Live blog: Lions comeback falls short in Green Bay

Geoff Robinson, The Detroit News
Lions running back Theo Riddick is hit before he can get to any space by the Packers' Nick Perry in the first quarter.

The Lions almost pulled off the unbelievable, coming back from a 31-3 deficit in the first half to cut the Packers lead to 34-27 late in the fourth quarter. The defense wasn't able to get off the field at the end of the game, however, as Aaron Rodgers picked up a big third down with his feet to ice the game.

Matt Stafford had a good statistical day, throwing for 385 yards, three touchdowns and one interception that, quite frankly, was Eric Ebron's fault. Mavin Jones had a career day, bringing in six receptions for 205 yards and two scores.

It was obvious on this day that the Lions missed Ziggy Ansah and DeAndre Levy, especially in a first half where Rodgers and Co. scored four touchdowns on their first four possessions. Rodgers threw for 205 yards and those four touchdowns to elad the Packers.

The Lions offense was pretty one-dimensional, rushing for just 50 yards, led by Dwayne Washington's 38.

Eddie Lacy rushed for 103 yards for Green Bay.

There's no quit in Lions today

Matt Stafford put some touch on the ball and found Marvin Jones for a 35-yard touchdown pass that brings the Lions within a touchdown at 34-27 with 3:34 left to play.

Jones has 205 receiving yards and two scores today. He and Stafford have displayed unbelievable chemistry today.

Lions D forces three-and-out

A dropped pass, a negative yardage run and an eight yard completion forced the Packers to punt the ball back to the Lions, who will take over at their own 38.

It's still 34-20 with 5:05 remaining.

Stafford, Lions come up empty

The Lions picked up a first down to start the drive, but Matt Stafford took a sack and threw an incompletion, putting his team behind the chains and forcing Jim Caldwell to send out the punting unit.

Green Bay will start at its own 26.

Packers punt for the first time

The Lions forced the Packers into a third-and-eight near midfield, but Quandre Diggs made a big play on the ball, forcing Green Bay to punt for the first time today.

Eddie Lacy started the drive with runs of four, 14 and two yards.

Lions settle for field goal

Matt Stafford spread the ball around nicely on a crucial drive for the Lions, moving the team into Packers territory. He hit Marvin Jones for what appeared to be a first down on third-and-20, but the spot was marked a yard short and the Lions didn't challenge, instead committing a false start penalty that moved them into a third-and-six. Stafford was sacked on the next play and the Lions had to settle for a 50-yard Matt Prater field goal that makes it 34-20 with 12:32 remaining in the game.

A holding call on the play before Jones' brought back a 12-yard gain for Eric Ebron inside the 15. Ebron, Cole Wick and Jones all reeled in receptions for double-digit yards on the drive.

Packers add points 

The Lions got a steady diet of Eddie Lacy to start the drive for the Packers, and the former Alabama running back took four carries for 30 yards to put the offense inside Lions territory. It appeared the Lions had allowed Aaron Rodgers to pick up a first down with his feet on third-and-10, but a holding penalty negated that gain. After Rodgers picked up 14 on the next play, the Packers were forced to settle for a 46-yard field goal attempt which Mason Crosby drilled to give Green Bay a 34-17 lead with 3:14 to play in the third quarter.

A huge make there for Crosby that puts the Packers up by three scores.

Lions strike early in second half

After Matt Stafford hit Marvin Jones for a 23-yard gain on the first play of the second half, Theo Riddick ran the ball four times and reeled in two receptions to get the Lions down the Packers 1. On fourth down and goal, Stafford was able to hit Anquan Boldin for a two-yard touchdown pass to pull the Lions within two touchdowns at 31-17 with 8:23 to play in the third quarter.

That's exactly what the Lions needed. They've cut the Packers lead in half on their last two possessions. Now, it's the defenses turn to show up.

Stafford finds Jones for touchdown just before the half

Marvin Jones walked the tightrope along the sideline, hauling in a pass from Matt Stafford and taking it 73 yards for a touchdown with 32 seconds left in the first half.

That's exactly what the Lions needed going into halftime. They'll go into the half down three scores, instead of four, and they'll get the ball first coming out of the break.

What they will need is a defense that has a pulse. Aaron Rodgers is 12-for-18 with four touchdowns in the first half.

