. The Packers had to settle for a field goal, which Brandon McManus knocked through, and the game was tied at 31.

The Lions Finish the Season Sweep

With 3:38 to go in the game, Detroit got the ball back, which was probably the worst-case scenario for the Packers. The Green Bay defense had struggled through most of the second half, and the last drive was certainly no different. The drive started with a 19-yard strike from Goff to Jameson Williams, which was followed by an 11-yard pass to Tim Patrick.

The Packers’ defense was effective at stifling the run-game during Detroit’s last possession, but ultimately, the Lions’ offense, which has carried the team to its 11-1 record, was just too much. Goff led the team down the field for a drive that culminated in a Jake Bates field goal as Detroit sealed the win by a score of 34-31, completing the season sweep of the Packers and clinching a playoff berth.

What’s Next?

The Packers will be on the road against next week, and will return to primetime when they head to Seattle to take on the Seahawks on Sunday Night Football in week 15. Meanwhile, Detroit will stay at home for week 15 as they host the red-hot Buffalo Bills.

Thursday Night Football returns next week with an NFC West matchup, as the LA Rams head to San Francisco to take on the 49ers.