SCORING

FINAL	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Green Bay	0	7	7	0	14
Detroit	10	3	0	9	22

Scoring
1st Quarter
DET	TD	SHAWN BRYSON 6 YD RUN (JASON HANSON KICK), 6:55 Drive: 10 plays, 56 yards in 4:46 Key Plays:   Harrington 9-yard pass to Bryson to Green Bay 47   Harrington 14-yard pass to Hakim to Green Bay 29   Bryson 9-yard run to Green Bay 20   Schlesinger 3-yard run on 3rd-and-1 to Green Bay 17   Harrington 9-yard pass to Hakim to Green Bay 8   Schlesinger 2-yard run on 3rd-and-1 to Green Bay 6 DETROIT 7-0
DET	FG	JASON HANSON 42 YD, 14:27 Drive: 8 plays, 64 yards in 4:08 Key Plays:   Harrington 2-yard pass to Fitzsimmons plus 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on Packers' McKenize to Detroit 29   Harrington 38-yard pass to Ricks to Green Bay 30 DETROIT 10-0
2nd Quarter
GNB	TD	BUBBA FRANKS 5 YD PASS FROM BRETT FAVRE (RYAN LONGWELL KICK), 4:33 Drive: 8 plays, 84 yards in 5:06 Key Plays:   Favre 29-yard pass to Walls to midfield   Green 8-yard run to Detroit 33   Favre 8-yard pass to Driver to Detroit 27   Detroit 5-yard encroachment penalty on Lions' S Rogers on 3rd-and-4 to Detroit 22   Favre 12-yard pass to Davenport to Detroit 10 DETROIT 10-7
DET	FG	JASON HANSON 28 YD, 12:23 Drive: 14 plays, 62 yards in 7:50 Key Plays:   Harrington 13-yard pass to Schroeder to Detroit 42   Harrington 12-yard pass to Ricks on 3rd-and-8 to Green Bay 44   Harrrington 13-yard pass to Hakim to Green Bay 35   Bryson 9-yard run plus 11-yard face mask penalty on Packers' Edwards on 3rd-and-1 to Green Bay 15   Harrington 5-yard pass to Schroeder on 3rd-and-4 to Green Bay 9 DETROIT 13-7
3rd Quarter
GNB	TD	JAVON WALKER 45 YD PASS FROM BRETT FAVRE (RYAN LONGWELL KICK), 11:12 Drive: 3 plays, 65 yards in 1:22 Key Plays:   Favre 20-yard pass to Driver to Detroit 45 GREEN BAY 14-13
4th Quarter
DET	FG	JASON HANSON 49 YD, 1:51 Drive: 4 plays, 0 yards in 1:44 Key Plays:   Holt recovery of Walker fumble at Green Bay 31 DETROIT 16-14
DET	FG	JASON HANSON 46 YD, 5:43 Drive: 4 plays, 8 yards in 1:33 Key Plays:   Wilkinson recovery of Favre fumble at Green Bay 36   Bryson 13-yard run to Green Bay 28 DETROIT 19-14
DET	FG	JASON HANSON 32 YD, 11:26 Drive: 8 plays, 41 yards in 4:39 Key Plays:   Bly 19-yard interception return to Detroit 46   Harrington 11-yard pass to Hakimon 3rd-and-2 to Green Bay 35   Gary 17-yard run to Green Bay 18 DETROIT 22-14

Statistics

Passing
Packers Att Cmp Yds Td Int Lg Favre, Brett 37 23 296 2 3 45	Lions Att Cmp Yds Td Int Lg Harrington, Joey 32 21 183 0 1 38

Rushing
Packers Att Yds Avg Lg Td Green, Ahman 13 57 4.4 21 0 Davenport, Najeh 2 2 1.0 4 0 Driver, Donald 1 -7 -7.0 0 0	Lions Att Yds Avg Lg Td Bryson, Shawn 16 50 3.1 13 1 Gary, Olandis 10 37 3.7 17 0 Harrington, Joey 5 8 1.6 6 0 Schlesinger, Cory 2 5 2.5 3 0

