Packers Display Fourthitude in Win at Detroit

 By Eric Goska

Preston Smith (left) and Luke Van Ness (right) helped make
key fourth-down stops against the Lions on Thanksgiving.
(photos by Eric Goska)

No guts, no glory.

Detroit dared. Green Bay came prepared.

On this Thanksgiving, the Lions didn’t shy away from fourth down. The fact that they came up short every time, save one played a major role in their 29-22 loss to the shorthanded Packers at Ford Field.

Lions coach Dan Campbell is not one to back down. Prior to Thursday’s game, his team had attempted to gain a first down rather than punt a league-high 100 times on fourth down in the regular season since he became head coach in 2021.

Only one other club – the Cardinals with 92 – employed that strategy more than 85 times.

Declining to punt after three can signal desperation. Or, such a move can be interpreted as a vote of confidence for an offense.

With Campbell, one gets the feeling he breathes positivity.

Detroit went for it five times on fourth down against the Packers. Only once, on its last attempt, did the Motor City 11 convert.

Credit Green Bay for turning the Lions away four times.

Kingsley Enagbare was credited with two solo tackles against the Lions.

The Packers are not accustomed to being tested five times on fourth down. That they held up as well as they did suggests they came ready to meet this challenge.

Since *1923, only 27 regular-season opponents have let it ride five or more times on fourth down against the Green and Gold. This victory over the Lions was just the fifth time Green Bay held the competition to a single conversion when tested five or more times.

• 2nd quarter, fourth and 4 from the Green Bay 35: Jared Goff in shotgun, the Packers rush four—Rashan Gary, T.J. Slaton, Kenny Clark and Preston Smith. Smith gets past OT Penei Sewell and hits Goff’s arm causing Goff’s throw to fall harmlessly to the turf. Detroit trails 23-6.
• 3rd quarter, fourth and 4 from the Detroit 23: In punt formation, Jalen Reeves-Maybin takes the snap and is buried by Luke Van Ness and Karl Brooks for no gain. Lions behind 23-14.
• 4th quarter, fourth and 7 from the Green Bay 31: Goff in shotgun, Green Bay sends four—Gary, Clark, Brooks and Smith. Gary slips past OT Taylor Decker to sack Goff for a loss of eight. Detroit in arrears 29-14.
• 4th quarter, fourth and 7 from the Green Bay 12: Goff in shotgun, the Pack rushes four—Gary, Clark, Slaton and Smith. Goff fires for TE Sam LaPorta who, covered by LB Quay Walker, cannot come down with the ball in the end zone. The Lions trail 29-14.
•  4th quarter, fourth and 1 from the Detroit 33: Goff in shotgun, the Packers dispatch four—Gary, Devonte Wyatt, Brooks and Smith. Goff tosses short to RB Jahmyr Gibbs who picks up seven and a first down. Detroit down 29-14 at the two minute warning.

In all, the Lions gained minus-1 yards on their fourth-down attempts.

Overall, Green Bay has won 19 times with one tie in the 27 games in which its opponent attempted to cash in on fourth down five or more times. It is 5-0 when limiting the competition to a just one first down.

Fourth and Fizzle
Since *1923, the lowest conversion percentage by a Packers opponent that went for it at least five times on fourth down in a regular-season game.

    Pct.     Made-Att.     Opponent              Date                        Result
    .200             1-5             Lions                          Nov. 23, 2023         GB won, 29-22
    .200             1-5             Yellow Jackets         Oct. 18, 1931           GB won, 15-0
    .200             1-5             Lions                          Oct. 7, 1945            GB won, 57-21
    .200             1-5             49ers                         Nov. 24, 1963         GB won, 28-10
    .200             1-5             Steelers                     Sept. 27, 1992        GB won, 17-3
    .286             2-7             Rams                         Oct. 17, 1948          GB won, 16-0

*3rd and 4th down data is unavailable for 51 games between 1923 and 1953.