Thanksgiving got off to a great start when news broke that Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson were going to start against the Packers. The day got even better on the opening kickoff of today's game, because the Packers fumbled and Detroit capitalized by getting into the end zone on a touchdown pass to Calvin. Things continued to get better when the Packers capped off an 8-minute-long drive by missing a field goal, and it just seemed like everything was going the Lions' way.
The good fortune finally ran out on the Lions' next drive, though, because Stafford was picked off. Shortly after, Donald Driver made a catch for a gain of 68 yards to end the first quarter, and the Packers quickly turned that big gain into a touchdown. From this point in the game on, it was all Green Bay. The Packers slowly increased their lead with a bunch of field goals and then got into the end zone twice in the third quarter. The Lions attempted to make it interesting by driving down close to the end zone twice, but they only got a safety after turning the ball over on downs and a field goal out of those drives. Detroit did cut the lead down to only two possessions, but Charles Woodson picked off his second pass of the game and returned it for a touchdown to put the nail in the Lions' coffin. That was interception No. 4 of the game for Stafford.
It was tough to see Matthew Stafford and the offense struggle so much today after playing so well last week, but I will point out two things: 1) Green Bay is obviously a much better team than Cleveland; and 2) Stafford is still banged up. While he did tough it out and play the entire game, Stafford's facial expression throughout much of the day revealed that he was in a good amount of pain. His shoulder seemed to bother him more and more as the game went on, and the same could be said about whatever injury Calvin Johnson is suffering from. He looked sore from start to finish, so it will be important for both him and Stafford to heal up in the next week or so.
The Lions will now go on the road for their next two games. When Detroit returns to action on December 6, it will take on the Bengals in Cinncinati, and then it will play at Baltimore on December 13.