Green Bay Packers: 3 takeaways from the Miracle in Motown Hail Mary

Green Bay Packers: 3 takeaways from the Hail Mary win over the Detroit Lions

DETROIT -- Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers couldn't remember ever completing a Hail Mary pass during a game.

He will never forget the one he threw Thursday night, a play that might have saved the Green Bay Packers' season.

Rodgers gunned a 61-yard pass to tight end Richard Rodgers on the final play to give the Packers a shocking 27-23 win over the Detroit Lions on Thursday night at Ford Field.

"It's the greatest feeling," said Aaron Rodgers, whose team lost four of its previous five games. "We're blessed to be able to play this game, and it reminds you at times how special this game is.

"I love what I do. I'm very fortunate to be a Green Bay Packer, and you live for days like this, to have a chance at the end and to have something miraculous happen."

Aaron Rodgers scrambled to his right and fired a bomb into the end zone, where his tight end made a two-handed grab. With the Lions rushing only three linemen, Aaron Rodgers bought time for his receivers to get downfield. He stepped up toward the line of scrimmage and let it fly.

"I was looking at (wide receiver) Davante (Adams), and it was pretty exciting to see Richard jump up there and catch it," he said.

Richard Rodgers, who is 6-foot-4, played basketball at the University of California. He boxed out the Lions' defenders.

"Richard's the perfect guy for that type of situation with his big body and ability to go up," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said.

The Packers needed a big break just to have a final chance. Aaron Rodgers threw a desperation pass on the previous play.

After a couple of laterals, the ball wound up in his hands again with no one behind him. But as Rodgers try to run forward, defensive end Devin Taylor grabbed his face mask, and flags flew. That gave the Packers another play with time expired.

Green Bay (8-4) was upset a couple of plays earlier when it felt Detroit safety Isa Abdul-Quddus should have been whistled for pass interference on a downfield throw.

"I think a little karma was saved up after the no P.I." Aaron Rodgers said.

Aaron Rodgers passed for 273 yards and two touchdowns and also scored on a 17-yard scramble for Green Bay, which rallied from a 20-point deficit. He was intercepted once.

What we learned about the Packers:

1. Green Bay is still a threat in the NFC as long as No. 12 is healthy. The Packers had no business winning this game after getting shut out in the first half. They needed a questionable facemask penalty just to get one last chance. However, Aaron Rodgers showed why he is one of the elite quarterbacks in the game, throwing a perfect Hail Mary pass that gave the Packers new life after they lost four of their previous five games. "My goodness, can Aaron Rodgers throw the football," coach Mike McCarthy gushed.

2. The running game is still in a state of flux. Eddie Lacy seemed as if he re-established himself as the lead back after back-to-back 100-yard games. However, after a poor week of practice, Lacy was benched at the start in favor of James Starks. "The idea was to come in here with a 1-2 punch," McCarthy said. Lacy wound up getting five carries for 4 yards, while John Crockett, just pulled off the practice squad, received the same amount of carries and gained 22 yards. Starks ran nine times for 15 yards. Discounting a 17-yard touchdown run by Rodgers, the Packers averaged 2.2 yards per carry.

3. Tight end Richard Rodgers is now the team's best receiving option. Aaron Rodgers once again showed very little confidence in his wide receiver trio of Randall Cobb, James Jones and Davante Adams. Cobb was a non-factor, other than a clutch fourth-down catch during the fourth quarter. Adams averaged 5.3 yards on his four catches, and Jones caught only one ball after getting shut out in the Chicago loss a week earlier. In contrast, Rodgers caught eight passes for 146 yards, including the decisive Hail Mary grab.

Etc.

--C Corey Linsley left the game Thursday during the second quarter with a knee injury, adding to more woes for an already banged-up offensive line. The usual right side of the line, T.J. Lang and Bryan Bulaga, was inactive because of injuries. JC Tretter replaced Linsley and was called for holding on his first play. "We need some time off," coach Mike McCarthy said of the injuries.

--RB John Crockett got some surprising time in the backfield. Crockett was elevated from the practice squad prior to the game and was expected to just contribute on special teams. However, with Eddie Lacy struggling after some practice issues, Crockett got five carries and picked up 22 yards. "He's been working super hard, and we felt like he deserved the opportunity," coach Mike McCarthy said. "We decided to stick him in there, and he gave us a big spark."

--LB Julius Peppers forced the only Detroit turnover of the game. He stripped the ball from QB Matthew Stafford, and LB Jake Ryan recovered at the Lions' 12-yard-line, setting up Green Bay's second touchdown. The veteran Peppers was credited with his seventh sack of the season and his second forced fumble. "It was one of the turning points in the game," Peppers said.