Lions safety: God willed Jordy Nelson's injury

After Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson went down in Sunday's exhibition game in Pittsburgh, the almost universal disposition was that he'll miss the coming season with a torn ACL. 

It predictably raised all the old questions about what kind of reform, if any, should come to the NFL preseason.

All questions that Lions safety Glover Quin doesn't think need to be asked. It was God's will, he said that Nelson be injured, so any changes the NFL would make would be meaningless anyway.

"I hated Jordy got hurt, but in my beliefs, and the way I believe, it was -- God meant for Jordy to get hurt," Quin said. "So if he wouldn't have got hurt today, he wouldn't have played in that game, if he wouldn't have practiced anymore, and the next time he walked on the field would have been opening day, I feel like he would have got hurt opening day. So in that sense, now they've got three weeks to makeadjustments and prepare before opening day, as opposed to it happening opening day and now you're in the season and now Jordy gets hurt. It happening in the preseason, you hate that it happened, but that gived them time to make adjustments and try to find something."

Quin's piety is admirable, but his theology is weak. Most philosophical theology and other religious doctrines through the centuries have always placed the freedom of the human will and of nature as primary. Good and evil, and hope and tragedy, only have any validity in relation to our ability to choose between them and learn from them, and if every movement is already a pre-determined fact planned before it is taken, then they would have no meaning. 

Such a belief poses God as a dictatorial puppet-master and mankind a worthless species with no inherent reason to do anything. Which would render God making mankind a worthless and pointless project, which would render God worthless and pointless. 

Not quite what he intended, most likely, but it certainly is what his comments imply.

Glover Quin needs to read some St. Thomas Aquinas.

Ameer Abdullah thinks his rookie debut was "OK"

Watching Ameer Abdullah run over his defense in their first preseason game, Jets head coach Todd Bowles compared the rookie Lions running back to Barry Sanders.

The rookie from Nebraska carried six times for 67 yards, including a 45 yard scamper that spun New York linebacker Demario Davis nearly out of his shoes.

While most were rightfully impressed with that debut, Abdullah took a different stance.

"I think my first preseason game went OK, borderline good, but by no means great," he wrote in a blog on the Lions' website. "I missed a lot of holes. I was a little rusty, but that's what I expected getting back into game shape, seeing things at game speed again. There was definitely a lot to learn from. I have a good idea of how the competition will be across the league, what to expect on Sundays and Mondays."

An excellent diplomat for a rookie, he deflected the positive attention to his offensive line and away from himself, something surely his coaches will appreciate. 

The Lions have made it abundantly clear that they will not be making it easy for Abdullah, placing him No. 2 on the depth chart behind Theo Riddick, and Joique Bell is still working himself towards seeing his first work this preseason. But if what Abdullah calls "borderline good" work continues in the right direction, it may be enough to unset Riddick from the pole position in Detroit's 28th-best rushing offense.

Lions will not tag Suh

ALLEN PARK, Mich. - Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was deemed worthy the $26.9 million he would cost the Detroit Lions next season, so on Monday the team decided they would not place the franchise tag on him, according to Tim Twentyman of the Lions website.

Suh will instead become an unrestricted free agent come March 10, and will gauge his value by testing the market for potential suitors elsewhere.

He featured on a Lions front that ranked tops in the league against the run, second overall, and third in scoring.

He and his agent, Jimmy Sexton, have been involved in negotiations over the past few months on a potential long-term deal, but are yet to secure any agreements. The likely number for such a deal would be around $100 million.

Texans defensive end J.J. Watt signed a six-year, $100 million ($51.8m guaranteed) deal last season, an all-time record for a defensive player.

Leading the league last season with 8.5 sacks, Suh has started all 78 games with Detroit since being drafted from Nebraska as the second overall pick in 2010.

Lions: RB Reggie Bush released

ALLEN PARK, Mich. - Running back Reggie Bush has been released by the Detroit Lions, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com.

Bush has two years remaining on a 4 year, $16 million deal signed before the 2013 season, was scheduled to make $3.25 million in 2015 and $3.75 million in 2016, and the Lions will save $1.7 million by releasing the 9 year veteran from USC.

"You've got to look at the contribution versus how much you're playing the player," general manager Martin Mayhew said in a team release. "It's what they give you versus what you pay them. That's a process we spend a lot of time on. He's just one of the players we look at."

