Packers fall to Lions 31-23 after 4 missed Crosby FGs, missed extra point

DETROIT, Mich. -- Matthew Stafford threw two touchdown passes and LeGarrette Blount ran for two scores, lifting the Detroit Lions to a 31-23 win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

Detroit (2-3) earned a win it desperately needed under first-year coach Matt Patricia, going into its bye week.

Green Bay (2-2-1) could not overcome uncharacteristic mistakes by veteran kicker Mason Crosby and two-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, who lost two fumbles for just the third time in his 14-year career.

Crosby missed a career-high four field goals in one game and missed an extra point to boot.

He connected on a field goal with 2 seconds left. Detroit recovered the onside kick to seal the win, preventing Rodgers from getting another chance at a game-winning Hail Mary in Detroit.

Blount had a pair of 1-yard TD runs in the first quarter and Stafford's 8-yard pass to Marvin Jones late in the second quarter put Detroit up 24-0.

Rodgers, missing injured receivers Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison, threw short TDs to rookie Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Lance Kendricks in the third to pull the Packers within 10 points.

Stafford answered with a 5-yard TD pass to Kenny Golladay early in the fourth quarter to give Detroit a 31-14 lead.

Rodgers connected with Davante Adams on a 12-yard throw for a third TD pass, but Crosby hit the left upright on the extra point to let the Lions keep an 11-point cushion midway through the fourth quarter. Adams has scored in 10 straight road games, equaling a league record set by Tommy McDonald of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1959 to 1961.

Rodgers was 32 of 52 for 442 yards with three TD passes. Stafford was 14 of 26 for 183 yards with two TDs and no turnovers.

The following Green Bay players were declared inactive ahead of Sunday's game:

As play began, the Packers won the coin toss and chose to defer.

The Detroit Lions were the first to get on the board with 10:30 remaining the the first quarter. The score was 7-0.

Later in the first quarter, the Detroit Lions scored again with another touchdown and successful field goal. Detroit extended their lead to 14-0.

Going into the second quarter, Lions kicker Matt Prater kicked a 39-field goal that was good -- further extending Detroit's lead to 17-0.

With less than 20 seconds left in the first half, the Detroit Lions got a touchdown. The extra point was good. The Lions ended the first half blanking the Packers, 24-0.

The Packers got on the board in the third quarter with a touchdown catch by Marquez Valdes-Scantling -- bringing the score to 24-8 after a two-point conversion.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling scored his second touchdown of the game late in the third quarter, but after review, he was marked down at the 1 yard line.

QB Aaron Rodgers then hit Lance Kendricks for the one-yard touchdown, to bring the score to Lions 24, Packers 14.

The Lions extended their lead early in the fourth with a touchdown. The extra point was good, bringing the score to Lions 31, Packers 14.

The Packers cut the deficit to 11 points with a touchdown pass to Davante Adams, bringing the score to Lions 31, Packers 20 in the fourth.

The Lions led 31-20 at the two-minute warning, amid concerns for Mason Crosby, the Packers kicker, who became the first to miss four field goals since Dec. 19, 2010. During this game, Crosby missed four field goals and an extra point.

Crosby did complete a successful 41-yard field goal with two seconds left in the game to bring the score to 31-23 -- the final.

The Packers are 2-1-2 on the season, and next face the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Oct. 15 at Lambeau.