They first met in the 1930 NFL season when the Lions, originally based in Portsmouth and known as the "Portsmouth Spartans", joined the NFL as an expansion team. In the 1934 season, the Spartans relocated to Detroit and were renamed the Detroit Lions. The Lions and Packers have been division rivals since 1933, when both teams were part of the NFL's Western Conference until 1970, and subsequently the NFC Central, now referred to as the NFC North. Since 1932, they have faced each other twice each season, with no games ever canceled. As a result, this rivalry stands as the longest uninterrupted competition in the NFL.[2]
The rivalry is significant to football fans in the state of Michigan, and particularly the Upper Peninsula. Fans from the west of the peninsula tend to root for the Packers, whereas fans from the east of the peninsula, as well as the rest of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, tend to root for the Lions. Because of this, within Michigan, the rivalry is often known as the Yooper Bowl.[3][4]
The Packers lead the overall series, 106–77–7. The two teams have met twice in the playoffs, with the Packers winning both games.[1]
QB Brett Favre (left) and RB Barry Sanders (right) were both awarded the MVP award for the 1997 NFL season, making history as the first pair to share the prestigious award.
Packers 50, Lions 7 (November 24, 1940) – In the most lopsided game in the rivalry's history, the Packers raced out to a 43–0 lead and prevailed 50–7. The win moved the Packers to 6-4 and dropped the Lions to 5–5–1.[5]
Packers 57, Lions 21 (October 7, 1945) – The Packers set (and still hold) an NFL record by scoring 41 points in a single quarter. The Lions led 7–0 in the 2nd quarter before the Packers scored six consecutive touchdowns, including four receiving touchdowns by Don Hutson. The four touchdown receptions in a single quarter is an NFL record that still stands today. Don Hutson also made five of his six extra point attempts in the quarter to give him 29 points for the quarter in total, which is also an NFL record.[6]
Lions 26, Packers 14 (November 22, 1962) – The Packers entered the game 10–0 and in first place in the Western Conference. The Lions were second at 8–2. The Lions jumped out to a 23–0 halftime lead and extended the lead to 26–0 before the Packers scored two late touchdowns. The Lions defense pounded Packers quarterback Bart Starr with 11 sacks. The game was played in Detroit on Thanksgiving and pulled the Lions within one game of the division lead with three weeks left in the season. The game would be dubbed the "Thanksgiving Day Massacre" thanks to the dominant performance by the Lions defense.[7] The Lions and Packers both won their next two games, but in the final week of the season, the Lions lost to the Chicago Bears, while the Packers defeated the Los Angeles Rams en route to a 13–1 season. The Packers went on to defeat the Giants for their eighth NFL championship.[8][9]
Lions 21, Packers 17 (December 15, 1991) – The Lions staved off a last minute comeback attempt by the Packers offense led by quarterback Mike Tomczak to wrap up a four-point victory over the Packers at Lambeau Field. The game was the last time the Lions defeated the Packers in the state of Wisconsin until 2015, as the Packers held a 24-game home winning streak in the series. That season would also be the last time that Detroit swept Green Bay until 2017.
Packers 28, Lions 24 (January 8, 1994) – This was the first ever playoff meeting between these two teams. In week 17 the Lions defeated the Packers 30–20 giving them home field advantage for this game. With Green Bay trailing 24–21 late in the game Brett Favre hit Sterling Sharpe for a 40-yard touchdown pass with 55 seconds left, giving Green Bay the lead and ultimately the win. This was the first time the Lions had ever lost a home playoff game, and was their last home playoff game for 30 years.