Receiving
Packers Rec Yds Avg Lg Td Walls, Wesley 5 67 13.4 30 0 Driver, Donald 4 47 11.8 20 0 Franks, Bubba 4 32 8.0 9 1 Green, Ahman 4 10 2.5 7 0 Walker, Javon 3 93 31.0 45 1 Ferguson, Robert 2 35 17.5 18 0 Davenport, Najeh 1 12 12.0 12 0	Lions Rec Yds Avg Lg Td Hakim, Az-Zahir 6 65 10.8 14 0 Bryson, Shawn 4 25 6.3 15 0 Schroeder, Bill 4 22 5.5 13 0 Ricks, Mikhael 3 56 18.7 38 0 Fitzsimmons, Casey 3 13 4.3 6 0 Schlesinger, Cory 1 2 2.0 2 0

Tackles-Solo-Assists Sacks-Yds (unofficial)

Packers T S A Sk-Yd Navies, Hannibal 9 8 1 0-0 Marshall, Torrance 8 7 1 1-4 Anderson, Marques 6 6 0 0-0 Edwards, Antuan 6 5 1 1-6 McKenzie, Mike 5 4 1 0-0 Diggs, Na'il 5 4 1 0-0 Harris, Al 4 4 0 0-0 Kampman, Aaron 4 3 1 1-7 Jackson, Grady 3 3 0 0-0 Gbaja-Biamila, Kabeer 3 2 1 0-0 Hawthorne, Michael 3 2 1 0-0 Nwokorie, Chukie 2 2 0 0-0 Fuller, Curtis 2 0 2 0-0 Smith, Larry 2 0 2 0-0 Lenon, Paris 1 1 0 0-0 Hunt, Cletidus 1 0 1 0-0

Lions T S A Sk-Yd Walker, Brian 8 5 3 .5-3 Green, Barrett 7 4 3 0-0 Smith, Otis 6 5 1 0-0 Bailey, Boss 6 3 3 0-0 Holmes, Earl 5 3 2 0-0 Hall, James 4 2 2 0-0 Wilkinson, Dan 3 3 0 1-6 Porcher, Robert 3 2 1 2-17 Walker, Bracy 2 2 0 0-0 Rogers, Shaun 2 1 1 .5-3 Bly, Dre 2 1 1 0-0 Edwards, Kalimba 2 1 1 0-0 Harris, Corey 1 0 1 0-0 Gooch, Jeff 1 0 1 0-0 Holt, Terrence 1 0 1 0-0

Interceptions
Packers INT Yds Avg Lg Td McKenzie, Mike 1 0 0.0 0 0	Lions INT Yds Avg Lg Td Bly, Dre 2 21 10.5 19 0 Evans, Doug 1 2 2.0 2 0

Punting
Packers No. Yds Avg TB In20 Lg Bidwell, Josh 6 233 38.8 0 2 49	Lions No. Yds Avg TB In20 Lg Harris, Nick 6 217 36.2 0 3 44

Punt Returns
Packers No. Yds Avg Lg Td Chatman, Antonio 2 5 2.5 15 0	Lions No. Yds Avg Lg Td Swinton, Reggie 2 22 11.0 17 0 Drummond, Edward 1 7 7.0 7 0

Kickoff Returns
Packers No. Yds Avg Lg Td Davenport, Najeh 3 102 34.0 57 0 Ferguson, Robert 3 59 19.7 24 0	Lions No. Yds Avg Lg Td Drummond, Edward 2 44 22.0 28 0 Swinton, Reggie 1 14 14.0 14 0

Kicking
Packers XP/XPA FG/FGA Dist(Made/Fail) Longwell, Ryan 2/2 0/0	Lions XP/XPA FG/FGA Dist(Made/Fail) Hanson, Jason 1/1 5/5 42 28 49 46 32