Packers strike again

After Eddie Lacy reeled off a 25-yard run to the Lions 37 to put the Packers back in business, Aaron Rodgers found Jordy Nelson four times, ending the drive with a 17-yard fade pass for a touchdown.

Rodgers' fourth touchdown pass of the day puts Green Bay up 31-3 with 1:10 left to play before halftime. 

Prater misses field goal

Matt Stafford was able to complete two first downs to Golden Tate and got a 20-yard gain to Eric Ebron on third-and-11 to put the Lions in business at the Packers 24. After Theo Riddick lost a yard on first down, Stafford threw two straight incompletions and Matt Prater missed a 43-yard field goal.

Rodgers and Co. settle for field goal after turnover

The Packers were faced with a third-and-short when Aaron Rodgers threw up a pass for Jordy Nelson to the end zone. This time, however, the Lions secondary won as Darius Slay had good coverage and was able to force a field goal attempt. Mason Cosbry hit from 36 yards out to give Green Bay a 24-3 lead with 10:41 to play in the second quarter.

Everything's going wrong for the Lions

The Lions looked to have something going in Green Bay territory, but Damarious Randall ripped the ball away from Eric Ebron on what should have been a nine-yard gain and returned it to the Detroit 25.

Dwayne Washington started the possession with back-to-back carries for 11 yards and Matt Stafford found Marvin Jones for a 38-yard gain to get across midfield.

Interference call sets up easy Packers TD

Nevin Lawson had superb coverage on a deep ball down the field, but after getting his feet tangled up the receiver, a flag was thrown to give the Packers a first-and-goal at the Lions 2. It didn't take Aaron Rodgers long to take advantage, finding Richard Rodgers for a score on the very next play.

It's 21-3, Packers lead, with 14:46 to play in the second quarter.

Lions second possession goes nowhere

The Lions threw the ball three times and it resulted in three incompletions, forcing a punt that was the last thing this team needed right now.

Rodgers, Packers go down field with ease

After the Lions kickoff went out of bounds and set Green Bay up at the 40, Aaron Rodgers hit Jordy Nelson for a 39-yard gain down to the Lions 11. On third down, Rodgers found Nelson for a nine-yard touchdown that puts the Packers up 14-3 with 1:01 left to play in the first quarter.

The Lions are going to have to start getting some pressure on Rodgers or this is going to be a very long afternoon.

Lions settle for field goal

After netting negative yardage on the first two plays, the Lions benefitted from a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty that moved the drive out to their own 38. Matt Stafford was able to hit three different receivers in taking the offense down the field before settling for a 42-yard Matt Prater field goal.

After a Stafford scramble for seven yards, the Lions picked up a third-and-three with a quick-hitter to Golden Tate. Stafford then found Eric Ebron for nine yards on first down. After Theo Riddick again struggled to find running room, he lined up as a wide receiver on third down and caught a pass for 12 yards and a first down. Again, the Lions were faced with a third down when Stafford hit Ebron for a 14-yard gain. That's where the Lions stalled, however.

Rodgers, Packers off to fast start

On third-and-eight from the Lions 14, Aaron Rodgers hooked up with Davante Adams for an early touchdown that gives the Packers a 7-0 lead.

Jared Cook picked up 15 on third and five to move the ball out to the 45. Eddie Lacy touched the ball for the third time early on, rushing six yards up the gut to get Green Bay into Lions territory. The Lions appeared to have Aaron Rodgers in some trouble, forcing him to scramble in the backfield, but the veteran found Randall Cobb for a 33-yard completion down to the 17.

Stage set for division battle

In 2015, the Lions took a 1-7 record to Green Bay and beat their division rivals at Lambeau Field for the first time since 1991. If they're going to make it two in a row today, Matt Stafford will have to be on his game and the defense will have to overcome a bevy of injuries.

The Lions could find themselves in a shootout today, so that's going to mean avoiding penalties like the ones that took points off the board last week and, ultimately, cost the team the game.

Luckily for Stafford, the Packers will be without starting linebacker Clay Matthews today, whose missing his first game since 2013 with an ankle injury.

Both teams are banged up, though, as the Lions are in Green Bay without DeAndre Levy (quad) and Ziggy Ansah (ankle), the team's two best defensive players. It's the unheralded guys that are going to have to step up for the defense and try to keep Aaron Rodgers from scoring at will.