The Green Bay Packers gave the Detroit Lions a tough challenge on Thursday night, but unlike previous seasons, there was no late-game miracle for the Packers as they came up short in a thrilling matchup.

The two teams exchanged leads multiple times in the second half, but it was the Lions who ultimately ran down the clock, securing a game-winning field goal with no time left to complete the season sweep over Green Bay.

Detroit’s 34-31 win ensures a spot in the playoffs for the Lions, while the Packers remain in the 6th seed of the NFC playoff standings.

However, this loss all but ends Green Bay’s hopes of winning the NFC North, as they would need to win every remaining game and for Detroit to lose out in order to have a shot at the division title.

Green Bay’s offense continued to put up impressive numbers, scoring over 30 points for the third consecutive game, but they did so on just 45 offensive plays.

Meanwhile, their defense struggled to contain the Lions, who put together five drives of at least 10 plays, with four of those lasting more than five minutes.

The biggest difference came in Detroit’s execution on third and fourth downs, where they went 7-for-15 on third downs and converted four of five 4th-down attempts, including a crucial one late in the game.

This allowed Detroit to drain the clock, forcing the Packers to use their final timeouts, ultimately preventing them from mounting a last-minute drive for a potential game-tying or game-winning score.

The Packers got strong performances from several players, including Christian Watson, who caught four passes for 114 yards.

However, Watson was also responsible for two costly mistakes. First, he fumbled in the second quarter, leading to a field goal for the Lions.

Then, in a critical moment in the red zone, Watson committed an offensive pass interference penalty, nullifying what would have been a go-ahead touchdown and forcing the Packers to settle for a game-tying field goal instead.

Green Bay’s defense also struggled, particularly in the second half.

Jared Goff and the Lions’ offense took advantage of a depleted Packers secondary, which was missing key players like Jaire Alexander, Corey Ballentine, and Evan Williams (who exited the game early). Goff had a productive night, completing 32 of 41 passes for 283 yards and three touchdowns.

Despite falling to 9-4, the Packers remain in a strong position for a playoff spot, though it’s likely they will have to play their first couple of postseason games on the road. Meanwhile, the Lions further solidified their hold on the NFC North and the top seed in the NFC with just four games left in the regular season.

The game began with Detroit taking an early lead. After a 28-yard reception from Jameson Williams put the Lions into the red zone, David Montgomery capped off the drive with a three-yard touchdown to give Detroit a 7-0 advantage.

Green Bay answered with a drive to midfield, aided by a pass interference penalty on Lions defensive back Brian Branch.

However, the Packers were forced to punt after quarterback Jordan Love’s third-down pass was thrown off-balance due to pressure from the Detroit defense.

The Packers’ defense responded by forcing a quick punt from the Lions, thanks to a sack by Rashan Gary.

Green Bay’s defense held strong on the next series, pinning Detroit deep in its own territory. After a stop on third down, the Packers took over near midfield.

However, a fumble by Christian Watson early in the second quarter gave the Lions excellent field position.

Watson’s fumble was recovered by linebacker David Long, and Green Bay’s defense, while bending, held strong and limited Detroit to a field goal, pushing the Lions’ lead to 10-0.

The Packers bounced back with a long drive of their own, chewing up over seven minutes of clock. Running back Josh Jacobs, who would have a strong performance, was the focal point of the drive, with nine rushing attempts compared to just two passes.

After Watson drew a pass interference penalty in the end zone, Jacobs punched in a short touchdown to make it 10-7.

Detroit didn’t let up and responded with a methodical drive of their own.

They moved into the red zone and, despite a valiant goal-line stand by the Packers, found the end zone with just 11 seconds left in the half.

On 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line, Goff connected with running back Jahmyr Gibbs on an angle route, beating linebacker Isaiah McDuffie to give the Lions a 17-7 halftime lead.

The Packers came out strong after halftime, starting with a huge play from Watson.

Love connected with him for a 59-yard bomb down the right sideline to set up the offense in the red zone. On third down, Love found tight end Luke Kraft over the middle for a touchdown, cutting the Lions’ lead to 17-14.

Green Bay then took its first lead of the night after a dramatic turn of events. Cornerback Keisean Nixon intercepted Goff early in the second half, returning the ball to the Detroit 15-yard line.

Three plays later, Jacobs spun through the Lions’ defense for a six-yard touchdown, putting the Packers ahead 21-17.

The Lions quickly responded with a long drive of their own. Goff orchestrated a six-minute, 13-play drive that featured two critical 4th-down conversions.

One was a quarterback sneak from midfield, and the other came when Goff hit Tim Patrick for a 3-yard touchdown on 4th-and-goal, giving Detroit a 24-21 lead.

Green Bay responded with another touchdown, as Jacobs completed his hat trick with a three-yard score to put the Packers back on top, 28-24. But the Lions weren’t done.

They answered with another lengthy drive that ended with Goff hitting Patrick for his second touchdown of the game, restoring Detroit’s lead at 31-28.

The Packers had one final chance to tie the game, and they did just that. Brandon McManus drilled a game-tying 47-yard field goal with 3:38 left on the clock, bringing the score to 31-all.

Green Bay then got into scoring range, with Watson making another big play and Dontayvion Wicks adding a pair of important catches.

However, Watson was called for offensive pass interference, pushing the Packers back to the 14-yard line. Despite the setback, the Packers managed another game-tying field goal, keeping the score tied.

With time winding down, the Lions quickly moved into Packers territory.

Goff connected with Amon-Ra St. Brown for a 16-yard gain on 2nd-and-17, setting up Detroit near field goal range.

Although Green Bay’s defense held strong on third down, Lions head coach Dan Campbell made another bold decision: He kept his offense on the field on 4th-and-1 near midfield, and they converted, setting up the game-winning field goal attempt.

With just seconds remaining, Jake Bates drilled a 35-yard field goal, sealing the Lions’ 34-31 victory and sending them to 12-1 on the season.

This win not only gives Detroit a crucial season sweep over their division rivals but also solidifies their spot atop the NFC North and strengthens their position as the top seed in the NFC, making them one of the favorites to secure a first-round playoff bye.