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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) -- Brett Favre did exactly what his coach
didn't want him to do.
|  | | Detroit's Germane Crowell gets pulled down by Green Bay linebacker K.D. Williams. |
The Green Bay quarterback tried to win a game by himself, but
his once-successful style backfired Sunday.
The Detroit Lions beat the Packers 31-24 thanks in part to
Favre's three interceptions and two fumbles. Favre is 2-7 with 20
interceptions in the regular season at the Silverdome.
"I feel like I should win every football game," Favre said.
"I feel like this team should win every football game."
Detroit (4-2), which lost its last two NFC Central games at
home, must have been happy to see Green Bay (2-4) come to town. The
Packers lone regular-season win in Detroit in the past eight years
was by their Super Bowl championship team of 1996.
"It's the same old story," said Favre, who was 27-of-43 for
293 yards with two touchdowns to go along with five turnovers.
"But they played well. No excuses."
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TOM DONAHOE'S BREAKDOWN |
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This win puts the Lions back in the picture in the NFC Central. They had a
couple of tough losses the last few weeks. This keeps them in contention.
The Superdome has proven to be a difficult place for Brett Favre to play. Today was
not much different. Favre's record at Detroit is 2-7 (with 20
interceptions).
Favre tried to rally Green Bay late, but threw an interception that sealed
the win for Detroit (overall, Favre threw three interceptions and had two
fumbles).
When you look at the stats, it's almost a mystery as to how the Lions won
the game -- but Favre's turnovers were key. That was the difference in the
game.
The Lions didn't do much offensively and were dominated in time of
possession, but they took advantage of their opportunities. Actually, the
final score was much closer than most of the game was.
Lions QB Charlie Batch
continues to improve each week, and their running game appears to be making
some strides. Batch is still suffering somewhat from not having a preseason
due to his knee injury.
Tom Donahoe, ESPN.com's NFL analyst, was formerly the Steelers' director
of football operations.
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Charlie Batch was 13-of-26 for 199 yards with three touchdowns
and one interception. James Stewart ran for 56 yards and caught
five passes for 67 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown reception.
Johnnie Morton had three receptions for 73 yards, including a
42-yard touchdown.
Green Bay's Ahman Green, playing for the injured Dorsey Levens,
rushed for 69 yards and caught eight passes for 76 yards. Antonio
Freeman made six catches for 98 yards and a touchdown.
"It's very frustrating when you have a game as close as we had
it and play as bad as we did," Green Bay coach Mike Sherman said.
"You can't dig yourselves a hole like we did in Detroit or
anywhere. It has nothing to do with this stadium."
The Packers turned a potential blowout into an interesting game,
which Batch expected.
"You never feel like you have Green Bay put away, not when
Brett is on the other sideline," Batch said.
Detroit's Kurt Schulz made his NFL-leading sixth interception
with 1:37 left to end Green Bay's comeback hopes.
"The line put pressure on him," Schulz said. "He made a bad
decision. He kind of floated it up there and I went after it."
Detroit led 31-9 late in the third quarter after Batch connected
with Herman Moore from 30 yards for his first touchdown reception
of the season.
Favre threw scoring passes to Freeman and William Henderson on
Green Bay's next two possessions to cut it to 31-24 midway through
the final quarter.
The Packers' comeback hopes were hurt again on their following
possession when Favre's errant pass was intercepted by a Terry Fair
with 4:57 left.
Tracy Scroggins forced both of Favre's fumbles with sacks.
Green Bay outgained Detroit 339-253 and had the ball for nearly
10 more minutes, but couldn't overcome Favre's turnovers.
"I'm not a big stats guy," Detroit coach Bobby Ross said.
"The only stat that I pay attention to is turnovers. In our four
wins, we've been on the plus side every time and in our two losses,
we were on the minus side."
Entering the game, Detroit ranked second in the NFC in turnover
margin while Green Bay was last in the conference.
Favre fumbled on the third play of the game, after Scroggins'
sack, which led to the first score. Jason Hanson, who had missed
three of his previous four field goals, made a 30-yarder.
On Detroit's next offensive play, Batch threw a 42-yard
touchdown pass to Morton. Batch, sensing a blitz, called an audible
at the line that put Morton in single coverage.
Green Bay made it 10-3 early in the second quarter on Ryan
Longwell's 30-yard field goal.
A dropped snap led to a 9-yard punt from Green Bay's Josh
Bidwell and gave Detroit the ball at the Packers' 25. Four plays
later, Batch connected with Stewart on a 13-yard TD pass.
Scroggins second sack and Favre's fumble gave Detroit the ball
at its own 11. On Green Bay's next possession, Lamar Campbell
intercepted Favre's pass and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown.
Longwell kicked a 51-yard field goal seconds before halftime,
and capped Green Bay's first possession of the second half with a
31-yarder.
Game
notes
Longwell's 51-yard field goal was the longest of his
career. ... The already banged-up Packers lost several more
players. The most serious were WR Bill Schroeder (hip pointer) and
DE David Bowens (ankle), both of whom are unknown for Sunday's game
against the 49ers. DB Tod McBride, WR Antonio Freeman, DT Santana
Dotson and DE Cletidus Hunt -- suffered stingers or concussions, but
none were considered serious.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
Green Bay Clubhouse
Detroit Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 The Lions' Charlie Batch talks with ESPN's Ed Werder about Sunday's win against the Packers.
wav: 459 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Brett Favre hopes the Packers will continue to fight.
wav: 230 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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