Fumbles
Rec Packers No. Lost Forced O D Favre, Brett 1 1 0 0 0 Walker, Javon 1 1 0 0 0 Kampman, Aaron 0 0 1 0 0 Navies, Hannibal 0 0 1 0 0	Rec Lions No. Lost Forced O D Harrington, Joey 2 0 0 1 0 Bryson, Shawn 1 0 0 1 0 Bly, Dre 0 0 1 0 0 Walker, Brian 0 0 1 0 0 Holt, Terrence 0 0 0 0 1 Wilkinson, Dan 0 0 0 0 1 McDougle, Stockar 0 0 0 1 0

Officials

Referee- Ron Winter, Umpire- Jeff Rice, Head linesman- Sanford Rivers, Line judge- Ron Marinucci, Field judge- Greg Gautreaux, Side judge- Michael Banks, Back judge- Perry Paganelli

Attendance - Time

62,123 ; 3:07

Team Statistics	Packers	Lions
First downs	18	17
Rushing	4	7
Passing	11	8
Penalty	3	2
3rd-Down Efficiency	1 - 9	6 - 17
4th-Down Efficiency	0 - 0	0 - 0
Total Net Yards	320	266
Total Plays	57	68
Average Gains	5.6	3.9
Net Yards Rushing	52	100
Rushes	16	33
Average Per Rush	3.3	3.0
Net Yards Passing	268	166
Completed-Attempted	23 - 37	21 - 32
Yards Per Pass	6.5	4.7
Sacked-Yards Lost	4 - 28	3 - 17
Had Intercepted	3	1
Punts-Average	6 - 38.8	6 - 36.2
Return Yardage	5	52
Punts-Returns	2 - 5	3 - 29
Kickoffs-Returns	6 - 161	3 - 58
Interceptions-Returns	1 - 0	3 - 23
Penalties-Yards	6 - 49	5 - 40
Fumbles-Lost	2 - 2	3 - 0
Time Of Possession	25:17	34:43

News: 11/27/03

Brett Favre stood back in the shotgun formation, and being a gunslinger by habit, fired the pass upfield in a high trajectory. He was standing back on his right heel when he let loose.

And when the ball came down it was in the hands of Doug Evans, a former teammate now in the secondary of the Lions. It was the third interception of the second half for Favre. He stood there for a moment watching back near the Packers' 40.

He and the Packers were beaten then with just 63 seconds left in this Thanksgiving Day game.

"Every one we've had this year has been a crusher," Favre said after the Packers' sixth loss of a substandard season.

"I take them all hard. And I said this to people earlier in the season that the losses are harder for me to deal with than the big wins.

"We could win 12 straight and be on top of the world, and one loss to me sets me back so much.

"I should take it hard. Everyone should take it hard. Matter of fact, I take it harder.

"I just know how many chances you get in this game, and it's hard to get them back. Like last year, we had a great opportunity at the end of the year. It wasn't to be but you get to that point, and it's disheartening."

Favre was on a roll, delivering a soliloquy. His face had shown the pain of bitter defeat, 22-14 to the last-place Lions.

He had started his 185th consecutive game since 1992, a continuing NFL record for quarterbacks. And he was determined to drive the Packers back into playoff contention in the NFC North. Instead, the Lions pressured him into submission and dumped the Packers to 6-6, behind the Vikings at 7-4.

"I knew it was going to be tough today," said Favre, continuing his answer to one question. "Even before this game, who knows what was going to happen?

"But we've shown great effort and great heart. A lot of times people overlook that part of it. This team has had a lot of fight in them. We could have given up a long time ago."

This was a championship quarterback in despair. The Packers have incurred some harsh losses this season. But Favre and runner Ahman Green had rallied them to three victories in their previous four games.

Favre went on, still in his talking mode.

"It's just frustrating for the guys," he said. "Regardless of what the statistics show, it's just frustrating because I know guys have put a lot into it. But that in itself doesn't guarantee victory. And I know that.

"I've been around long enough to know you can have the best guys in the world who really care, but that in itself doesn't guarantee.

"At some point, you've got to produce. I know that, but it's just upsetting for the guys after what we've put into it."

