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Packers vs. Lions score, takeaways: Green Bay pulls away from Detroit behind Aaron Rodgers, Aaron Jones

And just like that, all seems right in Green Bay. The Packers were able to earn their first win of the regular season by defeating their NFC North rival Lions at Lambeau Field 35-17. That said, it did look like the Packers struggles that were apparent in their opening loss to the Saints were going to rear their head again as the Lions came out firing. They took an early lead thanks to a 75-yard touchdown drive to open the game and even went into the half with a three-point lead. However, Aaron Rodgers and Co. were able to step on the gas in the second half, outscoring the Lions 21-0 to close out the contest.  

Rodgers finished with four touchdowns on the night while completing 22 of his 27 throws for 255 yards. While Rodgers had himself a bounce-back night, the Packers offense did flow through running back Aaron Jones for the bulk of the winning effort. He finished with 67 yards rushing while catching all six of his targets for 48 yards. He also had four total touchdowns (three receiving, one rushing), which tied a Lambeau Field record. Meanwhile, Jared Goff connected on 26 of his 36 throws for 246 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. T.J. Hockenson was his go-to target, catching eight passes for 66 yards and a touchdown. 

Below, you'll be able to find our main takeaways from Monday's Week 2 finale. 

Why the Packers won

Green Bay's offense was solid from the jump in this game. It was able to ride Jones and Rodgers essentially wire to wire as both the Packers stars finished with four touchdowns on the night. Even as the Lions came out on Monday night hot offensively, Green Bay was able to match them for the bulk of the first half and then stepped on the gas in the second. Excluding a kneel down prior to halftime, the Packers had five touchdowns on their first six possessions of the game. Even with the Lions firing on all cylinders to begin this game, they couldn't keep up with the Rodgers for all four quarters. The intensity with the Packers offense was also noticeable as they were clearly looking to make a statement following their loss in Week 1. Defensively, the Packers clamped down in the second half, shutting Detroit out while forcing one fumble and an interception. 

Why the Lions lost

You do have the give the Lions some credit as they came into this game and gave the Packers their best swing in the first two quarters. They started with an impressive 75-yard touchdown drive to begin the game, continued to match Green Bay, and even entered the half with the lead. However, their best punch wasn't enough to KO the Packers, who proceeded to go into lightspeed in the second half. Really, it was a tale of two halves for the Lions. They scored on three of their first four offensive drives of the night. After the break, they turned the ball over on downs twice, fumbled, threw an interception, and punted once. Over that same stretch, the Packers had three consecutive touchdown drives that blew the game wide open. 

Turning point

The Lions were really able to take it to the Packers in the first half, but couldn't keep that momentum going over the final two quarters. After Green Bay retook the lead with a touchdown drive out of the halftime locker room, Detroit's offense started to stall out. On their first possession of the second half, they were able to march all the way to the Packers 25-yard line, but failed to convert on fourth-and-1 and gave the ball back to Green Bay. Given that they needed just 1 yard to continue the drive, it was a bit puzzling why the Lions elected to drop back and pass on that critical down instead of trying to move the chain via the ground game. 

After that turnover on downs, the Packers strung along another touchdown drive to really create separation and leave the Lions in the dust.  

Play of the game

You won't find many passes better than Rodgers' 50-yard bomb to Davante Adams this season. On a third-and-12 attempt, the Packers quarterback dropped back and delivered a perfectly placed ball to Adams up the right side of the field to put Green Bay on the doorstep of the red zone. That catch came on the opening possession of the second half and the Packers cashed in just three plays later when Rodgers threw a laser to tight end Robert Tonyan for a 22-yard score. That touchdown along with Goff's touchdown throw to Hockenson in the first half were candidates for the top play as well. 

What separates this play from the rest, however, is that it also made some NFL history. With that completion, Rodgers moved ahead of Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway for 10th all time on the NFL's passing yards list

What's next

From here, the Packers will head to San Francisco for a prime-time game against the 49ers -- who are fresh off a win over the Eagles -- on "Sunday Night Football". As for the Lions, they'll pick up the pieces and await the Baltimore Ravens, who will visit Ford Field after beating the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2. 

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It didn't start this way, but this ended up being the confidence-booster the Packers needed. Green Bay is now 1-1, avoiding the 0-2 slide with a tremendous offensive showing against a division rival.

 
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Aaron Jones has tied a Lambeau Field record with his four touchdowns. This also ties a Monday Night Football record, which was last done by Marshall Faulk in 2000. 

 
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Oh. Oh no. Jared Goff can't handle the snap in the rainy weather, and suddenly the Packers have the ball again. Aaron Rodgers might have a fifth passing TD momentarily. This one's over now. Sorry, Lions fans.

 

Don't look now, but the Packers are knocking on the door of covering following that fumble. 

 
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Last season, Aaron Rodgers averaged four passing touchdowns per game following a loss. Tonight, the Packers QB has four passing touchdowns in the aftermath of their Week 1 loss to the Saints. A 2020 trend bleeds into 2021. 

 
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That latest Aaron Jones TD feels like it might be the nail in the coffin. Lions still have a full quarter to come back (and they showed fight until the end in Week 1), but Green Bay is now firing on all cylinders offensively, and we know how hard that is to beat. Aaron Rodgers is now 17-of-21 and up to four TDs through the air.

 
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Five combined penalties on this drive alone.

 

The Rodgers-Adams connection has come alive this second half. Bunch of chunk plays to move the chains for Green Bay.

 
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