Bush in 2013 became the first Lions tailback to gain over 1,000 years since 2004, though could muster only 550 yards last season after suffering a series of ankle injuries.

Mayhew noted the emergence of Theo Riddick, in his second season with the club, which likely made the decision to release Bush easier.

"When you have a guy like Theo Riddick, who can make a difference in the passing game, that brings value to your team," Mayhew said.

Bush has 1,266 rushes for 5,465 yards in his career for 35 touchdowns with the Lions, Dolphins, and Saints.

Obama: I'd be aggravated if I were a Lions fan

WASHINGTON - Add the leader of the free world to those bewildered by the call-then-no-call in the Lions-Cowboys NFC Wild Card game on Sunday.

President Obama was in Michigan this week on an official visit to a manufacturing plant of the Ford Motor Company when he remarked to the Detroit Free Press that he would be "pretty aggravated" if he were a Lions fan after the circumstances surrounding their defeat to Dallas.

A flag was initially thrown and then picked up without explanation on Sunday when Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens appeared to interfere with Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew on a 3rd-and-1 play in the third quarter when Detroit held a three-point lead.

The President said he could not "remember a circumstance in which a good call by one of the refs is argued by an opposing player of the other team with his helmet off on the field, which in and of itself is supposed to be a penalty. The call is announced and then reversed without explanation. I haven't seen that before. So I will leave it up to the experts to make the judgment as to why that happened, but I can tell you if I was a Lions fan I'd be pretty aggravated."

Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant charged onto the field without his helmet to protest the call to the nearby back judge, an act which constitutes unsportsmanlike conduct.

Obama, a former senator from Illinois and long-time Chicago Bears fan, wouldn't let himself feel too badly for his team's NFC North rivals. Chicago finished a five-win campaign and missed the playoffs for the fourth straight season.

"Given the performance of my Bears, I can't have too much sympathy for the Lions," the President quipped. "You guys were in a lot better position than we were. I'd love to have your defense right now."

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, who was wearing a microphone for NFL Films during the game, went to two officials following the call, seeking an explanation.

"You have no contact before the ball arrived," one official said, according to Pro Football Talk.

"There was no contact," another said.

That, despite Pettigrew falling to the turf with Hitchens on top of him during the play.

Detroit would attempt a subsequent 4th-and-1 play to draw Dallas offsides that failed, then shank a 10 yard punt that led to the Cowboys' game-winning drive.

Dallas will travel to Green Bay to face the Packers in an NFC Divisional game on Sunday.

NFL admits officials missed call

NEW YORK - The NFC Wild Card game between the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys became known not merely as the Cowboys' first playoff victory since 2009, but a game that will forever be slightly tarnished with the stain of some peculiar calls from officials.

Or criminal, in the eyes of those in Michigan.

But Tuesday found the National Football League apologetic to the Detroit Lions for what they called a missed penalty in their Sunday meeting in Arlington. Though not the one the team thought deserved an apology.

The league admitted to the Lions that officials mistakenly did not call an illegal holding penalty committed against Ndamukong Suh, their defensive tackle, on a crucial fourth-down conversion with six minutes left in the game.

Were the flag thrown and the penalty accepted, Dallas would have faced a 4th-and-16 on the negative side of the field, with a late three-point deficit and likely would have punted.

Romo instead found tight end Jason Witten for a 21 yard gain on a 4th-and-6 that would shortly after result in the game-winning touchdown pass to Terrance Williams.

An initially thrown flag in the third quarter against Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens for his apparent interference of Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew was infamously picked up with no explanation during the game.

Detroit was leading 20-17 at that point and their resulting 4th-and-1 play found a failed attempt to draw Dallas offsides. The Lions would shank a 10 yard punt that led to the Cowboys' game-winning 59 yard charge.

"They didn't give me a good enough explanation," Lions head coach Jim Caldwell said of his meeting with officials concerning that penalty afterwards.

Lions: Reggie Bush wants to return

ALLEN PARK, Mich. - Detroit Lions running back Reggie Bush says he wants to stay with the team next season, according to MLive.com.

"I don't know, I haven't thought about that," Bush said when asked about his place on the team next year. "I still have two years on my contract, so until somebody tells me otherwise, I'm planning on being back here."