The Lions' defense was prepared this time to stop Green, who has become a premier runner in the NFL. He was limited to 57 yards. And Favre was forced to switch the Packers' offense to a passing mode.

And against a Lions defense -- reminiscent of the defense in the historic Thanksgiving victory over the Packers 41 years ago -- Favre coughed up one fumble and Javon Walker lost another after an 18-yard reception. It was five turnovers total -- and two were fumbles and two others interceptions in the fourth quarter as Favre tried to rally his team.

"Those interceptions came as a result of them being in Brett's face," Packers Coach Mike Sherman said. "The Detroit Lions did a great job."

RECAP

Brett Favre's aching thumb translated to a painful fourth quarter for the Green Bay Packers.

The three-time NFL Most Valuable Player was intercepted twice and fumbled the ball away once in the final quarter as the Detroit Lions pulled off a 22-14 upset of the Packers in a battle of long-time division rivals on Thanksgiving Day.

The loss may turn out to be especially damaging to the Packers (6-6), who trail the first-place Minnesota Vikings by 1 1/2 games in the NFC North. Minnesota plays at St. Louis on Sunday.

"It starts with me," said Favre, who threw three interceptions for the second straight week. "I've turned the ball over and I haven't played my best."

Despite their last-place standing in the division, the Lions (4-8) always seem to save their best for Thanksgiving Day, improving to 10-5 since 1989 as the traditional holiday host.

"We talked about being on national television for the only time this year and and this was our best effort of the year against a winning team," said Lions coach Steve Mariucci.

Detroit's Jason Hanson drilled five field goals, including three in the fourth quarter following turnovers by Green Bay. Hanson kicked a 49-yarder 1:51 into the fourth quarter following a fumble by Packers receiver Javon Walker to give Detroit the lead for good at 16-14.

Favre committed his three fourth-quarter turnovers on consecutive possessions. Playing with a splint on a broken right thumb suffered in an October 19 game at St. Louis, Favre lost control of the ball as he attempted to pass and defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson recovered the fumble at the Green Bay 36. That led to a 46-yard field goal by Hanson, giving the Lions a 19-14 lead with 9:17 left.

Najeh Davenport returned the ensuing kickoff 57 yards to the Detroit 40. Three plays later, Favre attempted to hit Donald Driver on an out pattern, but cornerback Dre' Bly intercepted the pass and returned it 19 yards to the Detroit 46.

Three runs by Olandis Gary for 25 yards helped set up a 32-yard field goal by Hanson, increasing the lead to 22-14 with 3:34 remaining.

In his 12th year with the Lions, Hanson kicked five or more field goals in a game for the third time. The two-time Pro Bowler has missed just one of his 19 field-goal attempts this season. He kicked a 42-yarder in the first quarter and a 28-yarder in the second quarter.

Favre's third turnover of the fourth quarter was not really his fault. He lofted a pass down the left sideline for Robert Ferguson, who mistimed his leap, allowing former Packer Doug Evans to make the interception at the Detroit 30 with 1:03 remaining.

Favre threw a "Hail Mary" pass near the end zone on the final play of the game, but the ball was batted away by Bly, who was the defensive star of the game with two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

"Next to the Super Bowl in '99, this is the biggest game for me," said Bly, who left St. Louis to sign a five-year, $22 million contract with the Lions in the offseason. "If we play like that the rest of the year, I like our chances against anybody."

Despite entering the game as the NFL's top rushing offense with 173.5 yards per game, the Packers attempted just 16 running plays. Ahman Green, the NFC's leading rusher, produced 57 yards on 13 carries.

Favre was 23-of-37 for 296 yards and two touchdowns, but threw three interceptions for the second straight week. He hit tight end Bubba Franks with a five-yard TD in the second quarter and connected with Walker on a 45-yard scoring play in the third quarter.

A week after throwing four interceptions in a loss at Minnesota, Joey Harrington completed 17 of his first 19 passes and finished 21-of-32 for 183 yards with an interception for the Lions.

