DETROIT (AP) \u2014 Jordan Love had plenty of time to pass, and took full advantage.<\/p>\n
Jared Goff did not and Micah Parsons had a lot to do with that.<\/p>\n
Love converted a pair of fourth downs with scoring passes in the first half and finished with a career-high-matching four touchdown throws, leading the Green Bay Packers<\/a> to a 31-24 win over the Detroit Lions<\/a> on Thursday.<\/p>\n \u201cCredit to our O-line for giving me plenty of time to make those throws,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s really the reason why we were able to win the game.\u201d<\/p>\n Fourth downs were pivotal, too.<\/p>\n Green Bay went 3 of 3 on fourth down \u2014 scoring twice and to seal the win \u2014 and the Lions turned it over on downs two times when they went for it.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d rather go down swinging,\u201d Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. \u201cIt can bite you, absolutely.\u201d<\/p>\n The Packers (8-3-1) swept the season series to earn a potential tiebreaker in the NFC North and are in second place in the division behind Chicago (8-3), which plays at Philadelphia on Friday.<\/p>\n \u201cWe knew what was at stake with his game,\u201d Love said. \u201cIt’s a tight race.\u201d<\/p>\n The two-time defending division champion Lions (7-5) entered the game out of the playoff picture, then fell further back in the hunt with a third loss in five games.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve dug ourselves a hole,\u201d Detroit coach Dan Campbell said.<\/p>\n Campbell was referring to the game, but what he said also fits for the season.<\/p>\n Green Bay took a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter and restored its 10-point lead three more times in a game it controlled on the offensive and defensive lines.<\/p>\n The Packers acquired Parsons just before the season in a trade with Dallas and he finished with 2 1\/2 sacks, giving him 12-plus sacks for the fifth straight season, to make the type of impact the franchise expected.<\/p>\n Detroit failed on fourth down on the opening drive of the second half and early in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n Two plays after Jahmyr Gibbs was stopped for a loss just inside Green Bay territory on fourth down, Love threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to Christian Watson to give Green Bay a 24-14 lead early in the third.<\/p>\n The Lions went for it fourth-and-3 from Packers 21 \u2014 trailing by 10 \u2014 and Jameson Williams dropped a pass.<\/p>\n Detroit’s defense responded with a stop and the offense reached the Green Bay 4 before Parsons’ sack forced Campbell to settle for a field goal and a 31-24 deficit with 2:59 left.<\/p>\n On the ensuing possession, Love converted a third-and-5 with an 8-yard pass to Watson and a fourth-and-3 on a 16-yard pass to Dontayvion Wicks to seal the victory.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were staying aggressive,\u201d LaFleur said. \u201cWe got a chance to go out there and ice the game.\u201d<\/p>\n Love was 18 of 30 for 234 yards with a 22-yard pass to Wicks and 2-yard pass to Doubs for touchdowns on fourth down in the second quarter. In the third, he threw a long touchdown pass to Watson and a 1-yard throw to Wicks for the receiver’s second score of the game \u2014 and season.<\/p>\n Goff, who was pressured often, was 20 of 26 for 256 yards with two touchdowns. He threw a 22-yard pass to Williams late in the first half and a 17-yard pass to rookie Isaac TeSlaa in the third quarter for scores.<\/p>\n Williams finished with seven receptions and 144 yards \u2014 both career highs \u2014 but dropped a pass on fourth down in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n Gibbs was held in check, running for 68 yards on 20 carries and gaining 18 yards on three catches.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the end of the game we had an opportunity, but we couldn\u2019t grab it,\u201d Campbell said.<\/p>\n Injuries<\/p>\n Packers: DT Devonte Wyatt (ankle) was carted off the field late in the game.<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t look good,\u201d LaFleur said. \u201cThat\u2019s a critical loss for our team and our defense.\u201d<\/p>\n CB Keisean Nixon (neck) was active after leaving last week\u2019s game with a neck injury. … WR Matthew Golden, LB Quay Walker and CB Nate Hobbs were inactive.<\/p>\n Lions: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle) left the game in the first quarter with an ankle injury.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think it is long, long term,\u201d Campbell said. \u201cIt might be a week or two, if we\u2019re lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n CB Terrion Arnold (concussion) and edge rusher Marcus Davenport (shoulder) returned from injuries. … WR\/PR Kalif Raymond, TE Brock Wright, C Graham Glasgow and S Kerby Joseph were inactive.<\/p>\n Up next<\/p>\n Packers: Host Chicago on Dec. 7.<\/p>\n Lions: Host Dallas on Dec. 4.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"DETROIT (AP) \u2014 Jordan Love had plenty of time to pass, and took full advantage. 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