Bush was bothered by ankle injuries over this season, appearing in 11 games for Detroit, rushing 76 times for 297 yards, adding 253 yards through receptions.

"It's hard to say what my role really was when I was injured most of the season," he said. "I don't plan to get injured. It's part of the game and I plan to come back stronger, like I do every year."

Detroit ranked 28th in rushing this season (88.9 ypg) behind Bush and starter Joique Bell, who notched seven touchdowns on 860 yards.

Bush, who is not a free agent, is scheduled to make $3.5 million next season and $4 million the season after, and as his cap number for 2015 in $5.28 million, the Lions would save nearly $2 million in salary cap should they cut him.

"I think I have a lot left to give this game," he told the Detroit Free Press. "My body still feels pretty good, obviously with the exception of the injuries that I went through. But my body feels good, I don't feel worn down, I don't feel beat up as a running back."

Bush rushed 8 times for 37 yards in the Lions' 24-20 defeat to the Cowboys in an NFC Wild Card game last Sunday. His 8 yard touchdown rush, his second this season, capped off a 99 yard drive in the first quarter.

Cowboys: Bryant may have caused flag pick-up

ARLINGTON, Tex. - At the 8:18 mark of the fourth quarter of Sunday's NFC Wild Card game and leading 20-17, the Detroit Lions were poised to convert a 3rd-and-1 play and come away with a chance to extend their lead.

And when Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew was the recipient of a pass interference call after being draped over by Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens, it looked like the yardage would be gained the easy way.

That's when it all seemed to go terribly wrong for the Lions, a state of affairs of which they are intimate.

After what in penalty-judgement-time was an eternity, but in real time about ten long seconds, the flag vanished from the turf, never to be seen again.

Nor spoken of.

Despite protests from Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, and anyone else in Detroit blue who happened to be around anybody wearing stripes, the penalty was erased with no explanation.

Dallas would take that opportunity to eventually drive 59 yards, taking their first and final lead on Tony Romo's go-ahead touchdown pass to Terrance Williams.

With the lack of explanation given us, pro football commentators and fans, given by nature to explanations of their own, had many.

One resides in Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant, who, before the flag even hit the ground, charged five yards onto the field, despite not actually playing defense and not wearing a helmet, and into the face of the back judge responsible.

For this he was not penalized.

The flag was picked up seconds later and play continued, as Detroit ventured a 4th-and-1 dare to bring the Cowboys offsides that failed, culminating in a delay of game penalty.

A correlation is not a cause, as philosophers are want to say, but the known tendencies towards screaming fits that Bryant is known for just may be enough for any man to cave into.

"The back judge threw his flag for defensive pass interference," referee Pete Morelli told ESPN reporter Todd Archer after the game. "We got other information from another official from a different angle that thought the contact was minimal and didn't warrant pass interference. He thought it was face guarding."

Former NFL vice president of officiating Mike Pereira, who discusses penalty issues for FOX during broadcasts, supported the initial call and opposed the eventual no-call.

"I watch a lot of football, see a lot of plays, to me you can't pick that flag up," Pereira said. "Hitchens was not playing the ball, shoved with his left arm first; Pettigrew came back and tried to get to the ball, couldn't, that's pass interference.

"Actually, it was defensive holding, also," he added, "because Pettigrew got his jersey grabbed and stretched as he tried to get off the line of scrimmage."

As Pereira also mentioned, and as fellow FOX commentator Troy Aikman said before the game, the crew presiding over Sunday's game was not a crew that had been working together over 15 weeks of the football season. They were random officials that had not worked together at any time for any contest.

The no-call will haunt discussion over the remainder of the postseason, at least until the Cowboys face the Green Bay Packers next Sunday at Lambeau Field in a divisional game.

"For everybody in Detroit, I'm baffled with you," FOX television analyst Michael Strahan said afterwards during a postgame telecast.

"They didn't give me a good enough explanation," Lions head coach Jim Caldwell said afterwards of his conversation with the officials.

At least he got one.

Cowboys come within 17-7 after being stuffed early

ARLINGTON, Tex. - Tony Romo responded to a 14-0 deficit near the end of the second quarter with a 76 yard touchdown strike to Terrance Williams as the Cowboys trail the Detroit Lions 17-7 at the halftime break.

