Quote:Winning the turnover battle is often a key to winning games. Very rarely does the team with more turnovers win the game, even if the quarterback is Peyton Manning (as we saw Sunday night). But no way does Green Bay lose if overtime was still sudden death and I could start a long thread about that rule change. Why? Because the Vikings suck. They did not deserve what they got in Green Bay - half a win - even with Scott Tolzein starting at quarterback for the Packers.

 

One thing I am thankful for today is Matt Flynn returning to Green Bay. If Tolzein had to start again, I would fear losing in Detroit because the Lions are having a better season.

 

I think a key factor in the Lions win over the Packers, once the Lions stopped turning the ball over on a consistent basis in this game,  was the Packers playing a full 5 QTR game against the Vikings 4 days ago.    While the Lions are usually effective moving the football because the team is well balanced with playmakers in the passing and running game and underrated blocking,   what really helped the Lions in this game is that the Packers seemed fatigued.    The missed Packers tackles were a combination of good ability and effort by Reggie Bush and Joique Bell and the Packers being on the field way too long.   The Lions Defense played a tremendous game,  forcing the Packers off the field on many 3 and outs and after one 1st Down on some other drives.     That made the situation worse for the Packers Defense.

 

As it turned out,  the Lions won the game despite a -1 turnover ratio.    Yet,   the Lions had 3 times as many takeways in the 2nd half of this game compared to the previous 5 games.    The + 2 takeaway ratio in the 2nd half of the game for the Lions was a huge reason why the Lions took total control of this game.   Not only did it ended Packers drives but it put their tired Defense back on the field.

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