Packers vs Lions history: five things to know before Sunday

Sunday sends the Packers to Detroit, and this is one of the oldest series in the NFL. The two teams have played twice a season every year since 1932, and the Packers lead the all-time series 108-78-7. Green Bay won the last meeting 31-24 in Detroit on November 27, 2025.

The Lions turn up in my book, the All-Time Best Green Bay Packers Trivia Quiz Book, and a few of these stories are questions in it. Here are five things worth knowing before kickoff.

The Packers scored 41 points in one quarter in 1945

The Lions led 7-0 in the second quarter at Green Bay on October 7, 1945. Then the Packers scored six touchdowns in a row, 41 points in a single quarter, and that is still an NFL record. Don Hutson caught four of those touchdown passes and kicked five extra points, 29 points in one quarter, two more records that still stand. The Packers won 57-21.

The Thanksgiving Day Massacre was the only loss of 1962

Vince Lombardi’s Packers came to Detroit on Thanksgiving, November 22, 1962, with a 10-0 record. The Lions were second in the Western Conference at 8-2, and their defense took over. Detroit sacked Bart Starr 11 times, led 23-0 at halftime and won 26-14. It was the only game the Packers lost all year, and they went on to win the NFL championship.

Two playoff wins in back-to-back seasons

The Lions hosted the Packers in the wild-card round on January 8, 1994, at the Pontiac Silverdome. Detroit led 17-7 in the third quarter, but Green Bay came back, and with 55 seconds left Brett Favre ran to his left and threw 40 yards to Sterling Sharpe for the winning touchdown. The Packers won 28-24.

The two teams met again in the wild-card round on December 31, 1994, this time at Lambeau Field. The Packers held Barry Sanders to minus 1 rushing yard and won 16-12. It is still the last playoff game between these two teams.

Matt Flynn threw for 480 yards in 2012

The Packers had already locked up the top seed when they hosted the Lions on January 1, 2012, so Aaron Rodgers sat and backup Matt Flynn started. Flynn threw for 480 yards and six touchdowns, both Packers single-game records at the time. Matthew Stafford threw for 520 yards for Detroit, the most ever in a game against the Packers. Green Bay won 45-41, its 15th win of the season, the most in a regular season in team history.

The Miracle in Motown, December 3, 2015

The Lions led 20-0 at Ford Field on a Thursday night, December 3, 2015, and they still led 23-21 when the clock ran out. A face mask penalty on the last play gave the Packers one more snap with no time left. Aaron Rodgers threw a 61-yard Hail Mary into the end zone, and it was caught for a 27-23 win. At the time it was the longest touchdown pass to end and win a game in NFL history.

That’s the story behind Sunday’s matchup. You can find every Packers vs Lions game on the team page, and the site’s trivia quizzes are at the trivia hub.

My Packers trivia book has more questions from these stories, like who caught that Hail Mary in Detroit and which team Matt Flynn came back against for the biggest road comeback in Packers history. Every answer comes with the story behind it, in paperback and Kindle on Amazon.