Williams was called for offensive pass interference on the previous play, taking away a 3rd-and-2 conversion to Jason Witten. He would answer back on the resulting 3rd-and-12, a reception on a crossing route through linebacking traffic and outracing the secondary down the far sideline.

Dallas, seeking their first playoff victory since after the 2009 season, had gained 80 yards on their previous 25 plays before the score.

Detroit (11-5) would respond with a 59 yard drive and Matt Prater kicked clean from 39 yards to advance the Lions' lead with three seconds left.

Calvin Johnson converted a 2nd-and-10 to the near side and Golden Tate moved the chains on a 3rd-and-5. Officials initially ruled Tate short, but after a review awarded him the extra half-yard. Reggie Bush took a pass into the red zone with 13 seconds left.

Cowboys backer Bruce Carter nearly had an interception off Stafford when the passer was eyeing Johnson in the end zone with 6 on the clock before head coach Jim Caldwell sent Prater on.

Romo has been sacked 3 times for 23 lost yards and DeMarco Murray held to 30 yards on the ground as the once-vaunted Cowboys front five has been smothered by Detroit's stoppers. The Lions are ranked second in total defense behind Seattle and their run-stop the best in football this season.

The Cowboys' signal-caller is 8-for-16 on 149 yards passing for Dallas (12-4).

Detroit jumped out to a 14-0 lead on Matthew Stafford's 51 yard touchdown toss to Golden Tate on their first possession and Reggie Bush's 18 yard scoring rush to end a 99 yard drive near the end of the first quarter.

Lions charge 99 yards, lead Cowboys 14-0

ARLINGTON, Tex. - Reggie Bush scampered for an 18 yard touchdown to give the Detroit Lions into a 14-0 lead over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

The score capped off a 99 yard drive that was resurrected on a crucial Cowboys penalty in the end zone.

Receiver Golden Tate threw a block on J.J. Wilcox as Bush rushed middle, then cut left down the sideline and over the pylon for the two score advantage for Detroit, who seeks their first playoff victory since 1991.

The scoring drive was the first of that length in the postseason in 12 years.

After being pinned inside the 1 by Cowboys punter Chris Jones, Detroit failed to convert, though would be bailed out when their punter, Sam Martin, was run into in the end zone, converting the 4th-and-5.

Stafford rushed himself for 9 yards and a first down after shuffling past a would-be tackle and Reggie Bush followed with a 9 yard gash of his own. Joique Bell found a hole through the middle to convert the 2nd-and-1, and again on a fake end-around toss for 18 yards through traffic to the Cowboys 31.

Matthew Stafford put Detroit on the board after their first possession, a 51 yard touchdown strike to Golden Tate on a 4 play charge over 62 yards, all passes. Stafford is XXXX

Tony Romo fumbled on a sack on the Cowboys' third possession, but Dallas would recover and Jason Witten would convert a 3rd-and-12 toss.

Detroit outgained Dallas 155-34 in total yardage and 65-8 rushing.

Stafford connects with Tate, Lions lead 7-0

ARLINGTON, Tex. - Matthew Stafford flung a 51 yard touchdown to Golden Tate as the Detroit Lions lead the Dallas Cowboys 7-0 early in the first quarter of an NFC Wild Card game.

The Dallas native engineered the 62 yard drive over 4 plays after Dallas (12-5) went 3 yards in as many snaps to open the contest.

Tate was decked by C.J. Spillman as he caught the punt that would kick off Detroit's succeeding possession. Stafford connected with Joique Bell on an 11 yard gainer to start the drive.

Dallas is seeking their first playoff victory, and Tony Romo his second, since after the 2009 season.

Lions-Cowboys NFC Wild Card preview

ARLINGTON, Tex. - After what seemed an eternity of 8-8 seasons and perpetual exclusion from the playoffs, the Dallas Cowboys once again find themselves in contention when it counts.

Capturing their first division crown since 2009, the Cowboys will host the Detroit Lions for an NFC Wild Card game on Sunday.

Quarterback Tony Romo finished his regular season campaign with 34 touchdowns (fourth-most) and 9 interceptions (10th-fewest) on 3,405 yards passing, and seeks a second win in his postseason career against three defeats. Sunday will find Romo in his first playoff contest in five seasons.

