Detroit Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown on Super Bowl 60 expectations
Amon-Ra St. Brown says Detroit Lions’ urgency to win the Super Bowl is high for 2025, even though they could return the same core players in 2026.
The Detroit Lions won three straight games at Lambeau Field entering their 2025 NFL season opener in Week 1, but they couldn’t make it a fourth.
The Lions lost 27-13 against the Green Bay Packers in a Week 1 road matchup on Sunday, Sept. 7 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, a game where the Packers thoroughly outplayed their division rivals.
Rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa made an acrobatic catch for the Lions‘ lone touchdown late in the fourth quarter, but the game wasn’t as close as the score appeared.
The Packers pulled off one of the biggest trades in recent NFL history on Aug. 28 when they acquired All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons via a trade with the Dallas Cowboys, though he was limited in his play as he recovers from a back injury. He did, however, record his first sack as a Packer on Lions quarterback Jared Goff late in the fourth quarter.
The Lions’ expectations have been lifted enough for many in the organization to tag 2025 as a “Super Bowl or bust,” but they have a lot to work on to reach that goal after their poor Week 1 performance.
Here’s how it all went down between the Lions and Packers:
Packers 27, Lions 13: Final score in NFL Week 1
The Lions defense did a pretty good job against the Packers rushing attack. TeSlaa made a brilliant catch.
Beyond that, there aren’t many positives to take away from this game for the Lions. The defense struggled getting pressure on Packers quarterback Jordan Love, the offense wasted three red zone attempts early in the game and the Packers thoroughly beat them on their home field.
The Lions next play on Sunday, Sept. 14 with a home matchup against the Chicago Bears. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET at Ford Field.
On a 4th-and-3 from the Packers 13-yard line, Lions quarterback Jared Goff tried to get rookie Isaac TeSlaa his first catch, and TeSlaa put together one of the most acrobatic catches you’ll ever see.
It gives the Lions a long-awaited touchdown, which extends their streak of games with a touchdown to 50.
Not enough to make a dent in this game, however.
Chasing down Lions quarterback Jared Goff, Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons recorded his first sack for Green Bay late in the fourth quarter.
Parsons fought through two linemen on the left side of Detroit’s offensive line to get to the quarterback, exemplifying the issues the Lions’ front line faced all game.
The Packers tack on three points on a 38-yard field goal from kicker Brandon McManus to take a three-touchdown lead over the Lions.
Detroit will start on its own 35-yard line.
Well, the Lions are no longer 100% on fourth-down conversions this season.
On a 4th-and-2 from their own 35-yard line, the Lions allowed a sack on quarterback Jared Goff from Packers defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt. If the game wasn’t already sealed for the Packers, it certainly looks over now.
Barring a level of offensive efficiency we have yet to see from the Lions, the Packers put the game away on a three-yard touchdown from running back Josh Jacobs.
Packers quarterback Jordan Love gained one yard on a 4th-and-1 from the Lions’ 10-yard line to set up the score, with the Green Bay offense getting just enough this quarter to create the needed separation against their division rivals.
The Lions absolutely need a quick touchdown to stay in the game. Barring that, this one is essentially over.
Starting inside of their own 10-yard line, the Lions didn’t have much room to move backwards.
But move backwards they did after a Rashan Gary sack on quarterback Jared Goff and two David Montgomery rushes that netted zero yards. The Lions went three-and-out and punted, giving the Packers the ball on Detroit’s 36-yard line after a big return from Green Bay’s Jayden Reed.
The Lions outscored the Packers (3-0) in the quarter, but wasted a potential pick-six opportunity that would’ve brought them back into the game.
The good news: the Lions defense is getting more pressure on Packers quarterback Jordan Love, penetrating the Green Bay offensive line much more effectively than they did in the first half. But the Lions have zero touchdowns on three red zone attempts so far this game, and that’s keeping them from a lead.
The Lions have the firepower to come back in the fourth, but they might need a quick score as they get the ball back on their own 8-yard line to start the quarter.
With Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson getting pressure on Packers quarterback Jordan Love, a wayward Love pass fell right out of linebacker Alex Anzalone’s hands, forcing a 3rd-and-6.
On the next play, Lions safety Brian Branch intercepted Love’s pass, got up from his dive and raced towards the end zone. But the interception was negated by two penalties on the Lions, giving the Packers the ball back and a first down.
The Lions defense gave the offense the ball back with an opportunity to claw back into the game, but the Lions only gained 11 yards on their second drive of the third-quarter.
Green Bay defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness sacked Lions quarterback Jared Goff to force the fourth down and punt, giving the Packers their first sack of the game. Green Bay gets the ball back on their own 15-yard line.
Did someone ask for a big stop?
The Lions defense forces a three-and-out on the Packers in their first defensive possession of the second half. A big tackle from linebacker Derrick Barnes forces the fourth down and leads to a punt.
The Lions start on their own 21 yard line.
The Lions got the ball on Green Bay’s 10-yard line, but could only manage one more yard on the next three plays. Kicker Jake Bates nailed his second field goal of the game, but the Lions once again failed to penetrate the end zone.
