Packers-Lions on Thanksgiving: What We Learned from Green Bay's 31-24 win

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• REWATCH: Packers-Lions on NFL+ Premium
• READ: Lions' Amon-Ra St. Brown exits loss with ankle injury
• READ: Packers stay 'aggressive' in win; Lions dig 'a hole'

1. Love carves up Lions on Thanksgiving Day. Jordan Love passed on the turkey or ham for his Thanksgiving plate, electing to eat lion instead. The Packers quarterback played his best game of the season, dropping big-time pass after big-time pass. Love led four consecutive non-kneel touchdown drives over the second and third quarters to ensure the Lions stayed at bay. Love generated 234 yards on 18-of-30 passing, a season-high four touchdown passes and didn’t turn the ball over. The quarterback was particularly excellent going downfield on Turkey Day, where he completed 4 of 6 passes of 20-plus yards for 126 yards and two TDs. He layered a dime to Dontayvion Wicks for his first TD of the game, and his best toss was a 51-yard bomb to Christian Watson for a score. Love continually moved the chains in pivotal points to keep drives alive and milk the clock late. Green Bay went 6 of 12 on third down and 3 of 3 on fourth down. Love was 7-of-11 passing for 74 yards and two TDs on third and fourth downs. Matt LaFleur showed plenty of trust in his quarterback, particularly keeping the ball in his hands for the game-icing play. The QB has taken plenty of heat this season, but in a massive divisional showdown, Love proved the key to victory.
2. Lions' fourth-down failures continue to haunt. The difference in the game came down to fourth downs. Jordan Love tossed two TDs and ended the game on his three fourth-down attempts. The Lions were blanked on their two fourth-down tries, turning the ball over on downs in a game in which Detroit couldn’t catch up after getting down 10-0 early. Things looked dreary early for the home team with Jared Goff going 0 for 3 with a sack in a two-punt first quarter. The loss of Amon-Ra St. Brown doubled the concern. Goff picked it up, and Jameson Williams had his best game as a pro, catching seven passes for 144 yards and a TD. At one point, Goff hit 15 consecutive passes, including two touchdowns, to keep the game close. However, the duo couldn’t connect on a fourth-quarter fourth down that helped squelch the comeback bid. Goff played well despite facing a 46.7 pressure rate and not having his best target. He finished 20 of 26 for 256 yards and two TDs, with no INTs. However, the failed fourth downs in the third and fourth quarters, coupled with the slow start, fueled the home loss. Detroit falls to 7-5 and is in real danger of missing the postseason in a crowded NFC race.
3. Parsons is the difference-maker. Green Bay’s defense got shredded by Jameson Williams and allowed 352 yards to the Lions, but when it needed a play late, it was Micah Parsons who slammed the door. His third-down sack on the Lions' final possession kept Detroit out of the end zone in a 10-point game. The pass rusher generated 2.5 sacks, including two in the fourth quarter -- when closers close. It wasn’t just the sacks where Parsons is special. He authored a game-high 10 QB pressures, five quick pressures and three run stuffs. He generated pressure on 38.5% of his pass rushes, his highest in a game since his rookie season. Oh, and Parsons takes the attention of the entire offensive line, allowing teammates to make plays. Green Bay held Jahmyr Gibbs to 68 yards on 20 attempts (3.4 yards per carry). The aspect of the game that should give the Packers the most optimism heading down the stretch and into January: Green Bay dominated the trenches on both sides of the ball.  

NFL Research: Jordan Love had six passing touchdowns, no giveaways, and was not sacked in two wins against the Lions this season. Love is the first Packers QB in the Super Bowl era with six-plus passing TDs and no sacks taken in a season against Detroit.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Packers-Lions (via NFL Pro): Christian Watson (6-foot-4) hauled in three of his six targets against Amik Robertson (5-foot-9) for 72 yards and a touchdown in Week 13 against the Lions. Robertson did not allow a reception to Watson on three targets in man coverage, with all of Watson’s production coming against zone.