"I'm playing at a level I'm proud of and hope to get better," Romo said. "I'm just excited about the progression of improvement and want to keep this going in our next game."

"He's the guy who orchestrates and leads everything we do on offense," Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said of his quarterback. 

Dallas (12-5) rebounded from a 23-point defeat to the Eagles on Thanksgiving with four straight victories to end their regular season, scoring 41 points per game and ending the year as one of four undefeated teams in December.

And made history in the process as running back DeMarco Murray and wide receiver Dez Bryant secured Cowboys franchise records in their fields at the Washington Redskins in Week 17, a 44-17 Dallas rout.

Bryant hauled in two touchdowns in that contest, good for his 15th and 16th this season, the most of any Cowboys receiver in 54 years of football.

"Dez is really a remarkable player," Cowboys tight end Jason Witten said, "a dynamic player, and it's great to see his growth.

"As a teammate, as a leader, as a veteran guy, you can take a lot of pride in seeing the growth of Dez and DeMarco [Murray] mature as players."

Murray's 32 yard rush last Sunday would brake the franchise's single-season rushing record held by Emmitt Smith since 1995. He finished that game with 100 yards on 20 rush attempts and a touchdown.

He gained 100 yards in 12 contests this season, the second-highest total in the league's history.

The Cowboys rush the football a league-high 68 percent of the time, aiding DeMarco Murray to the rushing title with 1,845 yards and 13 touchdowns, both marks the best in the game. He rushed for at least one touchdown in his last three appearances for Dallas.

Murray will rush behind a front five that had three of its own elected to the Pro Bowl en route to the second-most rushing yards every Sunday (147.1 ypg) behind only the Seahawks. 

Though the Cowboys' backfield will face a stiff test in the Lions' defensive line, a unit that allows a league-low 69.3 yards per game and 3.3 yards per first down rush attempt.

Detroit (11-5) will feature Ndamukong Suh on that line after he won his appeal of a one-game suspension he intially received for stomping on the leg of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in their game last Sunday.

"I'm just pleased with the decision and glad I have the opportunity," said Suh this week, whose suspension was replaced with a $70,000 fine. "I can go against Dallas and help my teammates win the game. I think that's most important."

His 8 1/2 sacks were the most for the Lions' stout group, which held opponents to under 100 yards rushing in 14 of 16 outings this season. In five games, opposing backs could not surpass 50 yards against them.

"We have a great defense, they've held us in games a lot of times," Lions receiver Calvin Johnson said of their stopping eleven. "Like they say, 'defense wins championships', so if we just step our game up on offense we'll be alright."

The Lions failed to secure the NFC North in their game at Lambeau Field, falling 30-20 to the Packers, though will appear in the postseason under head coach Jim Caldwell after a two-year drought.

They play extra football for the second time in 15 years, though have lost 10 of 11 playoff games in the Super Bowl era.

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford in 0-16 in career road games against teams with a winning record, the third-most defeats by a passer in that category since the 1970 merger. 

"I think, obviously, you watch every game and find ways that you can get better, win, lose, or draw," said Stafford, in search of his first playoff win. "We're a battle-tested team and have won 11 football games this year. We found ways to win a lot of them and we'll continue to do that. We just have to move forward."

Stafford found 22 touchdowns and 12 interceptions and is 2-0 in his career against the Cowboys. He surpassed the 4,000 yard mark for his fourth straight season, tossing for 4,257 yards this year.

Detroit scored 15.5 points per game away from Ford Field, underscored only by the Raiders and Jaguars.

Dallas leads Detroit 13-12 in their all-time series and both sides have split two playoff meetings.

Lions: Suh wins appeal, will play at Dallas

NEW YORK - Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh won his appeal against the 1 game suspension he received this week and will appear in the team's Wild Card game at Dallas on Sunday.

He will be fined $70,000 for the incident, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.

Suh was suspended for one game after he twice stepped on the leg of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers as he lay on the turf in last Sunday's game between Detroit and Green Bay that decided the NFC North champion.

He was not flagged on the play, despite protests from Rodgers afterwards to many of the surrounding officials.