There’s plenty of time left in the game, but considering the Packers have scored on three of their four possessions, it’s feeling like the Lions defense needs a big stop to keep Detroit competitive.
A 32-yard pass from quarterback Jared Goff to tight end Sam LaPorta marks the longest pass of the game so far for the Lions. The catch also got the Lions into Packers territory once again, with Detroit needing a touchdown to make it a one-possession game.
And on a crucial third-and-five from Green Bay’s 26-yard line, Goff found LaPorta one more time for a 10-yard gain, giving the Lions a first-and-goal.
The Lions offense looked effective in the first half, with two long drives into Green Bay territory that both ended short of touchdowns. Detroit’s defense, on the other hand, has gotten virtually no pressure on Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love, who has taken advantage with 167 yards on 12-of-16 passing attempts and two touchdowns through the air.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff is 13-of-16 on pass attempts, but has kept his passes relatively short with only 75 yards gained through the air. His red zone interception might end up a back-breaker in this game, as the Lions had a chance to score right before getting the ball back in the third quarter.
Running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery have been a bright spot for the offense, as they have combined for 46 yards rushing on 14 carries. But there’s no denying: the Lions look sluggish against a talented Packers squad.
Green Bay will kick off to begin the second half.
On 3rd and 7 on the Green Bay 16 yard line, Lions quarterback Jared Goff threw an interception to Packers safety Evan Williams. The Lions miss their chance to score before halftime.
Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs was the catalyst for the previous drive, and his running mate David Montgomery made himself impactful in this last one, getting touches on the first five plays of the drive. A quick throw on 3rd and 2 from quarterback Jared Goff to wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown brought the Lions to the Green Bay 38-yard line, giving the veteran receiver another clutch catch on a third-down play.
The Lions went for it on 4th and 2 on the Green Bay 30-yard line, converting on an 11-yard pass from quarterback Jared Goff to receiver Jameson Williams right before the two-minute warning. The Lions are now 1-for-1 on fourth-down attempts this season so far and once again have the ball in Green Bay’s red zone.
Packers quarterback Jordan Love found wide receiver Romeo Doubs on a 48-yard pass on their first play of Green Bay’s most recent drive. On the very next play, Love found wide receiver Jayden Reed for a wide open 17-yard touchdown along the right side.
The Packers do in two plays what the Lions couldn’t in 16 and take a two-touchdown lead. They have scored on all three of their possessions so far today.
If you needed a reminder that the Lions offense is good, this last drive provided enough evidence.
Big runs from running back Jahmyr Gibbs, two athletic catches from receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and near-perfection from quarterback Jared Goff on pass attempts led to a deep drive. And yeah, a ticky-tack taunting penalty from Green Bay safety Xavier McKinney tacked on some extra yards.
But the drive fell short of six points 16 plays and 78 yards later, eclipsing over nine minutes of game time. Kicker Jake Bates nailed a field goal from 30 yards away to give the Lions their first points of the season.
It took a little bit of time, but the Lions offense finally looks to be warming up at sunny Lambeau Field.
Quarterback Jared Goff is a perfect 4-for-4, but with only 17 yards passing. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs leads all rushers with 20 yards on three carries, while running back David Montgomery has nine yards on two carries.
The Lions will begin the second quarter with a 3rd-and-1 at midfield.
Back-to-back penalties pinned the Lions down to their own 5-yard line on their second drive of the game, one drive after going three-and-out. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs got them right out of the danger zone with a 14-yard run and a 5-yard run back-to-back, giving the Lions a converted first down for the first time this season.
Quarterback Jared Goff found receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown for a diving 19-yard catch down the right sideline, with St. Brown dragging his toes inbounds during the catch. The Packers challenged the call, but the call was upheld, giving the Lions the ball on their own 41-yard line.
Packers quarterback Jordan Love has been given ample time to throw, with the Lions defense unable to get serious pressure on the Green Bay quarterback.
Love is using that time effectively, finding holes in the Lions secondary on two straight drives. Good pass defense from cornerback Terrion Arnold forced a fourth down in the red zone, however, leading to a Packers field goal and an early 10-point lead.
Green Bay Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons made his debut for the Green Bay Packers on a third-and-seven for the Lions deep in Lions territory. He was matched up with right tackle Penei Sewell and applied pressure on quarterback Jared Goff, who dumped it off to running back Jahmyr Gibbs for a loss on the play.
The Lions punted after a three-and-out, with a false start penalty negating a 57-yard punt from Lions punter Jack Fox.
Considering how effective Packers quarterback Jordan Love was passing throughout his team’s opening drive, it’s only fitting that he records Green Bay’s first touchdown of the season through the air.
Love found Green Bay tight end Tucker Kraft for a 15-yard touchdown on the 12th play of the drive to give the Packers a one-score lead. Love was 6-for-8 for 65 yards on pass attempts on the drive, with running back Josh Jacobs recording only three yards on four carries.
The Lions defense has kept the Packers running game in check. The secondary, however, has given up some big passing plays.
