Advertisement

NFL: Green Bay 27, Detroit 15

Detroit Lions Calvin Johnson can not hold on to the ball as defended by Green Bay Packers Tramon Williams during the second quarter in Detroit on November 24, 2011. UPI/Jeff Kowalsky
Detroit Lions Calvin Johnson can not hold on to the ball as defended by Green Bay Packers Tramon Williams during the second quarter in Detroit on November 24, 2011. UPI/Jeff Kowalsky | License Photo

DETROIT, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Aaron Rodgers threw his 32nd and 33rd touchdown passes of the season Thursday and kept Green Bay unbeaten by leading the Packers past Detroit 27-15.

Green Bay improved to 11-0 this year and extended its overall winning streak to 17 games. Detroit, which won its first five outings in 2011, fell to 7-4.

Advertisement

The Packers dominated the mistake-prone Lions, who outgained Green Bay but committed 11 penalties, suffered three interceptions, had two players ejected and lost their traditional Thanksgiving Day appearance for the 10th time in 11 seasons.

This was the 72nd year the Lions have hosted a game on the holiday. Detroit made the final score more respectable by producing a touchdown with 11 seconds remaining.

Rodgers accounted for the only first-half touchdown on a 3-yard pass to Greg Jennings with 4:51 left in the second period.

He then highlighted a 17-point third quarter with a 65-yard scoring toss to James Jones. That touchdown came one play after Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford threw the second of his three interceptions.

Advertisement

Detroit's chances were further diminished when star defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh was kicked out of the game early in the second half for pushing Evan Dietrich-Smith's head into the turf and then stepping on the Green Bay offensive lineman as well.

The unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty kept alive a Packers' drive that led to John Kuhn's 1-yard scoring run and a 14-0 lead.

Rodgers completed 22-of-32 passes for 307 yards without an interception. He leads the NFL in touchdown passes and has been picked off just four times all season.

Green Bay built a 24-0 advantage before Detroit put together its first scoring drive, one that ended on a 16-yard run by Keiland Williams. Mason Crosby kicked second-half field goals of 35 and 32 yards for the Packers and Stafford hit Calvin Johnson with a 3-yard touchdown pass in the final seconds.

Latest Headlines