3 Packers who deserve blame for brutal loss to Lions in Week 14
The Packers cost themselves throughout the game.
By Ryan Heckman | Dec 6, 2024
Week 14 was as pivotal a game as there has been, this season, for the Green Bay Packers. Coming into Thursday Night Football, the Packers were 9-3 going up against the first-place Detroit Lions, who sat with a record of 11-1.
The first half saw the Packers make some costly mistakes and never quite get going offensively, en route to a Lions 17-7 lead going into the break. But, the second half took a turn in the blink of an eye. In a matter of just a couple of minutes, the Packers had gone up 21-17 and suddenly, we had a tight game.
The second half remained tight all the way down to the wire, with the Lions ultimately finding themselves with the ball on the game's final play.
After a gutsy fourth-down conversion, Detroit set themselves up for the game-winning field goal as time expired, beating the Packers 34-31. As is often customary for fans to do, it's time to ask the question: who is to blame?
Which Packers let the team down the most in their Week 14 loss to Detroit?
Quay Walker, LB
The final score resulted in just a three-point game, and Quay Walker's 15-yard penalty in the first half looks like it might have been the difference. In the end, Walker's unnecessary roughness penalty ended with the Lions getting three points.
After the Lions accepted the penalty and proceeded to gain zero yards on the first, second, and third down thereafter, they were at least on the board with a field goal, taking a 10-7 lead. That field goal did, indeed, end up being the difference in this game.
Isaiah McDuffie, LB
The Packers' linebackers were attacked over and over again in this one, and Isaiah McDuffie might have been the most ineffective player on that side of the ball. He was atrocious in coverage.
McDuffie gave up nine receptions on nine targets for 68 yards and a touchdown to running back Jahmyr Gibbs. McDuffie allowed a team-worst opposing passer rating of 135.2 to Jared Goff when targeted, per Pro Football Focus.
Entire Packers offensive line
One of the biggest storylines going into this game was how beat-up the Lions were on defense. Specifically, their defensive line and pass rush were hurting big time. Yet, the Packers continually gave up pressures all night to this Lions front — 16 to be exact, including five hits on Jordan Love.
Not were they poor in pass protection, but Green Bay barely averaged over four yards per carry on the ground thanks to the Lions coming up with run stops.