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4th Quarter

3:18  1:19   Lions' 6th Drive
Can we get three pick sixes in 3:09?  Nope.  Orlofsky was QB'ing.  But it's a four-and-out.

So the Packers go victory formation.  The Packers had a 21-zip lead, gave it up, then scored the final 24 points, the last 14 on pick-sixes.

A scary way to win, but it's a win and a blow out score nonetheless.

Read the rest of this blog below the series of links:

More:
• Game Blog
• Game Story
• Sports Glance with Lance: Thoughts from the Big D
• Big Unit Blog: What Do the Lions, Bengals and Raiders Have in Common?
• Jeff Falconio: A Wild Ride
• Jay Sorgi: Heroes in Opposite Uniforms

Packers Gameday Audio:
• Wayne Larrivee with Coach McCarthy
• Blast From the Past with Jim Irwin
• Packers Insider - Will Blackmon
• Pro Football Weekly

4th Quarter

3:12  2:41  Lions' 5th Drive
Green Bay 48, Detroit 25
Nick Collins, you must love playing Jon Kitna, because you just picked six him, too!!!!  I said he was good for one or two of those per game.  He REALLY is, apparently.

3:09  3:09  Lions' 4th Drive
Green Bay 41, Detroit 25
Charles Woodson, you're my MVP!  40 yard INT return to REALLY seal the deal.  You saved our butts when the offense couldn't do much in the 2nd half.

3:00 5:17  Packers' 4th Drive
Green Bay 34, Detroit 25
Jon Kitna just gave the Packers the break they needed - a Charles Woodson INT on a bad Kitna decision.  He's good for one or two of those per game.

Go to the run game.  Go to the run game.

What do they do?  GO TO THE RUN GAME FOR THE GAME CLINCHER!  Brandon Jackson 19 yarder.  I love a deep running back stable.  :)

2:58  5:27  Lions' 3rd Drive/Packers' 3rd Drive
Green Bay 27, Detroit 25
Tramon Williams, you just cost the Packers the lead on a 47-yard burn by Calvin Johnson.

Greg Jennings, you just gave the Packers life.  A 61-yard reception to the Detroit 22.  Now we MUST convet on this drive.

Brandon Jackson, you just killed a Packers' touchdown drive dropping a wide open 1st down catch inside the 10. 

Crosby...39 yarder?  THANK YOU!!!

2:49  7:51  Packers' 2nd Drive
3rd downs deep in Green Bay territory aren't very nice to think about.  A third and four...long bomb to Jennings was barely underthrown.  We can't give Detroit this many chances in the 2nd half.  Rodgers was over the line of scrimmage anyway.

We REALLY can't give the Lions the ball in our territory to continue to peck away from us.

2:46   9:38  Lions' 2nd Drive
The Lions now can take the lead.  This is really getting scary.

The defense has got to get it done, and the Lions O-line helps with a holding penalty.  So does Furrey dropping a pass behind him on 2nd down.  So does Al Harris on a GREAT tip on 3rd down.  Phew.  Phew.  Catch your breath.

2:37  12:21  Packers' 1st Drive
Green Bay 24, Detroit 18
Well, we've got a game now.  I'm not so bothered by the penalty by Jarrett Bush on the KO return.  Let's not just get yards, and a score, but time off the clock to really put the pressure on Detroit.

10 yard line?  Wait, let's change that thought.

The Detroit crowd comes to life as the Packers have to go 90 yards, and a Jennings drop doesn't help.

3rd down?  A Rodgers scramble for four yards doesn't do much in the sustained drive department.  No run plays called, either.  Hmmm...food for thought.

So is the snap by Brent Goode that was a little high to Derrick Frost for the Detroit safety.  Now a TD wins it for the Lions.  Ugh.2:29  13:17   Lions' 1st Drive
Green Bay 24, Detroit 16
Detroit needs two scores to stay alive.  Barely enough time, if Kitna can actually produce a touchdown-scoring drive.  A.J. Hawk proves ha can't cover tight ends sideline to sideline...a big time throw by Kitna to his tight end near the sideline.

Ugh.  Deep pass play, pass interference on Al Harris grabbing Roy Willams.  Better to have a 17 yard penalty than a 40 yard catch.

Wow.. Heck of a catch by Carlvin Johnson.  Why was Barnett covering him???  Well, Woodson was, and he nearly made the stop, but Calvin just paid great attention to the pass play.  No real blame there on Woodson, just a great effort by the receiver.

3rd Quarter

2:24  0:00   Lions' 3rd Drive/Packers' 3rd Drive
Sack on first play - Cullen Jenkins reached him and achieved something you never see anymore in the league...an in the grasp call.  Nothing there.  Domination again on the defensive end.  But nothing doing on the Packers' end, either.  A rare three and out.

