DETROIT (WTAQ) – Prayers in Titletown were answered as Aaron Rodgers heaved a 61-yard bomb on a final gasp that was caught by tight end Richard Rodgers as the Packers came back from a 20-point deficit to win 27-23 over the Detroit Lions Thursday night.
Time had expired on the previous play, but Lions defense end Devin Taylor was flagged for a 15-yard facemask call. Because the game cannot end on a defensive penalty, the Packers were given an untimed down with 0:00 left.
That’s when Rodgers, who finished the night 24-of-36 for 273 yards with 2 touchdowns and one interception, was able to escape the Lions pass rush and crow-hop into his high, deep pass that his namesake came down with.
The play capped a big night for Richard Rodgers, who caught 8 passes for 146 yards and that game-winning score.
The Lions (4-8) got off to a fast start, leading 17-0 in the 1st quarter and 20-0 part way into the 3rd quarter.
Nothing seemed to be going right on either side of the ball for the Packers (8-4) in that first half. It featured missed assignments on defense, an anemic offense and a missed field goal.
But the Packers hung around. Wide receiver Randall Cobb recovered a James Starks fumble in the end zone for the first Green Bay score.
Julius Peppers then stripped the ball from Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford on the next play, and 3 plays later Rodgers hit Davante Adams for his first TD of the season.
Just like that the Packers were within 6 points at 20-14.
Lions kicker Matt Prater connected on his 3rd field goal of the night to make it 23-14 in the 4th quarter. But Rodgers led the Pack on an 11-play, 84-yard drive and took it into the end zone himself from 17 yards out to make it 23-21.
Stafford had a solid night the Lions, finishing 23-of-35 for 220 yards and 2 TD’s.
Get a complete recap of the Packers win with Mark Daniels and Matt Z on the 5th Quarter, Monday at 5 p.m. exclusively on 1360/97.5 WTAQ News Talk Sports.
