Lions take advantage of quarterback's four turnovers for 22-14 upset.
By Associated Press
Published November 28, 2003
DETROIT - Brett Favre's gambling style has helped him win three MVP awards and plenty of games for Green Bay. It also cost the Packers a win Thursday.
Favre threw three interceptions and lost a fumble, and the Lions' Jason Hanson had five field goals for a 22-14 victory, dealing the Packers' playoff hopes a blow.
"I guessed wrong a couple times and I was just off a couple times," Favre said. "That's going to happen in this league. They just made the plays."
Dre' Bly made the most of them, intercepting two passes to negate scoring opportunities for Green Bay. Bly also forced a Javon Walker fumble, setting up Hanson's go-ahead 49-yard field goal to make it 16-14 early in the fourth.
The Lions (4-8) surpassed their victory totals from each of the past two seasons and extended their home winning streak to three.
"I'm glad we had an opportunity to showcase our abilities in front of the world," Bly said.
The Packers dropped 11/2 games behind the Vikings. Green Bay's Mike Wahle said the Packers "absolutely" have run out of chances to make the playoffs.
"At 6-6, with four games left? You think 8-8 is going to get us in the playoffs?" he asked.
Green Bay coach Mike Sherman - and many players - said the Lions played their traditional Thanksgiving Day game with more passion than the Packers.
"This is their game," Sherman said. "We knew that we were going to have to come out and play 60 emotionally charged minutes of football and we didn't do it."
The Lions stifled running back Ahman Green, holding him to 57 yards. Green came in averaging an NFC-best 120.5 yards and had run for at least 100 in a franchise-record four straight games.
"That was the key to the game," Detroit safety Corey Harris said. "I don't care if you're Brett Favre, Dan Marino or John Elway, if your team can't run, you're in trouble."
Favre broke his right thumb Oct. 19 against St. Louis, but on Thursday he tied Forrest Gregg's team record by playing in his 187th consecutive game. It was also Favre's 185th straight start, extending his NFL record for a QB.
He was 23-of-37 for 296 yards with two touchdowns. But in the second half, he threw the three interceptions and had the fumble. Favre's first two interceptions were hard-thrown balls directly at Bly, and the third was an up-for-grabs lob that Doug Evans snatched with about a minute left.
"We were never able to get Detroit on their heels, and that's how you win," Favre said.
