Sunday Six-Pack: Packers Humbled by the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field

Sunday's game between the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions was built for a throwback style.

Temperatures were in the mid 50s, and there was a heavy rain that affected play.

Both teams started with run-heavy approaches that led to points for their respective offenses. 

From there, a slugfest broke out. 

Almost literally.

Ultimately, the mistake-ridden Packers continued to make far too many mistakes to be among the league's elite. 

They trailed 24-3 at one point, and never truly got close as the Lions blew the Packers out. 

Game Ball: Josh Jacobs

In game where there were not many bright spots, it looked like Josh Jacobs was going to do his best to carry his team to victory on Sunday afternoon. 

Jacobs was established early and often on the first drive of the game, which carried the Packers deep into Lions territory to give him a 3-0 lead. 

Jacobs fell just short of topping the century mark on the day, and looked explosive against a tough Lions' defense.

Jacobs might deserve MVP honors from the first half of the Packers' season on the offensive side of the ball.

Today was just another example for how good he's been in Green Bay. 

Lame Ball: Brian Branch 

Today's game is different than what it was 30 years ago. 

Had Brian Branch been playing in that era, his play on Bo Melton may not have been flagged.

The reality is, he doesn't play in that era, and the rules are different now.

In the second quarter, Brian Branch laid a vicious hit on Melton on a deep corner route. 

Replays showed that Branch hit Melton in the facemask with the crown of his helmet, which immediately drew flags.

Shortly after the penalty was assessed, Branch was ejected from the game with a call from New York's eye in the sky giving an assist.

Branch's hit might have even drawn flags in a previous era. It was dirty in every sense of the word.

To make matters worse, Branch gave the Lambeau crowd a two-fingered salute on his way out of the stadium.

Chances are that he's going to be hearing from the league office this week. 

Play of the Game: Mosby/Gary Sandwich

With the Packers trailing 7-3, and getting clubbed over the head on their first possession, the defense needed a stop.

They faced a third down in a passing situation for the first time of the day. 

Goff dropped back and didn't have much time before he looked up and saw Arron Mosby and Rashan Gary bearing down on him. Mosby and Gary turned Goff into the middle part of a sandwich, and the Packers got off the field. 

Pivot Point: Jordan Love's Poor Decision

The Packers' defense made a stop in the red zone, and trailed the Lions 10-3 when they got the ball with less than a minute to play. 

The Packers' offense took the field looking to keep the ball out of the Lions' hands, and perhaps tie the game before kicking off to begin the second half.

A short completion to Romeo Doubs started the drive, and Jordan Love looked like he was in business. 

The next play, however, the whole game changed.

Love was pressured and tried to escape to his right. He could not move as well as he normally would without the injury.

A groin injury, however, does not affect decision making.

Love threw a ball into heavy traffic that was easily intercepted by Kerby Joseph.

Joseph waltzed into the end zone, and the Lions led 17-3. 

A Frog's Warts

Green Bay's issues this season are well-known at this point. They make a lot of silly mistakes, and struggle with being penalized.

Those issues reared their ugly head in the first half of Sunday's game.

Green Bay's first two possessions were altered by both of those issues.

Their first possession they marched deep into Lions' territory before facing a third down in the red zone.

Jordan Love saw an all-out pressure that caused him to throw the ball hot to Chris Brooks.

The ball was a little behind Brooks, but it should still have been caught.

Instead of a touchdown, they kicked a field goal to take a 3-0 lead. 

Detroit's first possession was aided by an offsides penalty on 4th and goal that gave the Lions the ball at the 2.5 instead of the 5. 

Amon-Ra St. Brown would score on the next play, when it didn't appear the Lions were planning to run anything from the five. 

Green Bay's second offensive possession was killed by a false start that turned 3rd-and-3 into 3rd-and-8. 

Jordan Love would throw incomplete on the next play, and the Packers were forced to punt.

Those mistakes seem small as they happen, but add up through the course of the game.

Then of course, there's the big mistake as mentioned above with Jordan Love's pick-six to close out the first half. 

As the Packers get further into their schedule, the margin for error is going to shrink even more than it already has. 

They cannot continue to shoot themselves in the foot like they did in the first half. 

Up Next:

The Packers will head into their bye week licking their wounds after a second consecutive home loss inside the NFC North 

Their next game will be November 17 against another divisional opponent. The Chicago Bears.

Matt LaFleur has never lost to Chicago as Head Coach fo the Packers, but this is a different animal this year, with an improved defense, and Caleb Williams leading the charge for Chicago's offense.