Love matched a career high with four TD passes to lead the Packers to a win over the Lions

DETROIT – Jordan Love had plenty of time, and took full advantage.

Jared Goff didn’t and Micah Parsons had a lot to do with it.

Love converted a pair of fourth downs with scoring passes in the first half and finished with a career-high four touchdown passes, leading the Green Bay Packers to a 31-24 victory over the Detroit Lions on Thursday.

“Credit to our O-line for giving me enough time to make those throws,” he said. “That’s really the reason why we were able to win the game.”

The following four were also important.

Green Bay went 3 of 3 on fourth down – scoring twice to seal the win – and the Lions turned it over on downs twice when they went for it.

“I’d rather go down swinging,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “It can eat you, absolutely.”

The Packers (8-3-1) clinched the season series to clinch a potential tiebreaker in the NFC North and are second in the division behind Chicago (8-3), which plays at Philadelphia on Friday.

“We know what was at stake with his game,” Love said. “It’s a narrow race.”

The two-time defending division champion Lions (7-5) entered the game out of the playoff picture, then fell further behind in the game with their third loss in five games.

“We dug ourselves a hole,” Detroit coach Dan Campbell said.

Campbell was referring to the game, but what he said also fits the season.

Green Bay went on a 10-0 run early in the second half and restored its 10-point lead in a game dominated by three offensive and defensive lines.

The Packers acquired Parsons just before the season in a trade with Dallas and he finished with 2 1/2 sacks, giving him the 12-plus sacks for the fifth straight season to make the impact the franchise expected.

Detroit failed on fourth down on the opening drive of the second half and early in the fourth quarter.

Two plays after Jameer Gibbs was intercepted for loss just inside Green Bay territory on fourth down, Love threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to Christian Watson to give Green Bay an early 24–14 lead on third down.

The Lions trailed the Packers 21 — 10 — on fourth-and-3 and Jameson Williams dropped a pass.

Detroit’s defense responded with a stop, and the offense got to the Green Bay 4 before Parsons’ Sack Campbell forced a field goal and a 31-24 deficit with 2:59 left.

On the next possession, Love converted a third-and-5 with an 8-yard pass to Watson and a fourth-and-3-16-yard pass to Donteon Wicks for the touchdown.

“We were aggressive,” LaFleur said. “We got a chance to go out there and ice the game.”

Love was 18 of 30 for 234 yards including a 22-yard pass to Wicks and a 2-yard pass to Romeo Dobbs for touchdowns on fourth down in the second quarter. In the third, he threw a long touchdown pass to Watson and a 1-yard throw to Wicks for his second score of the game — and the season.

Goff, who was often under pressure, went 20 of 26 for 256 yards with two touchdowns. He threw a 22-yard pass to Williams late in the first half and a 17-yard pass to rookie Isaac Tesla for a score in the third quarter.

Williams finished with seven receptions and 144 yards — both career highs — but dropped a pass on fourth down in the fourth quarter.

Gibbs was held in check, rushing for 68 yards on 20 carries and gaining 18 yards on three catches.

“At the end of the game, we had a chance, but we couldn’t take it,” Campbell said.

Packers: DT Daonte White (Tuck) was carted off the field late in the game.

“It doesn’t look good,” LaFleur said. “It’s a critical loss for our team and our defense.”

CB Keisean Nixon (neck) was inactive after leaving last week’s game with a neck injury. … WR Matthew Golden, LB Quay Walker and CB Nate Hobbs were inactive.

Lions: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (tkle) left the game in the first quarter with an ankle injury.

“I don’t think it’s long-term, long-term,” Campbell said. “It could be a week or two, if we’re lucky.”

CB Terryon Arnold (concussion) and edge rusher Marcus Davenport (knee) returned from injuries. … WR/PR Kalif Raymond, TE Brock Wright, C Graham Glasgow and S Kerby Joseph were inactive.

Packers: Host Chicago on Dec. 7.

Lions: Host Dallas on Dec. 4.