Hail Mary helps Packers close in on NFC North lead

Rodgers, taking the ball at the 35-yard mark, was under heavy pressure from the Lions defence, who managed to force the quarterback to retreat nearly 20 yards, before stepping to the right and running down the right side of the field.

On the first play of the next Detroit possession, Stafford was sacked by Julius Peppers, who forced a fumble.

Rodgers found Davante Adams in the end zone, and the Packers found themselves back in business, trailing 20-14. The ball got all the way back to Aaron Rodgers near the original line of scrimmage, and for a split-second, the game appeared over when the Lions closed in on him.

The Packers’ fourth quarter rally and the Rodgers’ desperation touchdown pass brought back memories of other noteworthy “Hail Mary” victories.

Lions defensive end Devin Taylor, on the facemask penalty that gave the Packers an extra play: “I knew I grabbed the collarbone, shoulder pad”.

Aaron Rodgers connected with Richard Rodgers on a 61-yard hail mary touchdown on an untimed final down Thursday night, giving the Green Bay Packers a 27-23 win over the Detroit Lions.

It looked for a time like the Detroit Lions might coast to a comfortable victory over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football.

Needing two scores, the Packers marched down the field, with Aaron Rodgers capping off an 84 yard drive with a 17 yard run, to cut the lead to two points.

Along with the Lion’s pass rush success, they held the Packers 0-6 on third down conversions in the first half, and held the Packers to 67 total rushing yards.

Even with time expired, this gave the Packers one more down, which is all Aaron Rodgers needed to throw his deep bomb. And we practice that play every week.

Rodgers finished the game 24-of-36 for 273 yards and two scores, and he was also the team’s leading rusher with 27 yards on four carries.

Lions coach Jim Caldwell echoed this, saying, “Didn’t think it was, but because you don’t think it was or I don’t think it was, it was called”.

The Packers now stand at 8-4, and will get 10 days rest before facing an injury burdened Dallas Cowboys team next Sunday. Carolina wins 37-29 over Green Bay. But Taylor’s right hand was ruled to have grabbed Rodgers’ facemask and the Lions were penalized 15 yards.

The Detroit Lions closed in on Aaron Rodgers, and there was nobody nearby he could lateral to.

The Lions D was inappropriate elsewhere-notice the two defenders hovering around their own 45-yard-line, ultimately useless on the play. “One Throw… One of the craziest finishes in National Football League history”. The three-time Super Bowl-winning coach said he has seen Carolina play twice this year and is impressed with its level of play. “Those are the ones that eat at you”.

Packers vs Lions: Detroit built a 20-0 lead when Matthew Stafford played with Calvin Johnson on his touchdown pass no 2 during the first quarter. Rodgers was throwing up really high balls and I was catching them, and I kinda saw the same thing, ran down there, saw the ball and made sure I was in the endzone and went up in caught it. I couldn’t breathe.