Packers second string out do Lions to win 45-41, QBs break records - NFL Week 17 Recap
It was a frustrating night for Detroit Lions Coach Jim Schwartz as he saw his team lose a closely fought game against a second string Green Bay Packers, 45-41 at the Lambeau Field on Sunday.
Much to the anger of Coach Schwartz the Lions were denied a perfect touchdown in the second quarter. Stafford sent a brilliant pass to receiver Titus Young and his catch was good but the officials ruled that Young did not have his foot in the end zone and
had run out of bounds while replays showed clearly that young had a foot inside the end-zone before going out of bounds.
With the Coach having used up all his challenges the on-field decision stood. Schwartz in his frustration also wasted a time-out in the hope that the decision may be reviewed but according to the rules of the league only if a touchdown is given the decision
could be reviewed and the officials call stood.
Aside from the poor officiating, it was one of the best encounters of the 2011 regular season. An equally matched affair the Lions and Packers took turns to score touchdown after touchdown and the Lambeau Field witnessed an epic.
Green Bay Packers replacement quarterback Matt Flynn and Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford both had one of the best games of their career. The two quarterbacks combined for 400+ yards with Stafford passing for five touchdown passes while Flynn created six
passing touchdowns. This was the first time in National Football League history when both opposing quarterbacks made at least five touchdown passes.
Stafford who has been increasingly impressive as the season progressed covered a mammoth 520 passing yards for five touchdown passes and two interceptions. The quarterback completed 36 out 59 pass attempts.
"We're going to use this as motivation," Stafford said. "We had a chance and didn't get it done, so we've got to get out there and start making it happen.”
Stafford also praised Flynn’s performance saying
"Flynn played a great game. Their guys were making plays all over the field and scoring points."
More impressive however, was the performance of Matt Flynn. The perennial bench warmer for Aaron Rodgers finally got the opportunity to show his skills and he took it with both hands. Flynn was massive in helping the Packers second string beat a gritty Lions
side showing just how good the Packers strength in depth is. Flynn passed for 480 passing yards making six touchdown passes and throwing a single interception. The quarterback completed 31 off 44 pass attempts.
"Just think of all of the great quarterbacks that have come through here," Flynn said. "It's very humbling. I just thank everybody around me and everything. I couldn't have done it, obviously, by myself. There's weapons all around me, and the line did a
great job.”
The Lions started off on fire taking a nine point lead early in the first quarter to stun the crowd at Lambeau Field. Titus Young scored the game’s first touchdown from an eight yard Stafford pass. Packers Cornerback Pat Lee then got tackled in his own end-zone
for a two point safety for the Detroit Lions.
Green Bay responded near the end of the first quarter. Kicker Mason Crosby scored a 22-yard field goal to make it 9-3 and Flynn sent his first passing touchdown from 7 yards, with just 16 seconds to the end of the quarter to Jordy Nelson to give Packers
a single point lead.
The second quarter became a shootout with both teams scoring t*t for tat. The Lions hit first. Stafford sent a 13-yard pass to receiver Calvin Johnson who continued his brilliant 2011 season to score another touchdown. With the Lions leading 16-10 Flynn
gave a short pass to Ryan Grant who dodged defender after defender to score a huge 80-yard touchdown and give Packers the lead again. The Lions responded with a thirty yard Jason Hanson field goal but Flynn was not done yet sending another 36-yard pass to
Jordy Nelson to end the second quarter with the Packers leading 24-19.
The third quarter started with both teams probing for scoring plays. At 6:39 Titus Young caught a pass brilliantly from Stafford to score a 2-yard touchdown bringing the Lions up 26-24. Two minutes later the Lions returned the favour, Jordy Nelson was again
the receiver for a Matt Flynn pass to score a brilliant 58-yard touchdown. With two minutes left in the third quarter Stafford sent a 5-yard pass to Kevin Smith who made no mistake to score another touchdown and the Lions successfully completed a two point
conversion taking a 34-31 lead.
At 8:10 in the fourth Matt Flynn was at it again sending a 35-yard pass to Donald Driver bringing the Packers back into the driving seat but Stafford was not to be outdone. The Lions quarterback threw his final touchdown pass to Tony Scheffler from 12-yards
to bring the score to 41-38 with just two minutes of play left.
The Lions looked to have won but Flynn never gave up. At 1:10 the Packers replacement quarterback saw the NFC Champions home with a four-yard pass to Jermichael Finley with the Packers sealing a 45-41 victory.
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