GREEN BAY, Wis. — Jordan Love threw two touchdown passes and the host Green Bay Packers kept the Detroit Lions’ potent offense out of the end zone until the final minute of a 27-13 victory Sunday in a season opener between teams expected to challenge for the NFC North title.
Love had two first-half scoring passes to pace Green Bay to a 17-3 lead at the break. Josh Jacobs had a 3-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter to put the Packers up 24-6.
Jared Goff hit Isaac TeSlaa for a 13-yard touchdown pass with 55 seconds left.
The Lions, who averaged an NFL-best 33.2 points per game last season en route to the division title, were held to 246 yards, including 46 on the ground. Detroit had four drives of 55 yards or longer, but managed just two field goals before the late touchdown.
Green Bay star edge rusher Micah Parsons, who was listed as questionable with a back injury after being acquired in a late August blockbuster trade with Dallas, recorded his first sack late in the fourth quarter, nailing Jared Goff for a 4-yard loss.
Love completed 16 of 22 passes for 188 yards, spreading the ball to 10 different receivers. Jacobs rushed for a game-high 66 yards.
Goff completed 31 of 39 passes for 225 yards with one interception.
The Packers opened with a 12-play, 83-yard drive capped by Love’s 15-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tucker Kraft. Love completed 6 of 8 passes on the drive for 65 yards, including an 11-yarder to rookie Matthew Golden, the first receiver taken by Green Bay in the first round since Javon Walker in 2002.
Brandon McManus’ 34-yard field goal put Green Bay up 10-0, but Jake Bates answered with a 30-yard field goal to make it 10-3 with 9:27 left in the half.
The Packers needed just two plays to push the lead to 17-3. Love connected with Romeo Doubs for 48 yards, then hit Jayden Reed on a 17-yard scoring pass.
The Lions answered with a 13-play, 55-yard drive to the Packers’ 16, but Evan Williams picked off Goff’s third-down pass.
Detroit opened the second half with a drive to the Packers’ 9-yard line, but settled for Bates’ 27-yard field goal to make it 17-6.
Reed’s 20-yard punt return to the Detroit 36 set up the Packers’ final touchdown, a 3-yard run by Jacobs with 7:57 remaining. McManus added a 38-yard field goal.
–Jim Hoehn, Field Level Media
