5 takeaways from Packers’ season-ending loss to Lions

2. The mistakes and missed opportunities in this game were mostly on offense.

First-and-goal at the 5 on the game’s opening drive produced only a field goal. A failed fourth-and-1 in Green Bay territory gave the Lions three free points. Two other drives in the first half got inside the Detroit 25-yard line but stalled, leading to field goals.

Dropped passes by running back AJ Dillon and receivers Allen Lazard and Romeo Doubs all played a part in the struggles.

“You can’t do those type of things in this type of game,” LaFleur said.

Most costly, late in the first half an outside screen to running back Aaron Jones picked up a first down inside the Detroit 30, but Jones fumbled. The Lions recovered and drove the other way for a field goal to close the first half and pull within 9-6.

“We had four drives inside their territory and just didn’t come up with enough points,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said.

“That fumble, we probably go up two scores going into half, it’s a little different story.”

Establishing the running game was as much a chore as finding any consistency in the passing game, as the Packers slogged their way to just 3.7 yards per carry on the ground, unable to “block movement very well,” LaFleur said. Rookie Zach Tom replaced a struggling Yosh Nijman at right tackle, as Rodgers (17-of-27, 205 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 83.1 rating) was sacked twice and pressured several other times.

3. Multiple discipline penalties helped the Lions score.

For the final snap of the first half, the Lions were lining up for a 48-yard field goal, and kicker Michael Badgley had missed from 46 in the same direction on Detroit’s previous possession.

But when the Packers called a timeout, cornerback Rasul Douglas walked into the middle of the line to swat the ball away from the snapper and prevent the Lions from taking a practice kick. That led to a shoving match, and Douglas was flagged for a personal foul, moving the field goal 15 yards closer, which Badgley hit as time expired.

Then in the fourth quarter, with the Packers trying to protect a 16-13 lead, Lions running back D’Andre Swift gained two yards on a short pass in the red zone, setting up second-and-8 from the Green Bay 9. Swift was down with an injury, and the trainer who came out to check on him was pushed by Packers rookie linebacker Quay Walker.

That gave the Lions a first-and-goal on the 4, Walker was ejected, and Detroit took the lead for good three plays later on the second TD run of the game by Jamaal Williams (16…