Aaron Jones has scored four touchdowns, three on passes from Aaron Rodgers, as the Green Bay Packers bounced back from an opening week blowout NFL loss by topping the visiting Detroit Lions 35-17.
Jones rushed 17 times for 67 yards and caught six passes for 48 yards for Green Bay, who took over in the second half at Lambeau Field.
The Packers’ defence, which was carved up by Jared Goff in the first half, stiffened considerably after halftime.
Rodgers, who was under fire during the Packers’ 38-3 loss to the New Orleans Saints a week ago, enjoyed an impressive bounce-back performance against Detroit (0-2).
He completed 22 of 27 passes for 255 yards and four scores, including a 22-yard connection with Robert Tonyan early in the third quarter that gave the Packers the lead for good at 21-17.
Green Bay (1-1) made it a two-score game with seven seconds left in the third when Rodgers found Jones for an 11-yard touchdown pass, finishing off an 11-play, 75-yard drive that chewed up nearly six minutes.
After Goff fumbled on the Lions’ next possession, Jones concluded the game’s competitive phase with 12:42 left, barrelling in from the one-yard line.
It was a far cry from the first half, when Detroit stood toe-to-toe with the Packers as Goff picked out open teammates at will against a defence that couldn’t mount a pass rush or cover receivers.
The Lions needed just seven plays to score on the game’s opening drive, Goff hitting Quintez Cephus with a five-yard scoring strike.
After Rodgers and Jones teamed up for a four-yard touchdown pass at the 3:45 mark of the first quarter, Detroit regained the lead with 7:22 left in the first half.
Goff found tight end T.J. Hockenson on an eight-yard strike.
Rodgers and Jones hooked up for a one-yard score with 1:52 remaining in the second period, but Austin Seibert kicked a 43-yard field goal with three seconds left to give the Lions a 17-14 half-time lead.
AAP
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