"There's just a different buzz about this game," Harrington said. "Thanksgiving is sitting around the house watching the Lions and Cowboys and eating turkey."

Scott's Game Commentary:

"It will be a miracle to beat the Packers on Thursday, but the NFL is so wacky this year, nothing would surprise me." That is what I wrote after the Minnesota game and the more I think about it, is it really a surprise that the Lions beat the Packers? How many times have the Packers come into Detroit on a tear only to watch Favre put on an interception party? Believe it or not, Favre out did Joey Interception Harrington on Thansgiving as he threw two interceptions to Dre Bly, and had committed four turnovers for the game. I just do not understand why Favre chokes everytime he comes to Detroit? The Defense played by far their best game of the year and held the NFL's leading rusher Ahman Green to only 57 yards. Who ever would of expected that? The Offense was the same as it has been all year: awful! But, they were able to take advantage of good field position and scored their only touchdown on the 1st drive of the game. From there, it was Mr. Automatic how nailed five field goals. It is hard to believe this same Lions team got blown out to the Dallas Cowboys only six games ago! Since the 2nd half of the Seattle game, the Defense has been rock solid against some of the best offenses in the NFL. Even with all the injuries, they are holding up strong. I hope all those cheese heads that made the long trip from Green Bay have a fun ride back. Talk about a game to just ruin your season! If there is one team I like beating more than any other, it is the Packers!

Grades:

Offense: --- C. The first offensive drive of the day was executed to perfection and resulted in a touchdown. After that, the 2003 Detroit Lions Offense returned and struggled to get into the endzone. On one drive in the 1st half, the Offense had a 2nd a goal from the one and settled for a field goal. But, they did get Hanson into field goal range on a couple of drives. Harrington looked better than he did against the Vikings and had only one interception the entire game. Bryson and Gary got a combined 87 yards but it is quite clear that both of them will be gone after the season is over. Until the Lions have some playmakers on offense, they will continue to struggle every week to score touchdowns.

Defense: --- A-. The Defense played their best game of the year against the red hot Packers. Dre Bly continues to make big plays every game and had two more interceptions. He has been by far the best free agent pickup in several years for the Lions. The Defense had four sacks on Brett Favre, including two by Robert Porcher, who maybe having second thoughts of retiring the way he has played the past two games. Holding Ahman Green to 57 yards is something to be thankful for! He was shredding defenses left and right the past few games and was averaging over 120 yards a game. It was great to see Favre have a melt down in the 2nd half, especially in the 4th quarter. Hats off to the Defense for making the plays and setting up several Jason Hanson field goals. Hopefully they can keep this momentum going next week aginst the Chargers.

Special Teams: --- A-. What more do I have to say: is there a more reliable kicker in the NFL than Jason Hanson? Just think if the Lions did not have Jason Hanson. Eddie Drummond came back after missing several games and was once again re-injured. Artose Pinner did an adequate job returning the balls. Nick Harris is not a good punter and I hope the Lions look for a new one if John Jett decides to retire.

Coaching: --- A. Mooch had his team ready to go, but the same cannot be said for the Packers. With such a short week the Lions played their best game of the year and did not have any mental breakdowns like they have had in prior games this year.

Overall: --- A. Nobody expected the Lions to beat the Packers who are fighting for 1st place in the NFC North. Like I said after the Minnesota game, the NFL has been so wacky this year, I would not be surprised if the Lions won. It is impossible to forsee the Packers playing this poorly, especially after looking impressive in their last two road victories at Minnesota and Tampa Bay. But, the Lions were the better team this Thanksgiving and now find themselves with more wins than they had the past two seasons. Up next are the San Diego Chargers which should be an easy victory given the Chargers are the worst team in the NFL. At 5-8, all the Lions would need to do is shock the Chiefs or Panthers on the road to salvage the 2nd half of the season. If Chicago can march into Denver and beat the Broncos, anything is possible. Hope everyone enjoys the rest of their Thanksgiving holiday. I know I will after watching the honolulu blue and silver win their first Thanksgiving Day game in three years!

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