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RECAP: Lions vs. Packers

What happened: The Detroit Lions are in the playoffs, but they let the bigger prize slip through their fingertips Sunday night.

Detroit had a chance to win their first division title since 1993 by beating Green Bay at Ford Field, but the Packers played lights out in the second half and came back from a 14-10 halftime deficit to win, 31-24, and claim their fifth NFC North title in the last six seasons.

View in-game photos from the Detroit Lions' season finale vs. Green Bay Packers.

With the loss, the Lions will be the No. 6 seed in the playoffs and travel to Seattle to play the Seahawks in the Wildcard round Saturday night.

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford brought the Lions back eight times this season when trailing in the fourth quarter, but Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers and a potent Packers offense just made it too difficult for Stafford and Detroit's offense to have an opportunity for a ninth.

Rodgers threw four touchdowns in the game, three in the second half, and made countless plays with his legs running the ball and extending plays in the passing game.

Detroit trimmed the Packers lead to 23-17 in the fourth quarter, but an 11-play, 75-yard drive culminating in Rodgers' fourth touchdown put the game out of reach.

After scoring 14 points and racking up 248 yards of offense in the first half, the Lions managed just a 54-yard Matt Prater field goal and 125 total yards in the second half until a Hail-Mary 35-yard touchdown from Stafford to Boldin made the numbers a little better with 13 seconds left in the game.

Detroit also got touchdowns from Zach Zenner and Golden Tate in the loss.

Missed opportunities: Detroit had a chance to put an early stamp on this game and take a lead, but missed on some opportunities.

Stafford missed Tate down the sideline on the team's second series after Tate had gotten behind the defense. Stafford's pass was a couple feet too far in front of Tate.

Another opportunity for a big play on Detroit's next series didn't materialize. They had a screen pass set up to Zenner with lots of room to run and blockers in front, but pressure forced another errant Stafford pass.

Later in that drive, Tate was called for offensive pass interference after catching a pass at the Green Bay 9-yard line. It pushed the Lions back and the drive ended with a missed 39-yard Matt Prater field goal. Those were 10 and potentially 14 points off the board early.

QB Comparison: Rodgers came into the game red-hot, throwing 14 touchdowns with no interceptions. He continued his torrid play.

He completed 27-of-39 passes for 300 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions and a passer rating of 126.0. He also rushed seven times for 46 yards.

Stafford completed 26 of his 41 pass attempts with two touchdowns and an interception for a passer rating of 96.3.

Lions injury report: Lions receiver Marvin Jones Jr. left the game in the fourth quarter and was being evaluated for a head injury, but passed those tests and returned to the field to end the contest. He finished with five passes for 76 yards.

Nickel cornerback Asa Jackson injured an ankle in the first quarter and didn't return. Safety Don Carey and others filled in for Jackson at the slot corner the rest of the way.

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