GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – The Green Bay Packers (6-9-1) wrapped up a disappointing season with a shutout 31-0 loss at home against the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers exited the game in the second quarter and never returned following a concussion. Both Green Bay and the Detroit Lions (6-10) will miss the playoffs.
Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for 266 yards and two touchdowns, both to wide receiver T.J. Jones. The Lions led 21-0 at halftime and dominated the action to that point with an edge in total yards (261-67) and first downs (16-3).
Lions kicker Matt Prater contributed to the offensive attack as he threw a touchdown pass with 10:36 left in the second quarter to Levine Toilolo.
Aaron Rodgers finished 3 of 5 for 26 yards after only playing three series.
Packers receiver Davante Adams missed the game with a knee injury and finishes the season with 111 catches, one shy of tying the single-season franchise record set by Sterling Sharpe in 1993.
Backup quarterback DeShone Kizer went 16 of 35 for 132 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception.
The Packers struggled on the ground throughout the game, managing only 46 yards rushing overall on 13 carries.
With the rest of Sunday’s results several pieces of the Packers 101st season fell into place. Green Bay will play the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers next season based on their 3rd place finish in the NFC North, along with the entire AFC West and NFC East divisions, and six games against their traditional NFC North rivals. The home/away breakdown is as follows:
HOME: Minnesota, Detroit, Chicago, Carolina, Oakland, Denver, Washington, Philadelphia
AWAY: Minnesota, Detroit, Chicago, San Francisco, LA Chargers, Kansas City, NY Giants, Dallas
Additionally, Green Bay’s 2019 draft position was locked in. Based on their overall record, the Packers will select 12th in the first round. Additionally, the Packers own the New Orleans Saints first-round pick via a trade. That selection won’t be known until the Saints are eliminated from the Playoffs, meaning that pick could fall anywhere from 28th to 32nd in the first round.
Of course, the biggest question remains who will coach the team when the 2019 training camp opens in late July.
Shortly before kickoff of Saturday’s game, it was reported that the Packers want to interview current Northwestern football coach Pat Fitzgerald, considered by many to be one of the hottest coaches in the college ranks. Fitzgerald’s interview would take place after the Wildcats play in the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl on Monday night against the University of Utah if he agrees to be considered for the team’s head coaching position.
Fitzgerald worked with Packers Packers CEO and president Mark Murphy when Murphy was the Director of Athletics at Northwestern.
