Jared Goff (Photo: Junfu Han, USA TODAY Sports)
By Mark Eckel
If the Detroit Lions are the best team in the NFL as their 12-1 record indicates they are, the Green Bay Packers are not far behind.
The Packers took the NFC's top seed down to the final play of the game and lost 34-31 on Lions kicker Jake Bates' 35-yard field goal as time expired on Thursday Night Football.
Both teams played shorthanded in what turned out to be a classic NFC North battle.
The Lions came in with most of their front seven injured and then lost defensive tackle Alim McNeil during the game. The Packers played without their best cornerback Jaire Alexander, best cover linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and best wide receiver Romeo Doubs. And then lost both rookie safeties Evan Williams and Javon Bullard during the game.
Green Bay erased two 10-point first-half deficits and took the lead in a second half that saw five lead changes and one tie.
Brandon McManus' 32-yard field goal tied the game at 31-31 with 3:38 to play. The Lions held the ball the rest of the way. They picked up 40 yards on their first two plays, converted a key 3rd-and-7 from the 37. And after a holding penalty converted on 2nd-and-17 from the same 37.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell took a huge gamble to go for it on 4th-and-inches from the 21 with 43 seconds to play. Quarterback Jared Goff slipped as he handed off to David Montgomery, but the ruling back picked up the first down and Bates easily made the kick.
The win kept the Lions as the top seed in the NFC, while the loss dropped the Packers (9-4) further behind fifth-seed Minnesota for the fifth seed and only a game ahead of Washington as the sixth seed.
Here are the rest of the highlights and lowlights from the Packers fifth loss to the Lions in their last six games.
Offensive Hero: Jordan Love played a good second half, but running back Josh Jacobs scored three of the team's four touchdowns and had a fourth called back by penalty.
Offensive Zero: If it weren't for his couple of big plays and 114 yards this would have gone to Christian Watson (fumble, drop, key penalty). Instead it was another sub-par performance for Elgton Jenkins and for that matter the entire offensive line.
Defensive Hero: Defensive tackle Kenny Clark played his best game of the season. He was disruptive, made three big tackles and looked like his Pro Bowl self again.
Defensive Zero: Cornerback Eric Stokes hasn't been the same since getting hurt at Detroit two years ago. Forced into action because of the injuries in the secondary he did not look good again.
Play of the Game: Keisean Nixon's interception of Goff early in the second half led to a Jacobs touchdown and the Packers first lead of the game.
Turning Point: The Packers trailed 34-31 and faced second-and-goal from the 6-yard line with just over four minutes to play. Love found Jacobs for what would have been his fourth touchdown. But Watson was called for offensive pass interference. That moved the ball back to the 16 and they had to settle for a game-tying field goal.
This and That: In their first meeting the Lions were 5-for-5 with two touchdowns on 4th down. Thursday night they were 4-for-5 with two touchdowns on 4th down. …Love threw for 175 yards in the second half after being held to 31 in the first half. …Neither team had a kickoff or a punt return in the game.
Injuries: Defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness (thumb), safety Evan Williams (concussion) and guard Sean Rhyan all left the game in the first half. Van Ness and Rhyan returned. Bullard (leg) left in the second half.
Inactives: Cornerbacks Jaire Alexander (knee) and Corey Ballentine (knee), linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring) and wide receiver Romeo Doubs (concussion) were all ruled out Wednesday. The lone healthy inactive was rookie offensive lineman Jacob Monk.
Up Next: The Packers will play their third consecutive prime time game when they head to Seattle (7-5) for Sunday Night Football. Seattle has a big NFC West game at Arizona (6-6) this Sunday. First place in the division is on the line.