No Ticket for the Playoff Train: Packers Lose Season Finale, Rollercoaster Season Ends at 8-9

January 9, 2022

The four-game win streak, plus some additional help received, set up a win-and-you're in scenario for the Green Bay Packers to make the playoffs going into the regular season finale.

But with the hot streak came an unforgiving cold front, and Green Bay picked the worst possible time to play uncharacteristic football.

The Packers fell to the Detroit Lions 20-16 at Lambeau Field on Sunday night, eliminating them from the final playoff picture and ending their rollercoaster season with an 8-9 record.

Despite the victory, the Lions were eliminated before kickoff due to the Seattle Seahawks winning in overtime against the Los Angeles Rams. With Detroit playing spoiler, the Seahawks claim the NFC's 7th and final seed.

Both teams didn't display any of the offensive firepower they had in Week 17, but it came down to the team who had the ball last and Detroit made sure it would stay in the Lions' den.

Much like their performance back in Week 9 at Ford Field, the Packers made too many mistakes throughout the ballgame.

On a 4th and inches play from their own 32-yard line in the first quarter, Matt LaFleur called for a jet sweep to Allen Lazard, but it backfired as he was stopped behind the line of scrimmage. The Packers' loss was the Lions' gain, as it led to a field goal and a tie ballgame.

Later, with a 9-3 lead late under the 2-minute warning in the first half and Green Bay looking to get another score, the tone of the game shifted when Aaron Jones fumbled in Lions territory and Detroit recovered the ball. The Lions kicked a field goal to end the half only down by 3.

It only got worse from there.

With the Lions down 16-13 in the fourth quarter in the red zone, LB Quay Walker was ejected after shoving a Lions medical trainer who was attending to De'Andre Swift. Walker's actions cost the Packers heavily, as three plays later former Packers RB Jamaal Williams punched in his second touchdown of the game to give Detroit a 20-16 lead with 6 minutes remaining.

That set up the opportunity for Aaron Rodgers to come up with some kind of January magic to get the Packers into the end zone.

However, his spell backfired when he was intercepted by Kerby Joseph with 3:30 left. It was the third time this season that Joseph had intercepted Rodgers, and the rookie's play put Green Bay on thin ice.

It would all come down to a 4th and 1 play for the Lions after the Packers used all of their timeouts, but a screen pass from Jared Goff to DJ Chark was enough for the first down, and put the final nail in the coffin on the 2022 Packers' season.

Just like in the first matchup, the run game was ineffective in keeping the Packers' offense on the move. Aaron Jones only ran for 48 yards on 12 carries and AJ Dillon had just 37 yards.

The passing game was the only way for Green Bay's offense to go. Christian Watson hauled in 5 catches for 104 yards and Allen Lazard had 4 receptions for 41 yards and caught a touchdown pass from Rodgers in the third quarter.

It was a task for Rodgers to make throws in the pocket- he completed 17 passes for 207 yards but threw a critical interception late and was sacked twice on third down.

The defense held a Lions offense 5th in the league in points to only 20, but with the offense only able to score 16 there was no spark for each side to work off of.

After special teams fell flat against the 49ers in the Divisional Round last season, their performance in a playoff-like game this time around didn't cost the Packers but certainly wasn't a game changer . Mason Crosby kicked 3 field goals, but also missed a 53-yarder off the crossbar on a drive that stalled; Keisean Nixon's explosiveness on special teams was just a small flame, with his longest return only going for 30 yards.

For the first time in the Matt LaFleur era, the Packers will not be playing postseason football in January. The franchise now faces another offseason of question on Rodgers's future while maneuvering through a difficult cap situation. There may have been several starters who have played their last snaps in Green Bay, but that remains to be seen. A lot of difficult decisions are on the table.

This may be the turning point in where the franchise goes next season, but no matter what direction they pull in the last 3 seasons will only be remembered for how they ended on somber notes.