DETROIT — Richard Silva grades the Detroit Lions in their 31-24 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving.
Quarterback
Without two starting offensive linemen, his best receiver and one of the NFL’s top tight ends, Jared Goff completed 20 of his final 23 throws for 256 yards and two touchdowns, and he used his feet on a 24-yard scramble. Goff’s most costly misfire came in the fourth quarter, when he had Jameson Williams streaking open on fourth down but put the ball behind the receiver. Grade: B
Running backs
Jahmyr Gibbs did solid individual work, forcing five missed tackles in the first half, according to Pro Football Focus’ live data. His numbers in the box score (68 yards on 20 attempts) tell more about Detroit’s run blocking. David Montgomery had 48 total yards and a touchdown on 10 touches, including a direct snap he received before plunging into the end zone in the second quarter. Grade: B
Wide receivers/tight ends
The Lions only ran four plays before Amon-Ra St. Brown exited with an ankle injury. Others stepped up in his absence. Most notably, Williams posting a career-best 144 yards on seven catches. He scored on a 22-yard screen pass that featured a broken tackle, and he was electric after the catch, with 87 yards. Goff’s fourth-down throw was off target, but Williams still could’ve (and perhaps should’ve) held on. Tom Kennedy, playing for the first time this season, hauled in a 23-yard reception to put the Lions in position to score three plays later, and Isaac TeSlaa recorded his third career touchdown as part of a two-catch, 35-yard performance. Grade: B+
Football player
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) celebrates after a catch against the Green Bay Packers during the first half an NFL football game in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Offensive line
Down Christian Mahogany and Graham Glasgow, the offensive line wasn’t quite a liability, all things considered. Still, it wasn’t a strength. Detroit’s first offensive series ended because safety Xavier McKinney and linebacker Isaiah McDuffie had instant pressure on Goff, who was sacked three times, and the Lions were stuffed on back-to-back plays for a turnover on downs near midfield. Credit where it’s due: On TeSlaa’s touchdown, Goff had all day, allowing the rookie to come open. Grade: B-
Defensive line
Detroit’s pass rush has been absent for a month. In other games, the unit could at least hang its hat on defending the run. On Thursday, though? That wasn’t the case. Running back Josh Jacobs averaged 4.9 yards a carry, and the Packers converted a third down by running the ball three times. The Lions have produced only four sacks over their last four games, and 1.5 of those are from defensive back Brian Branch. Grade: F
Linebackers
Jack Campbell’s ascent to being one of the NFL’s best linebackers has been a fun watch, but both Campbell and Alex Anzalone were quiet against the Packers, outside of each having a couple run stops. Campbell made a pivotal error in the red zone, inadvertently grabbing the facemask of an opponent. That infraction negated a third-down stop, and it gave the Packers a new set of downs they took advantage of. Grade: D
Secondary
Amik Robertson has certainly seen better games. The veteran cornerback had his moments, like when he helped cause an incompletion on a deep shot to receiver Christian Watson in the second quarter, and did the same to force a punt in the final frame. But he was beaten a number of times, including on Watson’s 51-yard touchdown that extended Green Bay’s lead to two possessions. Watson (four catches, 80 yards) and Dontayvion Wicks (six catches, 94 yards) lit the secondary up. Love only completed 18 of his passes, but he piled up 234 yards. Grade: D
Special teams
There wasn’t much of an opportunity for special teams to make an impact, though the unit did well in its limited opportunities, with punter Jack Fox averaging 42.5 yards on two attempts and Tom Kennedy returning a punt 21 yards. Jake Bates made his only field-goal attempt, a 31-yarder. Grade: A
Coaching
Head coach Dan Campbell went for it on fourth down twice, first eschewing a punt near midfield before later opting against a field goal. I didn’t love the second decision, as Campbell, down by 10 points with about 11 minutes remaining, chose to try a fourth-and-3 instead of kicking a field goal that could’ve made it a one-possession game. There were also some procedural errors, like when the defense only had 10 players available for a third down, or when it was later flagged for having 12 men on the field. That second misstep turned a third-and-7 into a third-and-3. Love picked up 2 yards, and the Packers went on to score on fourth-and-short. Grade: D