Lions vs. Packers: 5 Thoughts from Lambeau International

Raise your hand if you thought you’d see the most prolific passing display in NFL history at Lambeau on Sunday while Aaron Rodgers stood on the sidelines in a parka and blew New Year’s Eve party favors.

The Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers combined for an NFL record 1,000 yards passing and 11 touchdown receptions in the 41-45 track meet on Sunday that saw the Packers become the first NFC North team to sweep the division, while the Lions dreams of a playoff run were, for all intents and purposes, squelched as they now will head to New Orleans for a ceremonial dismissal from the 2012 playoffs.

While the defense continue to give up big yardage and points—10th worst in the league at over 24 points per game—Sunday marked the first time this season that the Lions were defeated when scoring more than 20 points in the game.

These stats speaks volumes to the offensive firepower the Lions possess. But unfortunately the defense could not pull its own weight, again, as they allowed Packers clipboard toting Matt Flynn to drive up his pending-free-agency market value with a franchise record of 480 yards through the air and six touchdowns tosses.

Years from now, the performance by Flynn will be an NFL trivia gem, as nobody will remember it was he and not Brett Favre or Rodgers that holds the Packers single-game records for yards passing and touchdowns.

But even Packer records were not better than what Matthew Stafford did on Sunday.

The Lions quarterback threw for 520 yards and five touchdowns, both good enough for franchise records.

I guess New York can host a Super Bowl if the NFL passing records were attained in Green Bay, Wisconsin in January.

Beyond the video game numbers posted on Sunday, here are my five other thoughts…

Any Doubters Left?

As The Notorious B.I.G. said, “If you don’t know, now ya know.”

Matthew Stafford’s last throw was intercepted, but don’t think for a second the Lions would have been in a position to pull off yet another last second comeback without the right arm of Magic Matt No. 9.

Stafford not only was part of Calvin Johnson’s career day of 244 yards receiving and Titus Young’s first two-TD reception game. He also set single-game franchise records, while adding to his single-season records.

Stafford has the Lions looking very similar to the Indianapolis Colts in years past, when Peyton Manning was earning his stripes. Now, I’m not saying Stafford is in that same category yet, but the Madden-esque numbers he is putting up at 23 should have Lions fans giddy about the future of this franchise.

Beyond the numbers, I continue to see maturation of the position that does not involve the arm, but rather what’s under the helmet.

With third-and-one at the Packers’ five, Stafford gave an Oscar-worthy performance George Clooney could be envious of.

Desmond Bishop grazed Stafford after the play had been blown dead because of a false start and Stafford took advantage of his QB status by changing a third-and six into a first-and-goal and eventual touchdown with a Laimbeer-like flop that forced the referee to pull out the yellow hankie.

We know Stafford is tough and can lead by example, but now we know he’s capable of manipulating the game within the game—something all the great ones have done.

Even the Best Are Human

On back-to-back plays, we saw that even the best are not automatic.

With third down on the Packers' 21, Stafford hit a wide open Calvin Johnson that should have put the Lions back up 26-24. Rather, Megatron dropped what should have been his 17th touchdown of the year and the Lions had to settle for a Jason Hanson field goal.

Inside of 40 yards, Hanson had not missed all season, and I can’t remember when he did miss from that distance. But, it’s a game of inches, and Jason is still winless in Wisconsin. Hanson pushed the 39-yard kick wide right and watched a 56-yard drive come up empty-handed as the score remained 24-19 in favor of the Pack.

Could that have been the difference in the game?

Sure, but there are plenty of plays that you could go back and say “what if.” It just goes to show that you can’t always count on last-second heroics.

Sometimes building an early lead on the road is a much better plan.

Lions Defend Each Other to a Fault

You hate to see so many penalties, but one thing you can say is that this team defends each other.

I can remember watching Joey Harrington get trucked by a defensive player and others on the Lions just stood by and gave Joey a Chris Tucker “daammmmmmn!”

Not any more.

Calvin getting up in the grill of Jarrett Bush was a little out of character for the All-Pro, but it showed that this team defends its own. It’s not just a fiery Raiola who comes to the aid of a teammate anymore.

The passion is exemplified in the league-leading 31 personal foul penalties. But as this team matures, I’ll take it over the alternative of years past with players looking through reporters with the “I-75 eyes” that seemed to say, "just get me outta here."

Wasn't Instant Replay Supposed to Get It Right?

The catch by Titus Young in the end zone was spectacular.

It was so much so, that the side judge ruled it incomplete.

Because Jim Schwartz had already challenged two previous plays in the half, he could not toss his red flag a third time.

What a nice rule, Mr. Goodell.

What happens when the world sees the same scenario play itself out in the playoffs? Or worse, changes the outcome of the Super Bowl? The NFL has always been so stringent on when they will modify their rules, but they should act quickly to correct this oversight and review both touchdowns and potential touchdowns when necessary.

Additionally, how is Jordy Nelson’s fair catch not a fumble?

Fans in Detroit know all too well about “completing the process.” I guess it doesn’t apply when you wave your hand above your head.

Don’t tell me about keeping the human factor in the game. The technology is there, use it. If it costs the Lions at some point, I’m fine with that. Just be consistent and don’t hide behind the phrase “the play is not reviewable.”

Every play is reviewable.

Extreme Makeover: Secondary Edition

Somebody get Ty Pennington and his crew on the next flight to Detroit because this defensive secondary needs a one-week extreme makeover.

Wow, the secondary looked bad.

Down the sidelines, in the flats, up the seams—the Packers threw it everywhere like coordinates on a Battleship board. When the opposition’s back-up rings up six touchdowns and nearly 500 yards passing, you don’t need to fix the plan.

You need a whole new blueprint.

Well, at least they don’t have to face Matt Flynn anymore. We can get back to a sense of normalcy when the Lions play their first playoff game in over a decade against the NFL’s single-season leader in yards passing, Drew Brees.

May Sean Payton have mercy on the Honolulu Blue and Silver because if the Saints drop this game film into their quarterback’s hands, the only rushing attempts made by New Orleans on Saturday just may be a couple Brees kneel downs in their customary victory formation. And, they have not lost at home all year.