2:14  2:28   Packers' 2nd Drive
Green Bay 24, Detroit 9
OK, offense, you haven't moved the ball in more than an hour.  Thank you, James Jones, for waking the offense up with a diving catch for a first down.  How many 3rd-down completions does Rodgers have today?  More than Jerry Tagge had in the whole 1973 season at this pace.

Brandon Jackson had a couple high quality runs of the seven and nine yard variety.  The tackles are dominating to let Jackson get to the outside.

I think Aaron Rodgers could call slant patterns (like what he called to Driver for a 10 yard gain) 30 times a game and complete it 25 times.  Coach McCarthy, you listening?  Just a play suggestion.

It's 7-9 for Rodgers on third down.  Can we go 8-10 from the DET 32?  Aaaah...movement on the line...against Detroit.  That's a helper on a 3rd and 10.

3rd-five?  We get that 8 out of 10 on a pass to Driver.

3rd-10 again for a TD?  Nope.  Driver had the ball on the goal line but about four Detroit defenders converged to get the ball out of his hand.

Field goal to make it 15 points?  Mason Crosby, Der Mingle as we love to call him, hits from 25 yards.

13 plays, 5:24 TOP.  Nice.

2:00  8:14   Lions' 2nd Drive
Green Bay 21, Detroit 9
A.J Hawk just pulled a Levar Arrington by leaping over a blocker and sacking Kitna.  (Arrington did that one time at Penn State.)  Then Woodson nearly pulled off an interception again!  Man, he's playing hard, and hurt.

Hanson's good from 53 yards.

1:57  9:37   Packers' 1st Drive
Packers response?  A fumble by Rodgers on the first play.  But he looked like Baryshnikov tightroping the sidelines to get a first down on the 34 yard line.  Wait...Rod Marinelli is challenging the call.  I think Rodgers might have black-shoed it on the sideline before the first down marker.

Ruling by the refs?  Nope.  1st down.  No indisputable evidence?  I think it was way before the first down marker.  Packers got another one.

Well, that matters nothing...the Lions just recovered the football as Dwayne White stripped the ball from Rodgers.  Clifton didn't protect Aaron's backside, or his grasp of the ball of the blind side.  30 yards to the end zone for Detroit.

1:46  11:27   Lions' 1st Drive
Green Bay 21, Detroit 6
Detroit has got to score on this drive.

They probably won't if Ryan Pickett is eating up blockers, as Larry McCarren is pointing out.  I like the eating Lion reference, as you've seen a couple times on this blog.

Al Harris pulled a great play out of getting burned with a deflection of a Kitna throw, but he actually switched off a receiver.  But that got negated by a 23-yard one-step throw by Kitna to Roy Williams when Aaron Rouse missed an assignment.

Charles Woodson drew a few boos, but no flags, on coverage against Calvin Johnson after nearly missing another interception.

50 yard field goal from Jason Hanson, who could have made it from 150 or so.

2nd Quarter

1:24 p.m. 0:00  Packers' 4th Drive
The Packers have 14 seconds and 60 yards to move.  Hail Mary chuck to try and put this game away?

Rodgers ran and slid near midfield and tried to call a time out with :02.  The refs didn't give it to them.  Must be WAC officials who flew in from Fresno.  (Just kidding, Mr. NFL officiating chief.)

1:20 p.m. 0:14  Lions' 4th Drive
Can Detroit save a chance to win in this contest that is seemingly flying out of reach?

If an injured Charles Woodson gets burned by Calvin Johnson for a 22-yard gain deep in Packers territory in the final minute?  Oh yes.  Nick Barnett also got away with a hit to the helmet on Kitna after the throw.

Smart call by the Lions to run the ball for the 1st down, dumb call by the Lions' grunt who tackled KGB for a holding penalty.

The 3rd down pass to Furrey  in the end zone proves that Kitna is not a top-flight QB.  He didn't have the touch necessary to drop it into the receiver's hands.  Bigby got shook up after the play, but is walking under his own power.

Jason Hanson goes 38 yards for the field goal.

Bigby's headling to the locker room early.

1:06 p.m. 2:49  Packers' 3rd Drive
The run game isn't so effective, or at least Ryan Grant isn't.  He's got 12 yards on nine carries.

Aaron Rodgers' mobility is saving the Packers on a number of plays.  He's scrambling out of trouble that Favre might not have with his, admittedly, old legs.

The third down bomb to Nelson was seemingly a risk, and Rodgers might have had Jackson for a first down - possibly bad decision - but Rodgers did one thing on the running-to-the-sideline throw downfield.  He threw it deep, but where it wouldn't be an interception.

