Big days for Rodgers, Driver as Pack rip Lions

By foxsports
Published

The Detroit Lions used to take a lot of pride in playing on Thanksgiving.

Lately, the Lions have been getting embarrassed when the nation tunes in to watch them.

Aaron Rodgers matched a career high with three touchdown passes and Charles Woodson grabbed two of his team's four interceptions, giving the Green Bay Packers a 34-12 win over Detroit.

The Lions have lost six straight games on the holiday, setting a franchise record, by an average of 23.2 points and eight of nine in the showcase game. The latest loss was an emotional setback for Detroit (2-9) four days after Matthew Stafford's gutsy play capped its biggest comeback win since 1957.


downlevel descriptionThis video requires the Adobe Flash Player. Download a free version of the player.


"It's a different feeling in this locker room - especially on national television to come out like that," Detroit center Dominic Raiola said.

Before its recent slide, Detroit won four straight and nine of 12 on Thanksgiving before ex-general manager Matt Millen arrived in 2001 and made a lackluster franchise awful.

Green Bay (7-4) has won three straight since losing to Tampa Bay to improve its postseason prospects.

"We can't talk about the playoffs yet," Packers receiver Donald Driver said.

Stafford, playing with a sore non-throwing shoulder, threw one touchdown pass and four interceptions. He threw five TD passes in Sunday's win over Cleveland after trailing by 21.

"When you've got to throw the ball every down to try to get back into it when you're behind, guys are going to be all over it," Stafford said.

Kevin Smith's longest run was 6 yards and he finished with 43 on 18 carries for the Lions.

"This is the type of game that you hit your head on a wall about," Smith said.

The Lions looked as if they were building off their rare momentum by recovering a fumble on the opening kickoff and with Stafford's TD pass to Calvin Johnson.

But the Packers scored 27 unanswered points in the second and third quarters to turn the game into a familiar rout.