Packers Shut Out Lions

NFL News - October 18th, 2009 - Written by John

Without their two superstars, the Detroit Lions are clearly not the same team. Sure, they have only won one game to-date this year, but have been competitive in every contest through the first five weeks. Week Six was not one of those instances, falling to the Green Bay Packers 26-0 on Sunday. Aaron Rodgers was harrassed all day by the blitzing Lions, but still managed to throw for 358 yards and two touchdowns. He was sacked five times.

The defense did the rest, holding Detroit to 149 total yards overall. They were 0-for-10 on third downs and turned the ball over three times. They weren't able to muster any offense, much in part because of Green Bay's selfish ball control. The Packers had possesion for 40 of the 60 minutes, gaining nearly seven yards per play.

The Lions, meanwhile, tried to find a suitable replacement for Matthew Stafford, who was out with a knee injury, and had to juggle between Daunte Culpepper and Drew Stanton. Culpepper had to leave the game with a sore hammy, giving way for Stanton in the third quarter. The third-year man was only 5-for-11 for 57 yards and was picked twice. There was no big-time playmaker on their offense after Calvin Johnson was held out with a leg injury also. That only spelled trouble for the Lions, who have lost 22 of their last 23 games.

Green Bay scored on their first possession of the game when Rodgers aired it out. On third-and6, Rodgers dodged on-coming traffic and delivered a strike to James Jones. The receiver gobbled up the ball and shook his way past several defenders before taking it 47 yards to the house to make is 7-0.

They got the ball back right away when defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins read a screen pass and stepped in front of it to give the Packers the ball at Detroit's 17. After a personal foul drove them back to the 21, Rodgers marched his team down to the goal line and finished off the drive with a one-yard pass to John Kuhn.

Donald Driver led all receivers with 107 yards on seven catches. He broke Sterling Sharpe's all-time receptions record with the team in the process.

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