One of these days the Lions will figure out how to win in the state of Wisconsin and break one of the remaining vestiges of their bad losing streaks.Their streak of 21 consecutive losses to the Packers at Lambeau Field was extended to 22 Sunday night after a 27-20 defeat.
It was the fifth-straight loss for the Lions, who remain winless in the NFC North. They’ll have one more chance to break that winless streak Week 17 vs. Chicago at Ford Field.
It was also the eighth loss this season in one-possession games.
That's been the story of the 2012 season for the Lions, they’re in every game and yet they fail to make the key plays in the fourth quarter with the game on the line.
“We’re probably the best three-quarters team in the league,” linebacker
It was more of the same Sunday. It’s almost like the same script continues to be played out week after week.
“If we make the key plays, then we win,” Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said after the loss. “If we don't, then we don't win.
“And the Packers made the key plays tonight. All across the board - they made a field goal that made it a two score game at the end. They ran the ball and got a touchdown to get the lead. They intercepted a ball. They scored on defense. They got a big third down conversion, whatever it is. They made those plays. We didn't.”
That’s the Lions season in a nutshell. Encapsulated in one quote.
After jumping out to a 14-3 lead, and driving to extend the lead, the Packers were allowed right back in the game when defensive end Mike Daniels scooped up a
It was the eighth non-offense touchdown allowed by the Lions this season, which is one of the reasons they are 4-9 on the season. It was another big momentum-changing play that didn't go the Lions' way.
“That one is really unfortunate because it's not a bad decision,” Schwartz said of the play. “It's not being careless. It's just the ball slips out of his hands and the one time it does we paid a penalty for it.
“We had a good play call on there too. We had a good chance to really make a big play.”
The Lions got off to a quick 14-0 start, scoring on their first two possessions.
Stafford took it in from 4 yards out on the first drive (12 plays, 80 yards) and then hit tight end
They led 14-10 at the half after rushing for 117 yards and out-gaining the Packers 218 yards to 94 over the first 30 minutes. The Lions had the ball for nearly 23 minutes in the half.
The second half, though, was all Packers.
They scored 17 points and imposed their will offensively on a Lions defense.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers scored on a 27-yard run and running back DeJuan Harris gave the Packers the lead for good at 24-17 early in the fourth quarter with a 14-yard run.
The scoring drive on Harris’ touchdown counted seven plays and spanned 59 yards and all of them were running plays.
“You can call it whatever you want, but it was poor defense,” Schwartz said of the drive. “A situation in the game where we had a chance to go out and get a stop and they just run the ball down our throat.”
It was just another in a long line of fourth-quarter drives the defense hasn't been able to make a key stop this year.
He became just the third player in NFL history (Andre Johnson and Marvin Harrison) to record back-to-back 1,500-yard seasons.
All Johnson could think about after the game, though, was it being just another loss.
“It’s frustrating,” he said. “We’re right there … we’ve got to find a way to close it out.”
Stafford finished 27-of-45 for 264 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
The Lions are now guaranteed a losing record coming off a 10-win season a year ago that saw them qualify for the playoffs for the first time in 12 years.
“We had high hopes for this season,” guard
