DETROIT — Defense scored the first nine points for the Detroit Lions and held the Green Bay Packers’ offense to 223 total yards in a 19-7 victory Sunday at Ford Field.
Defensive back Don Carey scored on a 40-yard fumble return in the first quarter and linebacker DeAndre Levy had a team-high nine tackles, one for a safety.
Detroit’s offense got on the board on running back Reggie Bush had a 26-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter for Detroit (2-1), which bounced back from a loss at Carolina the previous week. Bush rushed for 61 yards on 12 carries and caught six passes for 38 yards one week after he was frustrated by having just seven total touches.
Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford connected on 22 of 34 passes for 246 yards but committed three turnovers, including two interceptions.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 16 of 27 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown for Green Bay (1-2), but was under duress much of the game.
For the second straight week, an early fumble put the Packers in a hole. Running back Eddie Lacy had the ball stripped by defensive tackle Nick Fairley and Carey scooped up the ball at the Green Bay 40. Carey, who aggravated a hamstring injury during the half, eluded Rodgers inside the 10 and scored his first career touchdown.
Rodgers fumbled the first snap a week earlier, leading to a New York Jets touchdown.
Rookie safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix’s first interception led to the Packers’ tying score later in the quarter. Rodgers found tight end Andrew Quarless over the middle on 3rd and 1 from the 10 to complete a 59-yard drive.
Stafford’s second interception inadvertently helped the Lions regain the lead. Stafford overthrew Johnson and cornerback Davon House intercepted at the 1. Lacy was tackled in the end zone by linebacker DeAndre Levy on the next play to give Detroit a 9-7 edge.
The Lions lost middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch on the previous possession to a left knee injury that occurred when Tulloch celebrated a sack of Rodgers.
Nate Freese’s 30-yard field goal capped off the Lions’ ensuing possession but Freese missed a 41-yard try on the last play of the half.
Detroit drove inside the Green Bay 10 midway through the third quarter, but Stafford fumbled when linebacker Julius Peppers sacked him and Peppers pounced on the ball.
The Lions’ defense remained stout and their offense finally scored its first touchdown with 10:40 remaining when Bush scooted around the left side on a 3rd and 2 from the 26. Green Bay’s next drive stalled at the Lions’ 20. Rodgers threw an incompletion to receiver Jordy Nelson on fourth down
NOTES: The Packers won 15 of the last 17 meetings but lost here 40-10 last Thanksgiving when QB Aaron Rodgers was sidelined with a broken collarbone. … OT LaAdrian Waddle (calf) and S James Ihedigbo (neck) were among the Lions’ inactives. Packers MLB Brad Jones (quadriceps) was also out. … Lions WR Calvin Johnson holds the NFL record in receiving yards per game for players with a minimum of 100 career games at 88.7. Houston’s Andre Johnson ranks second at 82.2 per game. … Green Bay continues a stretch of three consecutive games against NFC North foes when it plays at Chicago next Sunday. The Lions face the New York Jets on the road.
