DETROIT (AP) – It’s a play Mike McCarthy says the Packers practice every Saturday – because they’ve been victimized by this type of desperation heave in the past and want their defense to be prepared to stop it.
“I’m not real happy when the offense gets the ball,” the Green Bay coach said.
But McCarthy needed the Hail Mary to work this time, and the Detroit Lions gave Richard Rodgers a bit too much room in the front of the end zone.
Rodgers came down with the 61-yard toss from Aaron Rodgers for a touchdown with no time on the clock Thursday night, giving the Packers a 27-23 victory. Detroit appeared to have the game won when Aaron Rodgers was tackled about 75 yards from the end zone, but Lions defensive end Devin Taylor was called for a facemask, giving the Packers one more chance from their own 39.
The Lions, fearing the Packers (8-4) would start lateraling and force Detroit to make a tackle, did not put 6-foot-5 Calvin Johnson in the game for defensive purposes. Detroit had plenty of people in the end zone, but the Lions may have misjudged the high throw. Linebacker Josh Bynes dropped back away from Richard Rodgers to cover another potential target, allowing the tight end to drift into the end zone and haul the ball in at the front of a pack of players, with no Lions in great position to knock the pass down.