With their playoff hopes hanging in the balance, the Lions and Packers prepare to face off in what could be a “win-and-in” showdown on “Sunday Night Football.”
The Lions could be eliminated from postseason contention before a ball is even kicked in Green Bay. They need the Rams to take down the Seahawks to stay alive in the NFC playoff race. If Los Angeles manages to beat Seattle, then that would turn Sunday night’s game into a winner-take-all.
Regardless of what happens out West, the mission for Aaron Rodgers and the Packers is simple: Win and punch their ticket to the playoffs.
Green Bay is riding a four-game winning streak that has vaulted the team back into the hunt after a 4-8 start. A victory would complete an improbable comeback for the reigning NFL MVP and his young teammates.
MORE: Odds, prediction, betting tips for Lions vs. Packers
The Lions have put together a run of their own in the latter half of this season to stay in the postseason hunt. Dan Campbell’s squad started the year 1-6, but wins in seven of its next nine games have sparked dreams of a first postseason berth since 2016 in Detroit.
One thing is for sure: by the end of the night, we’ll have a complete picture for this year’s NFL playoffs.
The Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights from Lions vs. Packers in Week 18. Follow along for all the key moments from this year’s NFL regular-season finale.
MORE: Watch Lions vs. Packers live with fuboTV (free trial)
Lions vs. Packers score
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| Lions | 3 | 0 | – | – | – |
| Packers | 6 | 3 | – | – | – |
Lions vs. Packers live updates, highlights from ‘Sunday Night Football’
(All times Eastern.)
Packers 9, Lions 3
9:11 p.m. FIELD GOAL — Crosby stays perfect on the night, putting it right down the middle from 48 yards to make it a 6-point game.
9:09 p.m. — Dillon rumbles for a gain of 5 yards on 1st down, but after an incompletion it’s 3rd down. Rodgers drops back and scans the field, but once again he’s wrapped up and sacked by Hutchinson! This rookie is unbelievable! It’ll be another long field goal attempt for Crosby.
Another @AidanHutch97 SACK. He’s up to 9.5 on the year.
📺: #DETvsGB on NBC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/9hDtJVDM1m pic.twitter.com/srCt43hDZP— NFL (@NFL) January 9, 2023
9:06 p.m. — On 3rd and 4, Rodgers flicks a pass towards tight end Robert Tonyan, who goes up to make a fantastic catch for a gain of 20 yards! Beautiful play by Tonyan to keep the drive alive. That’s the first 3rd down conversion tonight by either team.
End of first quarter: Packers 6, Lions 3
9:03 p.m. — The Lions punt it away, and after a sweep play to Watson for a gain of 6, we’ve reached the end of the first quarter.
9:01 p.m. — LaFleur’s challenge pays off! The call is overturned, and the catch is ruled incomplete. That appears to have been the right call, St. Brown trapped it against the ground as he fell.
8:58 p.m. — With the Lions facing 3rd and 3, Goff fires one over the middle to St. Brown, who makes a fantastic diving catch to pick up a first down. Or did he? Matt LaFleur is challenging the catch.
Packers 6, Lions 3
8:53 p.m. FIELD GOAL — Crosby faces a long 49-yard kick in freezing cold conditions, but he sneaks it over the crossbar to give Green Bay the lead back!
8:52 p.m. — On 3rd and 5, Rodgers gets buried for a huge sack by Aidan Hutchinson! The rookie defensive end is really something else, he easily blew past Packers’ offensive lineman Yosh Nijman. Rodgers lost the ball at the end of the play, but he was ruled down. Not sure about that call, honestly… That might have been a fumble. No review or coaches challenge is forthcoming, though.
.@AidanHutch97 gets home for the sack!
📺: #DETvsGB on NBC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/9hDtJVDM1m pic.twitter.com/oYwUZvTSOh— NFL (@NFL) January 9, 2023
8:50 p.m. — The Packers’ offense goes back to work, and the drive is kickstarted by a long pass by Rodgers to Watson, who makes the grab for a gain of 25 yards.
Packers 3, Lions 3
8:45 p.m. FIELD GOAL — Goff can’t connect with Kalif Raymond, and that will force a field goal attempt. Michael Badly knocks it through to tie things up. A costly turnover on downs by Green Bay turns into three points for Detroit.
8:43 p.m. — Amon-Ra St. Brown makes his first catch of the night to move to the edge of the red zone. Goff then takes a shot on 1st down that falls incomplete, and after a short run it’s 3rd and 9.
8:40 p.m. TURNOVER ON DOWNS — LaFleur will go for this from his own 30-yard line, a very aggressive play. Rodgers hands it off on an end-around to Lazard, but he gets dragged down for a loss of a yard! The Lions will take over with fantastic field position!
