Green Bay Packers vs Detroit Lions Match Player Stats (Dec 05, 2024)
Green Bay Packers vs Detroit Lions match player stats from their December 5, 2024 thriller had me on the edge of my seat. The Lions snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a 34-31 walk-off field goal, and the individual performances were absolutely electric.
Quick Stats at a Glance
The Game Essentials:
- Final Score: Detroit Lions 34, Green Bay Packers 31
- Location: Ford Field, Detroit
- Date: December 5, 2024 (Thursday Night Football)
- Attendance: 63,987
- Game Time: 3 hours 12 minutes
Key Numbers That Matter:
- Josh Jacobs: 3 rushing TDs
- Dan Campbell: 4/5 on fourth downs
- Time of Possession: Lions 36:06, Packers 23:54
- Lead Changes: 4 in the second half
- Game-Winning FG: 35 yards as time expired
Table of Contents
The Tale of Two Halves
This wasn’t just another NFC North battle. It was a chess match between two contrasting philosophies. Dan Campbell’s aggressive approach against Matt LaFleur’s calculated style created fireworks that lit up Ford Field.
The Lions entered as 11-1 juggernauts chasing history. The Packers, sitting at 9-3, needed this win to keep their divisional hopes alive. What unfolded was pure theatre.
First Half: Lions Strike Early
The opening quarter set the tone immediately. Detroit marched 70 yards on their first possession, with David Montgomery punching it in from 3 yards out. Meanwhile, the Packers offense sputtered badly.
“We just started, especially on the offensive side of the ball, too slow,” LaFleur admitted after the game. “I mean, we go, punt, punt, fumble, then we score a touchdown.”
That fumble came courtesy of Christian Watson, who lost the ball after a 20-yard gain. The Lions converted it into a Jake Bates field goal, pushing their lead to 10-0.
But the play that truly showcased the philosophical divide came with 11 seconds left in the half. Facing fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line, Campbell kept his offense on the field. Jared Goff found Jahmyr Gibbs for the touchdown, sending the Lions into halftime up 17-7.
The Packers’ Explosive Response
Green Bay emerged from the locker room like a different team. Jordan Love connected with Watson on a 59-yard bomb that set up Tucker Kraft’s touchdown just 1:45 into the third quarter. Suddenly, it was 17-14.
Then came the momentum swing. Keisean Nixon intercepted Goff and returned it to the Detroit 16. Three plays later, Josh Jacobs bulldozed his way into the end zone. Green Bay had their first lead at 21-17.
Offensive Fireworks: Statistical Breakdown
Green Bay’s Attack
Jordan Love’s Mixed Bag
| Stat | Performance |
|---|---|
| Completions | 12/20 (60%) |
| Passing Yards | 206 |
| TD/INT | 1/0 |
| Passer Rating | 111.7 |
| Key Moment | 59-yard bomb to Watson |
Love’s numbers don’t tell the full story. After the slow start, he led four scoring drives and made several clutch throws into tight windows. His 23 rushing yards on 4 attempts also kept drives alive.
Josh Jacobs’ Historic Night
The running back delivered when it mattered most:
- 18 carries for 66 yards
- 3 rushing touchdowns (1, 6, and 4 yards)
- Achieved his 1,000-yard season milestone
- 8 TDs in his last 4 games
Each touchdown came at a crucial moment, answering Lions scores and keeping the Packers in the fight.
The Watson Rollercoaster
Christian Watson’s night perfectly encapsulated the fine margins in this game:
- Team-high 114 receiving yards
- Crucial 59-yard reception
- Costly fumble leading to Lions points
- Game-changing OPI penalty in the fourth quarter
“He’s a high-character individual who took ownership for his mistakes,” LaFleur said post-game, while also acknowledging it was a bad play call in that spot.
Detroit’s Balanced Attack
Goff’s Surgical Precision
The Lions quarterback was methodical:
- 32/41 for 283 yards (78% completion)
- 3 passing TDs, 1 INT
- Perfect 7/7 on screen passes
- 13 consecutive completions in the fourth quarter
“That’s exactly the kind of game we expected,” LaFleur said. “It was tough and it went back and forth.”
The Committee Approach
Detroit’s offense achieved something unprecedented. According to OptaSTATS, they became the first NFL team with six different players recording 5+ receptions:
| Player | Receptions | Yards | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jahmyr Gibbs | 6 | 30 | 1 |
| Tim Patrick | 6 | 43 | 2 |
| Jameson Williams | 5 | 80 | 0 |
| Sam LaPorta | 5 | 54 | 0 |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | 5 | 43 | 0 |
| David Montgomery | 5 | 33 | 0 |
This distribution made it impossible for Green Bay’s defense to key on any single player.
The Fourth-Down Gambles That Defined the Game
Dan Campbell’s aggressiveness reached new heights. His fourth-down decisions weren’t just gambles; they were calculated risks that paid off spectacularly.
