Green Bay Packers vs Detroit Lions Match Player Stats (Sep 7, 2025)

Green Bay opened its 2025 season with a statement victory, dismantling Detroit 27 to 13 at Lambeau Field on September 7 as Jordan Love threw two touchdowns without an interception and Rashan Gary recorded seven tackles with 1.5 sacks to earn MVP honors. The Packers defense held the two time defending NFC North champions to just 246 yards while Josh Jacobs rushed for 66 yards and a touchdown, extending his scoring streak to nine consecutive games.

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Scoring Breakdown by Quarter

Green Bay controlled the game from the opening kickoff, scoring on three of its first four possessions. Tucker Kraft’s 15 yard touchdown reception with 9:25 left in the first quarter got the Packers rolling, and they never trailed. Detroit’s only touchdown came with 55 seconds remaining when rookie Isaac TeSlaa hauled in a 13 yard score for his first NFL points.

Complete Team Statistics

Detroit ran 18 more plays and held possession for over 10 additional minutes but couldn’t translate that advantage into points. The red zone numbers explain why. Green Bay converted 60 percent of its trips inside the 20 into touchdowns while Detroit managed just 25 percent, a critical disparity in a game decided by two scores.

Quarterback Performance

Jordan Love picked apart Detroit’s defense with pinpoint accuracy while Jared Goff faced constant pressure that disrupted his timing throughout the afternoon.

Love found Kraft streaking down the seam on a play action fake in the first quarter, dropping a perfect ball over safety Brian Branch for the opening score. At the 8:34 mark of the second quarter, he pump faked to freeze the linebackers, then floated a touch pass to Jayden Reed, who caught it in stride at the 10 yard line and ran untouched into the end zone.

“Obviously I think a big goal for us was to be able to come in here and start the season off fast,” Love said after the game. “To come in here Week 1 at home and get a dominant win like that is amazing and exactly what we’d been working for.”

Goff completed nearly 80 percent of his passes but Green Bay’s relentless pressure pushed him into checkdown mode. Four sacks and nine total hits disrupted his rhythm on nearly every dropback. Late in the second quarter, disaster struck when safety Evan Williams jumped an out route at the Green Bay 13 yard line, intercepting a pass that would have given Detroit a chance to cut into the 17 to 3 deficit before halftime.

Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker summed up the struggles: “We didn’t execute our game plan at the level we were supposed to. I can say that confidently even not watching the film. I think we average two something a carry. That is not up to our standard.”

Ground Game Dominance

Green Bay’s defense bottled up Detroit’s explosive running back tandem while Jacobs provided enough production to keep the chains moving.

Jacobs broke through the line on second and 8 late in the fourth quarter, bouncing outside for 15 yards and dragging a defender an extra three yards before going down at the Detroit 13. Two plays later, he powered through a goal line pile for a 3 yard touchdown that put the game away at 24 to 6.

The most stunning statistic came from Detroit’s backfield. Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery combined for just 2.7 yards per touch on 34 total touches, a dramatic decline from their 5.8 yard average during the 2024 season. Green Bay’s defensive front recorded six tackles for loss against the running backs, stuffing plays before they could develop and forcing Detroit into obvious passing situations.

The Lions entered the season with three new offensive line starters, including rookies Christian Mahogany and Tate Ratledge at the guard positions. That inexperience showed as Green Bay’s veterans won consistently at the point of attack.

Passing Attack and Receiving Leaders

Sam LaPorta provided Goff’s most reliable outlet with six catches for 79 yards, while Romeo Doubs gave Green Bay its biggest play through the air.

Doubs ran a deep crosser from under center on play action, getting a step on cornerback Terrion Arnold before Love launched a 48 yard strike that set up a Brandon McManus field goal. The reception marked the longest play from scrimmage for either team.

Gibbs caught all 10 of his targets but gained only 31 yards, the lowest receiving total in NFL history for a player with double digit receptions in a single game. Detroit used him exclusively on short routes that gained minimal yardage against Green Bay’s disciplined coverage.

LaPorta broke free for a 32 yard reception on the opening drive of the third quarter, facing third and 5 and showcasing his ability to separate at the catch point against tight coverage. Detroit’s final drive accounted for three of his six receptions, with the outcome already decided.

Love distributed passes to 10 different receivers, preventing Detroit’s defense from keying on any single weapon. His varied attack kept the chains moving and the defense off balance.

Defensive Dominance and Gary’s MVP Performance

Rashan Gary controlled the line of scrimmage from his edge position, disrupting plays repeatedly in Detroit’s backfield all afternoon.

Gary’s defining moment arrived at the start of the fourth quarter with Detroit facing first and 10 from its own 8 yard line. He exploded off the edge, driving through Pro Bowl tackle Penei Sewell’s block and wrapping up Goff seven yards deep in the end zone before the quarterback could step up. The sack resulted in a punt that gave Green Bay excellent field position.

“This is a new season, man,” Gary said. “Game one, you always want to go 1-0. That’s always been our mindset since I stepped into the building. Being able to have an NFC opponent, able to go 1-0, good start.”

