A Historic NFL Rivalry
The Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions have one of the NFL’s longest-standing divisional rivalries, dating back to 1930. With 191 games played between these NFC North contenders, their matchups have produced some of the most memorable moments in NFL history.
Largest Margin of Victory
The rivalry’s most lopsided victory came in 1940 when the Packers overwhelmed the Lions 50-7, including a stunning 43-0 lead.
Don Hutson’s 29 Point Quarter
On October 7, 1945, Don Hutson set an NFL record that still stands today. In just one quarter against the Detroit Lions, Hutson scored 29 points – something no player has matched since.
Playing at State Fair Park in Milwaukee with about 25,000 fans watching, Hutson caught four touchdown passes and kicked five extra points, all in the second quarter. The 32-year-old receiver took advantage of strong winds that day, catching long passes from teammates Roy McKay and Irv Comp.
The Packers scored six touchdowns in just nine plays during that quarter, helping them win the game 57-21. Detroit’s coach Gus Dorais summed it up simply after the game, saying “Too much Hutson.”
The Thanksgiving Day Massacre
One of the most significant regular season games occurred on Thanksgiving Day 1962, when the Lions defense dominated the previously undefeated Packers.
In what became known as the “Thanksgiving Day Massacre,” Detroit’s relentless defense sacked quarterback Bart Starr 11 times en route to a decisive 26-14 victory, handing Green Bay their only loss of that championship season.
1994 NFC Wildcard Game
The 1993 season brought high stakes to the rivalry when the Lions secured the NFC Central title with a 30-20 victory on January 2, 1994 at the Pontiac Silverdome.
However, the Packers would have their revenge just a week later in a dramatic Wild Card playoff matchup, winning 28-24 on a clutch Brett Favre to Sterling Sharpe 40-yard touchdown pass with under a minute remaining to secure the win.
Barry Sanders was held to -1 rushing yards by the Packers defense.
This was the first ever postseason matchup between the Lions and the Packers, and the Lions’s first home playoff loss.
Matt Flynn’s 6 Touchdown Performance
In one of the most surprising performances in this rivalry, backup quarterback Matt Flynn set Packers records in the 2011 season finale against Detroit.
With Aaron Rodgers resting for the playoffs, Flynn threw for 480 yards and six touchdowns in a 45-41 win at Lambeau Field. Flynn and Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford combined for 11 touchdown passes and 1,000 passing yards that day.
Flynn’s biggest plays included touchdown passes of 58 and 36 yards to Jordy Nelson, who finished with 162 yards and three touchdowns. The game went back and forth, with 11 lead changes, before Flynn threw the winning touchdown to Jermichael Finley with just 1:10 left in the game.
The Miracle in Motown
In the “Miracle in Motown” game, the Packers pulled off one of their most amazing comebacks ever against the Lions on December 3, 2015.
The Lions were winning 20-0 in the second half at Ford Field. But the Packers fought back to make it 23-21 with just seconds left.
On what everyone thought was the last play, the Lions were called for a facemask penalty, giving the Packers one last chance with no time on the clock. Aaron Rodgers scrambled and threw the ball 61 yards through the air when Richard Rodgers leaped over everyone else for the grab, catching it in the end zone for the win.
The Packers won 27-23, stunning the Detroit crowd. The Rodgers-to-Rodgers Hail Mary won NFL Play of the Year and became one of the most famous moments in this long rivalry.
Favre & Rodgers Era of Dominance
Between 1990 and 2019, during the Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers eras, the Packers established dominance with an impressive 42-20 record against Detroit.
This included wins in both playoff games between the teams and 27 wins at Lambeau Field alone.
Things began to change in the 2020s – in fact, Aaron Rodgers’ final game as a Packer was a loss to the Lions in 2022 at Lambeau, when Detroit won 20-16 to knock Green Bay out of the playoffs.
Rise of the Lions Under Dan Campbell
Starting in the 2022 season, the Lions began to consistently challenge the Packers. The Lions defeated the Packers in four straight matchups from January 2022 through September 2023, including a 37-30 win on January 9, 2022, and a 34-20 victory at Lambeau Field on September 28, 2023.
The Packers broke the streak with a 29-22 win in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day 2023, but the Lions responded with back-to-back victories in November and December 2024, including a 34-31 road win on December 5.
In 2023, under gritty head coach Dan Campbell, the Lions ascended by not only winning the NFC North but also securing their first playoff victory since 1991 with a 24-23 win over the Los Angeles Rams. This playoff drought-breaker, followed by another postseason win against Tampa Bay, showed that the Lions were no longer the division’s punching bag.