Safety Brian Branch exemplified the frustration by tossing the helmet of a Packers player, earning a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Lions kicker Jake Bates kicked off to mark the opening play of the 2025 regular season. After a holding penalty, the Green Bay Packers start the opening drive on their own 17-yard line.
Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson hasn’t played in an NFL game since Oct. 14, when he broke his tibia in an early-season matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.
Hutchinson has looked effective during training camp, remarking that his previously-injured leg has felt normal during full-contact drills. That’s great news for Lions fans.
Getting pressure on Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love may prove critical in Sunday’s matchup, and Hutchinson may be the most important factor in getting that pressure for the Lions defense.
When today’s game kicks off, Lions coach Dan Campbell will become just the second Lions coach since Wayne Fontes to coach in his fifth season with the team.
The last Lions’ coach to reach a fifth season with the team was Jim Schwartz, who went 38-46 between 2009-13 with the Lions. Campbell, meanwhile, has one more win in one fewer season than Schwartz, with a 39-28 overall record since becoming the coach in 2021.
That record, by the way, includes a 3-13-1 record in his first season at the helm.
One of the biggest matchups of Sunday’s season opener will be Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell against Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons. Sewell was recently named the highest-ranking offensive lineman on the NFL’s list of top 100 players (as voted on by NFL players) when he came in at No. 13 overall.
Parsons, for the record, came in at No. 36 overall on the same list. He is expected to play against the Lions in the season opener, but not on every down as he recovers from a back injury.
The expectation for newly acquired Green Bay Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons is that the two-time All Pro will play on limited downs in his first game for the Packers.
Parsons has been dealing with a back injury dating back to the beginning of training camp with the Dallas Cowboys, and is also still integrating himself into the Packers’ system.
Lions vs Packers start time
Date:Â Sunday, Sept. 7.
Time:Â 4:25 p.m. ET.
Location:Â Lambeau Field, Green Bay.
What channel is Lions vs Packers on today?
The Lions open their season against the Packers on Sunday, Sept. 7 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
Kickoff:Â 4:25 p.m. ET.
Channel:Â CBS.
Streaming: Fubo (free trial) and Paramount+.
Radio:Â WXYT-FM (97.1).
Sunday’s Lions game will air on CBS starting at 4:25 p.m. ET and can be streamed on Fubo, which carries CBS.
Watch Lions vs Packers on Fubo (free trial)
Lions vs Packers announcers
CBS is breaking out its A-team for the Lions opener, which will be aired throughout most of the country.
Play-by-play:Â Jim Nantz.
Color:Â Tony Romo.
Sideline:Â Tracy Wolfson.
Lions injury report
The Lions have six players listed on their injury report as of Saturday, with three ruled out for Sunday’s game.
OT Jamarco Jones (out, ankle).LB Trevor Nowaske (out, ankle).RB Sione Vaki (out, hamstring).OG Kayde Awosika (shoulder).OT Taylor Decker (rest).WR Isaac TeSlaa (illness).
Awosika was a full participant in practice on Friday, Sept. 4, while Taylor is expected to play on Sunday after resting on Friday. TeSlaa, meanwhile, looks ready to play in his NFL regular-season debut.
Lions vs Packers betting odds
Spread: Packers (-1½).
Over/under: 47½ points.
Moneyline:Â Packers (-120), Lions (+100).
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Sunday afternoon.
Week 1, Sunday, Sept. 7: at Green Bay Packers, 4:25 p.m., CBSWeek 2, Sunday, Sept. 14: vs Chicago Bears, 1 p.m., FoxWeek 3, Monday, Sept. 22: at Baltimore Ravens, 8:15 p.m., ESPN/ABCWeek 4, Sunday, Sept. 28: vs Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m., FoxWeek 5, Sunday, Oct. 5: at Cincinnati Bengals, 4:25 p.m., FoxWeek 6, Sunday, Oct. 12: at Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20 p.m., NBCWeek 7, Monday, Oct. 20: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 7 p.m., ESPN/ABCWeek 8: ByeWeek 9, Sunday, Nov. 2: vs Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m., FoxWeek 10, Sunday, Nov. 9: at Washington Commanders, 4:25 p.m., FoxWeek 11, Sunday, Nov. 16: at Philadelphia Eagles, 8:20 p.m., NBCWeek 12, Sunday, Nov. 23: vs New York Giants, 1 p.m., FoxWeek 13, Thursday, Nov. 27: vs Green Bay Packers, 1 p.m., FoxWeek 14, Thursday, Dec. 4: vs Dallas Cowboys, 8:15 p.m., PrimeWeek 15, Sunday, Dec. 14: at Los Angeles Rams, 4:25 p.m., FoxWeek 16, Sunday, Dec. 21: vs Pittsburgh Steelers, 4:25 p.m., CBSWeek 17, Thursday, Dec. 25: at Minnesota Vikings, 4:30 p.m., NetflixWeek 18, Saturday/Sunday, Jan. 3-4: at Chicago Bears, TBD
You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com