Devonte Wyatt added a sack in the fourth quarter while Micah Parsons, making his Packers debut after the blockbuster trade from Dallas, recorded a sack in just 30 defensive snaps. Parsons beat Sewell with an inside swim move late in the game, chasing down Goff for a four yard loss.

“These last six months were super draining, super toxic for everyone,” Parsons said of his contract dispute in Dallas. “The fact I was traded before the season was really outrageous and rough. It’s something where I could have been with these guys getting better and better.”

Detroit’s pass rush failed to record a single sack despite Aidan Hutchinson returning from his fractured leg. The Pro Bowl edge rusher generated just three pressures in his season debut.

Red Zone Execution

Detroit entered Green Bay territory four times in the first half but produced only six points. Their second drive consumed over nine minutes of possession (9:31) with a 16 play march that stalled inside the 20, resulting in a Jake Bates field goal. Green Bay maximized its scoring opportunities, punching in touchdowns when it mattered.

Detroit settled for Jake Bates field goals of 30 and 27 yards when touchdowns would have kept them competitive. Green Bay’s 60 percent touchdown rate in the red zone proved decisive.

The turning point came in the fourth quarter with Detroit trailing 17 to 6. Facing fourth and 1 from the Green Bay 10, Love scrambled up the middle, lowered his shoulder, and drove forward for two yards to move the chains. Jacobs scored on the next play, essentially ending any comeback hopes.

For comprehensive statistical coverage across all professional matchups, Match Player Stats provides detailed breakdowns of every game.

Special Teams Impact

Whelan averaged 54.7 yards per punt with two downed inside the 20, flipping field position multiple times. His 65 yard boot in the third quarter pinned Detroit at its own 8 yard line, setting up Gary’s devastating sack two plays later.

Game Context and Injury Impact

Green Bay opened at home for the first time since 2018, extending their home opener winning streak to 13 games. A crowd of 77,239 packed Lambeau Field under 60 degree conditions to witness the Packers’ dominant performance. The 2 hour and 49 minute contest marked a significant turnaround from 2024 when the Packers went 1 and 5 in division games.

Detroit lost starting cornerback Terrion Arnold to a groin injury in the third quarter. Before exiting, Arnold allowed 87 yards on six targets including Doubs’ 48 yard reception and Reed’s touchdown. His absence forced the Lions to rely more heavily on Amik Robertson in coverage.

The Parsons acquisition reshaped Green Bay’s defensive identity. The three time All Pro edge rusher arrived after the Packers sent two first round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark to Dallas, giving coordinator Jeff Hafley an elite pass rush tandem opposite Gary.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell addressed the execution issues: “They came out and played outstanding, and we didn’t play good enough. We didn’t coach good enough, including me. Like I told the team, it’s tough to go in and not certainly play close to your best game.”

Key Plays That Decided the Outcome

The Williams Interception: Detroit drove 13 plays and consumed over seven minutes in the second quarter, converting two third downs to reach the Green Bay 19 yard line. Just 1:10 before halftime and trailing 17 to 3, Goff threw toward the sideline. Williams read the route, stepped in front of the receiver at the 13 yard line, and secured the interception. The play prevented Detroit from cutting the deficit to one score and swung momentum permanently.

Branch’s Touchdown Nullified: Trailing 17 to 6 in the third quarter, Detroit safety Brian Branch intercepted Love and returned it 35 yards for an apparent touchdown that would have cut the deficit to four points. However, a defensive holding penalty on cornerback Rock Ya-Sin wiped out the score. Green Bay maintained its two score lead and scored 10 unanswered points afterward to seal the victory.

Parsons’ First Sack as a Packer: With Detroit trailing 24 to 6 and desperately needing a stop, Micah Parsons beat Penei Sewell with an inside swim move on second and 10, chasing down Goff for a four yard loss. The sack on Detroit’s final realistic scoring drive ended any comeback hopes and validated Green Bay’s blockbuster trade.

Statistical Advantages That Made the Difference

Green Bay generated eight explosive plays of 15 or more yards compared to Detroit’s four. The Packers averaged 6.0 yards per play while the Lions averaged 4.0 yards per snap, a two yard difference that proved insurmountable over 47 offensive plays.

Love’s 8.5 yards per attempt ranked among the NFL’s best in Week 1 performances. Goff averaged just 5.8 yards per throw despite completing nearly 80 percent of his passes, demonstrating how Green Bay’s pressure limited him to safe, short completions.

Third down conversions favored Green Bay at 40 percent compared to Detroit’s 33 percent. The Lions converted 5 of 15 attempts, killing too many drives and preventing sustained offensive rhythm.

The September 7 season opener established Green Bay as a legitimate contender in the NFC North race while exposing vulnerabilities in Detroit’s retooled offensive line. The Packers defense held a high powered offense that averaged 33.2 points per game in 2024 to just 13 points, signaling a dramatic turnaround from their 1 and 5 division record the previous year. These Green Bay Packers vs Detroit Lions match player stats demonstrate how defensive pressure, red zone efficiency, and quarterback protection create championship level football.