Packers 16, Lions 12 (December 31, 1994) – For the second consecutive season the Packers and Lions met in the playoffs, this time at Lambeau Field. The Packers held Barry Sanders to -1 yards rushing and the Lions to -4 yards rushing overall. The Packers never trailed as they led 10–0 at half time and only allowed 10 points in the second half before intentionally committing a safety on the last play of the game to run out the clock. This was the Packers' first victory at Lambeau Field against the Lions since 1985 (though they beat the Lions in all four Milwaukee games against them during that time).[10]
Packers 31, Lions 21 (December 28, 2008) – The Packers defeated the Lions in Week 17. With the loss, the Lions became the first team in NFL history to go 0–16 season in a 16-game season.[11]
Lions 7, Packers 3 (December 12, 2010) – Aaron Rodgers was knocked out of the game before the half and missed the rest of the game as well as the Packers' next game against the Patriots. Matt Flynn led the Packers to a field goal that gave them a 3–0 lead in the 3rd quarter. The Lions scored a touchdown in the 4th quarter and won 7–3. This forced the Packers to win their final two games of the season to make the playoffs. They did so and won Super Bowl XLV.
Packers 45, Lions 41 (January 1, 2012) – With the Packers having already clinched home field advantage in the playoffs, backup quarterback Matt Flynn started in place of Aaron Rodgers and went on to throw a team record six touchdown passes in a shootout victory over the Lions at Lambeau Field. This is the highest scoring game between both rivals at 86 points, and the first time both teams met after each one accumulated at least 10 regular season victories.
Aaron Rodgers being helped off the field after injuring his calf in the 2014 game against the Lions. He would return in the second half and lead the Packers to victory.
Packers 30, Lions 20 (December 28, 2014) – The Packers and Lions entered this Week 17 match up with identical 11–4 records. Therefore, this game was for the 2014 NFC North Division Championship. Green Bay jumped out to a 14–0 lead before Aaron Rodgers left the game after re-injuring his calf. Rodgers would return in the second half after the Lions had tied the game at 14. The Packers ended up scoring a pair of touchdowns and forcing a safety before the Lions scored a late touchdown. Both teams would make the playoffs as the win gave the Packers their fourth straight division championship while the Lions ended up as a Wild Card team.
Packers home winning streak (1992–2014) – The Lions had not beaten the Packers in a road game from 1992 to 2014. With Green Bay's 30–20 win over Detroit on December 28, 2014, the Packers had defeated the Lions in the state of Wisconsin 24 straight times, including a Wild Card Playoff game on December 31, 1994. The last Lions victory before the streak began in Wisconsin was a 21–17 win on December 15, 1991. The Lions ended the streak with an 18–16 victory on November 15, 2015.
Lions 18, Packers 16 (November 15, 2015) – Matt Prater missed two extra-point attempts, including one late in the fourth quarter. With Green Bay trailing 18–10 late in the fourth quarter, the Packers scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive, to trim the Lions lead to 18–16, and failed on the two-point conversion, but then recovered the onside kick when Calvin Johnson couldn't secure the ball with 31 seconds left. Mason Crosby's 52-yard attempt on the game's final play was muffed, giving the Lions their first win in Green Bay since 1991.[12]
Packers 27, Lions 23 (December 3, 2015) – In the largest comeback in series history, the Packers overcame a 20-point deficit to win the game 27–23. The Lions appeared to have won the game 23–21, but a facemask penalty was called against them as time expired. Since NFL games cannot end on a defensive penalty even if time has expired, an untimed play was given to the Packers. On the final play, Aaron Rodgers completed a 61-yard Hail Mary pass to tight end Richard Rodgers II. The Packers then took a knee on the extra point. With the win, the Packers avoided what would have been their first series sweep by the Lions since 1991. This was the longest game-winning, game-ending Hail Mary in NFL history. The game would be dubbed the Miracle in Motown shortly thereafter.[13][14]
Packers 31, Lions 24 (January 1, 2017) – For the second time in three seasons the Packers and Lions met in week 17 for the NFC North Division Title. The Packers and Lions both entered the game with a 9–6 record. Due to an earlier Redskins loss, both teams had clinched a playoff spot before kickoff. The Lions led 14–10 at the half but the Packers went on a 21–3 scoring run on three Aaron Rodgers touchdown passes and appeared to put the game away. However, Matthew Stafford hit Anquan Boldin in desperation for a 35-yard touchdown pass with 13 seconds left and forced an onside kick attempt. The Packers recovered and held on to win their fifth division championship in six years.[15]
Lions 31, Packers 0 (December 30, 2018) – The Lions shutout the Packers for the first time since 1973 and at Lambeau Field for the first time since 1970.[16] The Lions also swept the Packers for the second consecutive season. Aaron Rodgers got knocked out early in the game with a concussion, forcing backup quarterback DeShone Kizer to play most of the game. Lions kicker Matt Prater threw a touchdown pass to tight end Levine Toilolo and cornerback Quandre Diggs sealed the game with an interception of Kizer with five minutes left to play.