Favre might have chucked it up for a pick in past years.

1:04 p.m.  4:11  Lions' 3rd Drive
If Detroit doesn't do much real quick, this game's history.

Roy Williams just toasted Al Harris for 26 yards...but that's coming back because he also pushed Harris to get free.  That, though, qualifies as an 'ehhh' call.  Not really that much interference.

But the Packers still have a penchant for penalties - Montgomery jumped too quickly.  Still, the Packers are controlling the Lions' passing game.  They're not letting them get a big gain, and they're tackling well on the short patterns.

That's when they can get the pass off.  KGB wouldn't let them on 3rd down.

12:54 p.m.  6:47  Packers' 2nd Drive
Green Bay 21, Detroit 0
Rodgers must have learned a few things from Favre, like how to thread a football through defenders to Donald Lee for a 26 yard gain.  That was very Favre-like in its risk, but also in its execution, yet you never felt a pick was in danger.  This kid has cool confidence.

A gaggle, plethora, can-I-pull-out-my-thesaurus-to-describe-a-bunch-of Detroit tacklers tried, but couldn't get a pass out of the hands of Greg Jennings, but failed on a 2nd down play.

JORDY NELSON!!!  He just burned Brian Kelly for a 28-yard touchdown!  Can someone just put Kelly on a stick and barbeque him?  Lion meat is tasty, isn't it?

Aaron Rodgers right now: 14-17 for 205 yards and three scores in 23:13 of football so far.

12:48  9:39  Lions' 2nd Drive
Aaron Kampman must like those wild hunting shows, because he just had Jon Kitna for lunch.  Three-and-out and a not-so-nifty sack celebration.  You need help from Driver on your dance moves.

12:42  11:07  Packers' 1st Drive
Green Bay 14, Detroit 0
Green By starts off the 2nd quarter with a 62-yard bomb to Jennings!!!  If Rodgers hadn't short-armed the throw, it's a touchdown.  Jennings had his guy burned by 15 yards.

Lumpkin is proving the limperfect condition of Ryan Grant from isn't huge with another 12-yard gain.  The Packers' O-line, though injury-depleted, is dominating when necessary.

The second touchdown of the game - MUCH easier.  Donald Driver was so wide open in the end zone that he could do a Gene Kelly shuffle...perhaps that was his move.

12:36  14:12  Lions' 1st Drive
If you judge things by the first play of a drive, the Lions are able to throw into the Packers' defense just as easily, an 11-yard Kitna-to Fitzsimmons completion.

Kevin Jones is gashing us just like the Vikings did...a 12 yard gain.  I have a feeling Lance Allan was right.  This could get scary.

A phew!!! moment...Al Harris got burned by Roy Williams but Kitna overthrew him.  Thank goodness.

Calvin Johnson pulling a T.O. with a drop on a pass over the middle on 3rd down.  He must REALLY be patterning his career after the Cowboys star.

12:24 p.m.  2:06  Packers' 2nd Drive
Green Bay 7, Detroit 0
The Lions' interior line looks like the old Rogers/Wilkinson big Honolulu style line, stuffing runners.  We need to throw the ball like Rodgers did on the 13-yard completion to Jennings to get out of the early hole.   Jennings proves to be the go-to guy again for Aaron on a 12-yard 3rd-down completion.  We like 3rd down completions.

Brandon Jackson did a heck of a job to wait for his blocking to set up on a cutback run that was pure Lombardi run-to-daylight, waiting for Jason Spitz to to take the nose guy where he wanted to go, then getting a nine-yard first down run.

Rodgers AGAIN with a key 3rd-down completion to James Jones.  I am loving this...Rodgers not doing too much, staying patient, using his mobility with the context of the passing game, getting first downs...and they're controlling the clock, too.

Mike McCarthy looked to be using a George Carlin word, though not guaranteed that he was, on the delay-of-game penalty...but Greg Jennings comes up big again on a 12-yard catch in the seam of the Tampa Bay cover-two that isn't very Tampa Bay-like.

Kregg Lumpkin lumping 19 yards!!  I guess we can depend on gashing the Lions like Atlanta did last week.

One last third down and goal:  Again, Rodgers buys time, again scrambles, again James Jones making a BIG catch in the end zone!!!  This Rodgers guy is for real!

15 plays, 8:08 on the drive...I think they learned their lesson from the Minnesota game.

12:11 p.m.  10:16  Lions' 1st Drive
The Lions seem to be running a little more of the '90's run-and-shoot type of formations against the Packers' injury-decimated secondary, and it's also opening up running lanes for Detroit.  Thank you, A.J. Hawk, for limiting the damage on the sack!!!

