The most anticipated Thursday Night Football game of the year has finally come; Green Bay v Lions, a long time rivalry finally settled. Many fans had high hopes for the Lions on Thursday night. Watching the game, you can see that not only is the crowd fired up, but also the team, starting the game off by giving their all. After a lackluster season with sloppy offense, it is no surprise that Lombardi was fired. His replacement, Jim Bob Cooter, cleaned up the team’s plays, enhancing the offense significantly. It’s obvious that he has made an immense change in the Lions’ performance, and in regard to the game, fans have the utmost faith in the new offensive coordinator, “It’s all in Jim Bob Cooter’s hands,” said Frederick Scott ‘16, in regards to this game.
The beginning portion of the first quarter was uneventful, no touchdowns for either team and a series of intercepted passes, but it was obvious that both teams were trying to score. The first team to score points was the Lions, with Eric Prater scoring a 51 yard field goal. Then it was the Packers drive, and…nothing interesting happened there folks. Finally, at around 7 minutes left, the Lions gained the first down in their second drive. They got two more first downs and then, at 1:58 left of the first quarter, Matthew Stafford, quarterback for the Lions, threw a pass, caught by Eric Ebrons #85 in the endzone, scoring the first touchdown of the game. This put the game at 10 to nothing, making it look like a promising game to Lions fans out there. Making the statement one junior made seem all the more likely, “If the Lions continue to play how they’ve been playing and the Packers play how they’ve been playing then it’s a easy win for the Lions,” Azran Choudhury ‘17.
As the second quarter began it looked dim for the Packers, seeing as the score was 20 down, and if the Packers continued playing so sluggishly then it truly would’ve been a simple win for Detroit. With not much happening in the second, and the score remaining the same, the third quarter began. It was at this point that things took a turn for the worst for Lions fans. In simple terms, this was the comeback quarter for Green Bay even with three backup linemen the Packers manage to score a touchdown and an extra point changing the score to (20-7). It was non stop from this point on, with Aaron Rodgers passing to Davante Adams, leading to another TD tipping scales a little bit more for Green Bay. However, the Lions would not lie down and take a defeat, as Matt Prater kicks a beautiful 42-yard field goal making the score (23-14), and ending the third quarter.
After multiple interceptions and incomplete passes hope is slim for the Packers at the start of the fourth quarter. Aaron Rodgers did manage a run to the endzone in the beginning changing the score to (23-21), however once Detroit received the ball they made sure they kept it. It remained this way to the time where the game had seemingly ended with the win going to Detroit. Until the ref called a helmet grab which resulted in a penalty and the extension of the game, giving Green Bay another chance at the ball. It was at this point that A. Rodgers quite literally hauled the ball in a last second play. An unbelievable Hail Mary ensued with Richard Rodgers making an amazing catch in the endzone, earning the final and winning touchdown of the game.
As you can imagine the unexpected turn of the game left everyone in the stadium in complete disbelief. Numerous sports’ fans are positive the call was bogus and completely unfair. Unfortunately the dream for Detroit to have nine wins and seven losses, which would allow the team to be eligible for playoffs, is officially dead. However, for Packers fans it couldn’t have been a better game as it is currently dubbed: ‘A Miracle in Motown,’ leaving Green Bay with a (8-4) season so far, and the Lions with (4-8). This night and that last minute call especially, has no doubt caused an exceptional upset. But it can’t be denied that it was an action packed game full of twists and turns that nobody could’ve seen coming.
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