Packers 23, Lions 22 (October 14, 2019) – This Monday Night Football game at Lambeau Field was close all the way, as the Packers committed multiple turnovers in a game where the Lions offense struggled. The Packers did not win the game until the last second where kicker Mason Crosby made a game-winning field goal. However, the game was criticized for poor officiating. Two highly questionable hands to the face penalties on Lions defensive end Trey Flowers extended two Packers scoring drives in the 4th quarter, causing outrage from fans and the media.[17]
Lions 20, Packers 16 (January 8, 2023) – On this edition of Sunday Night Football, the Lions and Packers faced off at Lambeau Field, with the Packers needing a victory to clinch the last playoff spot in the NFC. After a 9–6 halftime deficit, the Lions rebounded to a 20–16 victory to stun the Packers and knock them out of the playoffs. The game was characterized by two costly Packers turnovers, undisciplined play from multiple Packer defenders, and several missed opportunities. With the loss, the Packers fell to an 8–9 record, giving them their third losing season in seven years.[18] This was Rodgers' final game as a Packer, as he was traded to the New York Jets the following offseason.[19]
Summary of results
More information Packers wins, Ties ...
Packers wins
Ties
Lions wins
Packers points
Lions points
Regular season
104
7
77
4,009
3,548
Postseason
2
0
0
44
36
Total
106
7
77
4,053
3,584
Close
Updated November 3, 2024
More information Green Bay Packers vs. Portsmouth Spartans/Detroit Lions Season-by-Season Results, Season ...
Green Bay Packers vs. Portsmouth Spartans/Detroit Lions Season-by-Season Results[1]
The Spartans and Packers are placed in the NFL Western Division, becoming divisional rivals. Last season Spartans played as a Portsmouth-based team and under the name "Spartans".
First and only time both teams met three times in the regular season. Packers' home games include one game in Milwaukee and one in Green Bay. Lions win 1935 NFL Championship.
As a result of the AFL–NFL merger, the Lions and Packers were placed in the National Football Conference (NFC) and the NFC Central. In Green Bay, Lions record their largest victory against the Packers with a 40—point differential.
NFC Wild Card Round. Packers win on a last-minute touchdown pass from QB Brett Favre to WR Sterling Sharpe. This would be the last home playoff game for the Lions until the 2023 playoffs.
The Lions and Packers played each other five times during the 1994 calendar year (Week 18 of the 1993 season, a 1993 postseason game, two 1994 regular season games, and a 1994 postseason game), becoming the first and only time in NFL history two teams have faced each other five times in a calendar year. Last meeting in Milwaukee, as the Packers were set to play solely in Green Bay beginning the next season.
Packers' QB Aaron Rodgers makes his debut in the series. In Green Bay, Packers beat the Lions to make the Lions complete the first 0–16 winless season in NFL history.
Game in Detroit was played on Thanksgiving. In Green Bay, Packers' backup QB Matt Flynn threw for 6 touchdowns.The 45–41 score is the highest total score in the history of the series (86 points).
Packers clinched the NFC North and a first-round bye with their win, while the Lions were regulated to the 6th seed. Packers win 24 straight home meetings (1992–2014).
In Detroit, Packers clinched the NFC North and recorded their 100th win over the Lions with their win, becoming the first NFL team to beat a single opponent 100 times.
In Green Bay, Lions eliminate the Packers from playoff contention with their win. It was also the final game Aaron Rodgers played as a Packers' quarterback.
Lucyhough (3 November 2020). "Peninsula Divided: Packers vs. Lions". www.awesomemitten.com. Retrieved 2022-01-13. Archived September 26, 2020 and January 22, 2022 at the Wayback Machine.
