Jordan Love threw four touchdown passes as the Green Bay Packers spoiled a Motown Thanksgiving that featured Eminem, beating the Detroit Lions 31-24 on Thursday.
Love completed 18 of 30 passes for 234 yards, connecting on scoring throws to Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks, who found the end zone twice — once before and once after the halftime show with Jack White and Eminem. Wicks opened the scoring for Green Bay with an early touchdown and later made a leaping fourth-down catch to seal the victory.
Jameson Williams led Detroit with seven catches for 144 yards and a touchdown. The Lions lost star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown to an ankle injury in the first quarter, and Williams took on an expanded role in his absence, producing several big plays including a 22-yard catch-and-run in the final minute of the first half that pulled Detroit to within 17-14.
A dominant performance on defense helped the Packers improve to 8-3-1. Micah Parsons spearheaded the effort with 2.5 sacks, three tackles for loss and four quarterback hits. Detroit dropped to 7-5 in the NFC North and have now won just seven of 26 Thanksgiving Day games since 2000.
The game featured several momentum swings. Wicks’ early one-yard touchdown came after a 30-yard catch during a nine-play, 72-yard drive. Detroit answered late in the second quarter when Williams broke free for his 22-yard touchdown, but Watson responded after halftime by hauling in Love’s 51-yard “moon ball” to put Green Bay ahead 24-14.
Jared Goff moved the Lions back within three with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Isaac TeSlaa, capping a drive that included a 24-yard scramble by Goff and a combined 30 rushing yards on three plays by David Montgomery. Montgomery later punched in a three-yard touchdown from wildcat formation in the first half.
Romeo Doubs had a two-yard touchdown catch on fourth-and-one earlier in the game, a play that featured some head-scratching moments when head coach Matt LaFleur was ruled to have called a timeout before the fourth-down snap, but the play stood.
Detroit’s late comeback attempt was fueled by Williams, whose 44-yard catch-and-run inside the 20 set up a chance to tie. On third-and-goal from the four, Goff was sacked by Parsons for a nine-yard loss, and Jake Bates converted a 31-yard field goal to make it 31-24 with 2:59 remaining. On the Packers’ next possession, Wicks hauled in a spectacular leaping catch on fourth-and-three to secure the first down and the win.
Other notable moments included a contested 22-yard catch by Wicks on the edge of the end zone early in the second quarter, initially doubted but confirmed by replay to show full control and both feet down. Tom Kennedy also made a key 23-yard reception during Detroit’s earlier drive.
Stats leaders:
Packers
– Passing: Jordan Love, 18/30, 234 yards, 4 TDs
– Rushing: Josh Jacobs, 17 carries, 83 yards
– Receiving: Dontayvion Wicks, 6 catches, 94 yards, 2 TDs
Lions
– Passing: Jared Goff, 20/26, 256 yards, 2 TDs
– Rushing: Jahmyr Gibbs, 20 carries, 68 yards
– Receiving: Jameson Williams, 7 catches, 144 yards, 1 TD
Detroit will host the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14. The Packers return to Lambeau Field to face the Chicago Bears in a matchup that could loom large in the division race.