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          NFL Nation

          Lions fall apart in second half, lose fifth straight vs. Packers

          • Eric Woodyard, ESPNSep 20, 2021, 11:36 PM ET
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              Eric Woodyard covers the Detroit Lions for ESPN. He joined ESPN in September 2019 as an NBA reporter dedicated to the Midwest region before switching to his current role in April 2021. The Flint, Mich. native is a graduate of Western Michigan University and has authored/co-authored three books: "Wasted, Ethan's Talent Search" and "All In: The Kelvin Torbert Story". He is a proud parent of one son, Ethan. You can follow him on Twitter: @E_Woodyard

          GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Hardly anybody expected the Detroit Lions to win on the road at Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers.

          Not with Aaron Rodgers coming off a loss. Not on Monday Night Football. No way.

          In the opening half, however, the Lions led by three -- before being outscored by three touchdowns in the second half to fall 35-17. The Lions are now 0-2 for the second straight season.

          The loss marked the fifth straight game that the Lions have lost to NFC North rival Green Bay.

          For his part, first-year Lions coach Campbell is refusing to let the team fall into the mindset of being the same old Lions.

          “I just told them, I don’t want to see that s---. So, they come in, I'm not that type of person. I'm not a negative person. I'm all about going to work,” Campbell said. “I want guys that are resilient."

          "I hope it does sting. It stings me, but that’s OK, that doesn’t mean that you’ve gotta be negative and kick the dirt and everything else and I don’t want those guys around here."

          Describe the game in two words: Aaron Jones. The Lions' injury-plagued defense had no answer for the Packers running back as he tied the Lambeau Field record with four touchdowns and boosted fantasy teams across the country.

          QB breakdown: The Lions couldn’t have asked for a better first half from quarterback Jared Goff. He completed 13 of 16 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns to start the game. But as a heavy rain continued to fall, Goff & Co. struggled to find the same success in the second half. When Goff fumbled the snap with three seconds left in the third quarter and the Lions trailing 28-17, Detroit couldn’t recover. Goff nearly fumbled again with 9:14 remaining in the fourth, and he was picked off by De'Vondre Campbell with under four minutes to play.

          Goff finished the night 26-of-36 for 246 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

          Silver lining: With wideout Tyrell Williams ruled out due to a concussion, Detroit’s receiving corps -- already viewed as a weak spot -- took a huge blow.

          But Quintez Cephus was a bright spot with four receptions for 63 yards, including a touchdown on the opening drive. Cephus had 11.3 yards of separation at the time of Goff's pass on that score, per NFL Next Gen Stats.

          Still, outside of Cephus and tight end T.J. Hockenson, no receiver was able to make a real impact for Goff. Cephus has proved he is somewhat capable of making key plays in spurts in Williams’ absence; but it wasn’t enough to help Detroit pull off their first victory against Green Bay since Dec. 30, 2018.