GREEN BAY, Wisc. (Michigan News Source) – “We just need to win this game,” is what head coach Dan Campbell said during a first half interview on Sunday Night Football and win is what they did. Down 9-6 at the half, Detroit made key stops and recorded tough first downs as they ended Green Bay’s playoff hopes, 20-16.

“We came in here to gain some respect and that’s what we wanted to do,” said Campbell.

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Gutsy calls in the fourth quarter on offense for key first downs was  momentum changer. On a fourth down-and-two on the game winning drive, Campbell went for the first down instead of kicking the field goal to tie the game. Then, on the last drive of the game to end Green Bay’s season on a fourth-and-one, Goff went to the right side, again, to Shark for the first down setting up one more play to run out the clock.

“This team was built through adversity and is gritty and it showed tonight,” said Goff. “We should have never won in these conditions on the road in Lambeau and we did. I am so proud of our guys. We didn’t make the playoffs but this is the next best thing being able to finish the season the way we did. We have some special people in that locker room and I am proud to be a part of it.”

It was a special day for Jamaal Williams as he broke legend Barry Sanders single season rushing touchdown record. It was the go-ahead touchdown for the 20-16 lead that broke the record on a drive that had Green Bay miscues and gutsy calls. What makes it even sweeter is Williams did it against his former team.

On a fourth-and-two at the Green Bay 25-yard line and trailing 16-13, Campbell gambled to go for the first instead of kicking a field goal to tie the game. Goff went to the left side of the field on a quick pass to DJ Chark for a the first-down. On that same drive, when D’Andre Swift went down with an injury, Green Bay was flagged for a personal foul as Quay Walker was ejected for pushing an athletic trainer. That set up first-and-goal at the four-yard line and two plays later Williams broke the record.

“I’ve worked so hard for this,” said Williams. “This was for my great grandfather that just passed and I dedicate it to him. I was just grateful to do this for him. I know he is looking down on me and is proud.”

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Williams finished the year with over 1,000 rushing yards becoming the first player to do this since 2013 when Reggie Bush last did it.  The last time a running back had 10 or more rushing touchdowns in a season came in 2000 from James Stewart with 10.

With all that is being said about how gritty the offense was in the second half, it was the defense that came through in the fourth quarter, too, stopping Aaron Rodgers. On a third-and-10 at the Green Bay 33-yard line, Detroit brought a blitz that rushed a Rodgers throw too early as Kerby Joseph intercepted the ball at the Detroit 32-yard line. On that interception, Joseph became the first defensive back in the NFL to have three interceptions against Aaron Rodgers in a season as he picked two off in their previous meeting earlier in the season.

Another big moment for the defense came on the opening drive of the game. Rodgers drove down to the five-yard line for first-and-goal. Isaiah Buggs stuffed two runs up the middle for only a one-yard gain and then Rodgers had an incomplete pass on third-and-goal to hold the Packers to a field goal. Holding them to just three-points became the difference in the game winning by four points.

The defense held Green Bay to just 103 yards rushing as Aaron Jones had just 48 yards and AJ Dillon 33 yards. Rodgers also threw for just 188 yards as the Packers finished with just 291 yards of total offense. Aidan Hutchinson pressured Rodgers all night finishing with two sacks and four tackles. Alex Anzalone recorded eight tackles.

“We were ready for this game and the team wanted to prove something and they did that,” said Campbell. “This is a special group and the hard part of this is it’s over. What better way to go out!”

For the game, Goff went 23-of-34 for 219 yards and was sacked only once as they had 323 yards of total offense.

Detroit has been working hard all year to gain respect in the NFL after several years of not great football. It was an “always feel sorry” attitude for the Lions which now has ended. Even on the NBC Sports picks for the game, Tony Dungy was the only commentator to pick the Lions to win in Lambeau.

Williams added at the end of his interview after the game on NBC Sports, “Stop playing us, Man. We are the Detroit Lions. I heard everyone had picked the Packers over us. Stop playing with us. That’s all I have to say.”

Detroit ends the season at 9-8 and has a winning record for the first time since 2017 when they were 9-7. The Lions are no longer a team that is a W on the schedule but a team to contend with in 2023.