12:06 p.m.  12:42   Packers' 1st Drive
On the first few snaps, Detroit's defense has come to play.  They're angry after giving up 318 yards in the Atlanta game.  They made Brandon Jackson feel it on 3rd down after he caught an outlet pass on the only play available to Rodgers.  Three and out.  Ugly.

12:01 p.m. 
The Packers will receive the opening kickoff.

Pregame

11:25 a.m.
RB Ryan Grant and CB Charles Woodson are both NOT among the inactives for today's game, so they will at least dress for today's game.  How much action they'll see?  Who knows.

Who is inactive?  According to the NFL:
QB Brian Brohm (3rd QB)
TE Jermichael Finley
CB Pat Lee
WR Ruvell Martin
DB Charlie Peprah
G Josh Sitton
DE Jeremy Thompson
C Scott Wells

Pregame Story

DETROIT (AP) -- Calvin Johnson is the quietest spectacular athlete to play for the Detroit Lions since Barry Sanders played his final season a decade ago.

The No. 2 pick in the NFL draft last year usually says just a few words when reporters ask him questions and rarely makes eye contact.

"I'm just quiet," Johnson insists. "The media can twist words even when you don't say much, and I've been burned a couple of times. It happened in college and here."

While being understated and standoffish comes naturally, it's also a calculated move by Johnson because he figures the media will leave him alone at times.

"You can put it like that," Johnson.

Clearly, Johnson would rather let his skills speak for him, and the next time they'll be on display will be Sunday in Detroit's home opener against the Green Bay Packers.

If he plays anything like he did in last week's loss at Atlanta, his game will have a lot to say.

He matched a career high with seven catches and broke a personal mark with 107 yards, 38 of which came on a short crossing pattern that left the Falcons in the dust.

"That play impressed me," teammate Roy Williams said. "Two guys were coming at him and he pulled away. That's awesome. You can't coach that.

"It makes our wide receiver coach look good."

Receivers coach Shawn Jefferson agrees, saying he's working with a player who physically looks like a young Randy Moss -- with a better attitude.

"That's exactly what he is, but I think he'll be better," Jefferson said. "I'm not taking a jab at Randy Moss, but this guy wants to block and run dummy routes down the middle of the field if that helps the team. And, this kid has the mental makeup to be great, and this year he's taking a step toward that because he has worked so hard on his footwork."

Johnson's rookie year was stunted after he hurt his back in Week 3, limiting him the rest of the year. He finished with a respectable 48 receptions, 756 yards and four touchdowns.

"It took me a whole offseason to truly get healthy," he said. "Now, everything has slowed down for me."

That's a scary thought for anyone trying to defend him.

"He's going to do things in this league that will make people say, `I haven't seen that before,"' Detroit quarterback Jon Kitna predicted.

The Packers like their young standout receiver, too.

Greg Jennings, a second-round pick in 2006 from Western Michigan, led the team with 12 touchdown receptions last year. He also had 920 yards receiving despite missing two games with an ankle injury, and resting with other banged-up starters in the regular-season finale against Detroit.

"I think he got everybody's attention last year," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said.

Unlike Johnson, the 5-foot-11, 198-pound Jennings doesn't dominate competition with his size and speed.

"One thing about playing receiver, it's not about the size of a guy, it's about the heart," Jennings said. "It's about going up and getting the ball and making sure that either you get it, or nobody gets it."

Jennings consistently finds a way to get open, rack up yards after the catch and make big plays such as the 56-yard, leaping reception that set up Green Bay's first TD in its win over the Vikings. Jennings finished with five receptions for 91 yards on the receiving end of passes from Aaron Rodgers in his starting debut.

"Greg Jennings is definitely an up-and-coming front-line player in this league," McCarthy said. "I thought the performance that he had on Monday night was hopefully a start of a great season for him."

Chances are, Jennings is going to follow with another strong performance in front of friends and family about 125 miles east of his hometown Kalamazoo.

He has eight catches for 161 yards and three scores in two games at Ford Field against the Lions. His mom handles the ticket requests for the homecoming game, and the total will fall somewhere between "a whole bunch," and fewer than 100.

"It's ridiculous," Jennings said.

Some would use the same word to describe the Lions, who are an NFL-worst 31-82 since 2001 and have won only one playoff game since winning the NFL title in 1957.

But Jennings knows when the Lions are counted out, sometimes they put together a surprising performance.

"I've been watching them all my life," Jennings said, "been rooting for them practically all my life, and they're a scary team because you don't know what team's going to show up."

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)