8:38 p.m. — Rodgers takes the field once again, and on 2nd down he completes a pass to Randall Cobb to set up 3rd and 1. But Jones gets stuffed at the line on 3rd down! Matt LaFleur looks like he might go for this on 4th down.
8:33 p.m. — The Lions get it back (after a bizarre player intro by Jamaal Williams) and quickly they face 3rd and 6. Goff looks to throw, but he can’t complete it to Josh Reynolds and that is a three-and-out to start the night for Detroit’s offense.
Jamaal Williams aka 1st Swagg Kazekage @jswaggdaddy @Lions pic.twitter.com/fqq8XWcMnS
— NFL (@NFL) January 9, 2023
Packers 3, Lions 0
8:31 p.m. FIELD GOAL — Mason Crosby hits the chip shot to give Green Bay an early lead.
8:28 p.m. — After a pair of inside runs go nowhere, it’s 3rd and goal from inside the Lions’ 5-yard line. Rodgers rolls to his right and looks for someone — anyone — to throw to. He appears to contemplate running for it, but at the last season he fires one through the end zone and incomplete. That will bring out the field goal unit.
8:26 p.m. — After a pass to Christian Watson picks up an additional 13 yards, Rodgers launches one deep downfield to Allen Lazard. It falls incomplete, but a flag flies. That’ll be defensive pass interference, which will set Green Bay up with a 1st and goal. A 46-yard penalty on Detroit corner Jerry Jacobs.
8:24 p.m. — On the second play from scrimmage, Aaron Jones breaks loose for a 9 yard rush to the left side. He and fellow running back AJ Dillon will be critical for the Packers on offense tonight.
8:23 p.m. — Here we go. The Lions will kick it away to start the game. Will the Packers get a win and secure their fourth straight playoff appearance?
8:16 p.m. — The Lions are no longer playing for a spot in the playoffs. However, they’d like nothing more than to spoil the party in Green Bay tonight and get one over on their NFC North ris.
Got a job to do 😤 pic.twitter.com/7mY1aHYqBs
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 9, 2023
8:07 p.m. — Lambeau Field is going to be ROCKING tonight. The fans know their team is just one win away from a spot in the playoffs.
There’s NO place like @LambeauField at night.@Showtyme_33 | #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/MyKADNiFnL
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) January 9, 2023
7:36 p.m. — Now that the game in Seattle has ended, let’s take a look at what’s still at stake tonight. For the Packers, the task remains simple: win, and they’re in. However, if the Lions win, they’ll snuff out Green Bay’s playoff dreams and the final NFC wild card spot will instead go to the Seahawks — the team that just crushed Detroit’s hopes!
7:32 p.m. — Myers connects from 32 yards to win it for the Seahawks, and end the Lions’ playoff hopes before they’ve even played a snap tonight. Heartbreak in Detroit.
7:30 p.m. — Seattle has worked it into the red zone, and once again Detroit’s playoff hopes are hanging by a thread. It will take a minor miracle for the Lions to stay alive now.
7:25 p.m. — The Seahawks go three-and-out on the first drive of overtime, but a Baker Mayfield interception gives the ball right back to Seattle. A field goal will now win the game and eliminate the Lions.
7:16 p.m. — Jason Myers has a chance to win it for Seattle and eliminate the Lions on a 46-yard kick… But it’s NO GOOD! The Lions are still alive! Incredible drama!
7:10 p.m. — The Rams just had a shot to take the lead on a two-minute drill, but they went three-and-out. After a touchback on the punt, the Seahawks will have to go about 50 yards to move into field goal range with no timeouts and less than a minute on the clock.
7:02 p.m. — Lions fans everywhere are intently watching the end of this Rams vs. Seahawks game right now. Seattle just tied it up with just over 2 minutes left to play. As a reminder, Detroit needs the Rams to win this game to stay alive for a spot in the playoffs.
Lions vs. Packers start time
- Date: Sunday, Dec. 18
- Time: 8:20 p.m. ET (7:20 p.m. CT)
The game is scheduled to kick off at 8:20 p.m. ET (7:20 p.m. local time) from Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
The weather forecast calls for clear skies with temperatures around 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
What channel is Lions vs. Packers on today?
- TV channel (national): NBC (U.S.) | TSN, CTV2 (Canada)
- Live stream: NBCSports.com | NBC Sports App | Peacock | fuboTV (U.S.) | DAZN (Canada)
The game will be broadcast nationally on NBC. Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (color commentary) and Melissa Stark (sideline reporter) will be on the call from the frozen tundra.
A live stream of the game will be available on NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports App, Peacock and fuboTV, which offers a free trial.
Viewers in Canada can watch the game on TSN or CTV2. They can also stream it live with DAZN, which carries every NFL game.
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