The Fourth-Down Report Card:
- Q2, 0:11 – 4th & Goal from the 2: Gibbs TD
- Q3, 5:02 – 4th & 1: Converted, led to Patrick TD
- Q3, 3:19 – 4th & 1 from own 31: Stopped (only failure)
- Q4, 8:39 – 4th & Goal: Patrick TD
- Q4, 0:43 – 4th & 1: Montgomery 7-yard gain
“That was how I wanted to play that team with where we are at,” Campbell explained. “I just felt like we needed to end it on offense. I did not want to give the ball back and I believed we could convert.”
That final conversion was pure drama. Goff stumbled while turning for the handoff, barely getting the ball to Montgomery, who powered forward for the crucial first down.
Defensive Battles and Breaking Points
Green Bay’s Depleted Secondary
The Packers defense faced an uphill battle after losing two starting safeties:
- Javon Bullard (ankle) – exited after 30 snaps
- Evan Williams (concussion) – left after 27 snaps
This forced Zayne Anderson, who had just 8 career defensive snaps entering the game, into extensive action (53 snaps). The Lions expertly exploited these matchup advantages.
Defensive Leaders Despite the Loss:
- Isaiah McDuffie: 15 tackles (11 solo)
- Keisean Nixon: 10 tackles, 1 INT
- Kenny Clark: 8 tackles, anchored run defense
Detroit’s “Next Man Up” Mentality
Playing without Aidan Hutchinson, DJ Reader, and Josh Paschal, the Lions defense still made crucial plays:
- Jack Campbell: Career-high PFF grade (85.5)
- Ezekiel Turner: Team-high PFF grade (91.8)
- Za’Darius Smith: 3 pressures, 1 sack in just 21 snaps
The defense bent but didn’t break when it mattered most, keeping the game within reach for their offense.
The Penalty That Changed Everything
With the Packers at first-and-goal from the 7-yard line in the fourth quarter, Christian Watson was flagged for offensive pass interference. The 10-yard penalty pushed them back to the 17, forcing them to settle for a field goal instead of potentially taking the lead.
“For a team that prides itself on its physicality, the Lions flopped like Magikarp any time the Packers touched them,” one fan observed, highlighting the controversial nature of the call.
Time of Possession: The Hidden Story
The Lions’ 36:06 to 23:54 advantage in time of possession wasn’t just a statistic. It was a strategic masterpiece:
- Lions ran 80 offensive plays
- Packers managed just 50
- Detroit’s defense stayed fresh
- Green Bay’s defense wore down
This disparity directly resulted from third-down efficiency: Lions converted 46.7% (7/15) while the Packers managed just 20% (1/5).
What This Means for Fantasy Football
Winners:
- Josh Jacobs: Three TDs make him a must-start against defenses struggling with power runners
- Jared Goff: Consistent floor with multiple weapons
- Tim Patrick: Emerged as a red-zone monster with 2 TDs
- Jake Bates: Clutch kicker in high-scoring offense
Losers:
- Christian Watson: Boom-or-bust volatility despite big yardage
- Packers DST: Can’t stop elite offenses, especially Detroit
- Jayden Reed: Season-low usage continues troubling trend
Looking Ahead:
Both teams face tough matchups next. Monitor injury reports closely, especially for Green Bay’s secondary and Detroit’s defensive line.
The Rivalry Continues
These teams meet again on Thanksgiving 2025 at Ford Field, and according to the NFL schedule, it’ll be another primetime showcase. The Packers will host the Lions in Week 1, marking their first season opener against each other since 2005.
As SI.com reports, the Lions have won three straight games in Green Bay. LaFleur knows what’s at stake: “We have to earn the right to potentially come back here.”
For more NFC North action, check out our coverage of Washington Commanders vs Detroit Lions match player stats and Green Bay Packers vs Los Angeles Rams match player stats.
FAQs About Green Bay Packers vs Detroit Lions Match Player Stats
Who won the Packers vs Lions game on December 5, 2024?
The Detroit Lions defeated the Green Bay Packers 34-31 on Jake Bates’ 35-yard field goal as time expired. This victory clinched the Lions’ playoff berth and extended their winning streak to 11 games.
How many touchdowns did Josh Jacobs score?
Josh Jacobs scored three rushing touchdowns from 1, 6, and 4 yards out. This marked his second three-touchdown game of the 2024 season and brought his four-game touchdown total to eight.
What was Christian Watson’s impact on the game?
Watson had 114 receiving yards but also committed two crucial errors: a fumble that led to a Lions field goal and an offensive pass interference penalty that likely cost the Packers a go-ahead touchdown.
Why did Dan Campbell go for it on fourth down so often?
Campbell went 4-for-5 on fourth downs as part of his aggressive philosophy. “I just felt like we needed to end it on offense,” he explained, preferring to control the game rather than give Green Bay the ball back.
Which Lions achievement was an NFL first?
The Lions became the first NFL team to have six different players record at least five receptions in a single game, showcasing their offensive balance and depth.
The Bottom Line
This game showcased everything that makes NFL divisional rivalries special. Every decision mattered, every play counted, and in the end, aggressive play-calling trumped conservative strategy. The Green Bay Packers vs Detroit Lions match player stats reveal two elite teams on different trajectories, setting up what promises to be another chapter in this fierce rivalry.