Following that game, the NFL ruled Rodgers to be "in a defenseless posture" as Suh was coming off his block. He appeared to have a chance to stop his momentum, though took two steps backwards onto Rodgers' leg.

The league noted that Suh was "applying pressure and unnecessarily pushing off Rodgers' unprotected leg with his left foot, violating playing rules prohibiting unnecessary roughness."

"If you step on something in your everyday life or if you step on somebody on the field, the first reactions seems to be looking back and maybe apologizing with your hands or maybe pulling your foot back right away, and I'm just not sure that's what happened on Sunday," Aaron Rodgers said during his radio show to ESPN Milwaukee.

Rodgers had injured his leg earlier in the game while throwing one of his two touchdowns to Randall Cobb and left the field momentarily before returning in the second half. Green Bay defeated Detroit 30-20 on Sunday.

Lions' Suh out 1 game for stomping on Rodgers

NEW YORK - Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has been suspended 1 game without pay by the NFL for stepping on Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers' leg in their game on Sunday.

"You necessarily stepped on your opponent's unprotected leg as he lay on the ground unable to protect himself," said Merton Hanks, league vice president of football operations, in his letter to Suh.

Suh stepped on Rodgers' leg twice when the quarterback was down after making a pass attempt in the third quarter. Suh had released his block and was stepping backwards, apparently viewing the play downfield, though did appear to have the chance to stop himself. 

Hanks ruled Aaron Rodgers to be "in a defenseless posture."

"You did not respond in the manner of someone who had lost his balance and accidentally contacted another player who was lying on the ground," Hanks added. "This is illegal contact, specifically the second step and push off with your left foot, clearly could have been avoided."

Rodgers had missed two series in Sunday's game with an aggravation of a calf injury in the same leg Suh stepped on. Green Bay defeated Detroit 30-20 to clinch the NFC North championship.

This is the second time Suh has been suspended for purposefully stepping on an opponent, missing two games in 2011 after stomping on the arm of Packers offensive lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith.

Detroit will miss Suh in their defensive front as they travel to the Dallas Cowboys in an NFC Wild Card game on Jan. 4.

Packers down Lions, claim NFC North

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Aaron Rodgers flung two touchdowns to Randall Cobb despite aggravating a calf injury as the Green Bay Packers defeat the Detroit Lions 30-20 on Sunday and take the first-place spot in the NFC North.

Rodgers fell to the turf near the end of the second quarter as he was throwing his first touchdown, staying on the ground and holding his left leg before being helped off the field by two trainers.

He left the field on a cart a few minutes later, though would return in the second half to find Cobb again, on a 13 yard score capping off a 60 yard drive that broke the 14-14 tie.

"I just felt like if I got in here, it might give us a little jolt," Rodgers said afterwards.

Rodgers rushed himself for a 1 yard score in the final frame. He completed 17 of his 22 pass attempts for 226 yards and two scores. 

Eddie Lacy rushed 26 times on 100 yards for Green Bay (12-4), who have yet to lose to Detroit at Lambeau Field since 1991. 

Calvin Johnson brought in two touchdowns from Matthew Stafford for Detroit (11-5), the first with 24 seconds left in the second quarter and again halfway through the third.

Detroit's first touchdown drive was extended after Stafford was roughed on a third-down play.

After handing the Packers two points for an intentional grounding penalty in his end zone, Stafford connected with Theo Riddick on a 6 yard scoring toss to end a 47 second drive with 1:45 left in the contest. 

Micah Hyde opened scoring for the Packers with a 55 yard touchdown returned off a Lions punt in the first quarter after Green Bay was held from the end zone on a Detroit goal-line stand.

Rodgers returns, throws TD

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Aaron Rodgers returned to the field after tending to a calf injury and threw a touchdown to Randall Cobb as the Green Bay Packers lead the Detroit Lions 21-14 in the third quarter on Sunday.

Rodgers left the game in the first half after throwing his first score, also to Cobb, re-aggravating the calf he hurt in the team's win last Sunday at Tampa.

Matt Flynn started a drive for Green Bay, going 1-for-1 on 6 yards in relief of Rodgers.

Calvin Johnson caught two touchdown passes from Matthew Stafford for Detroit (11-4), the first after the drive was extended when Stafford was roughed on a third-down play.

Johnson hauled in a 13 yard score in the corner of the end zone to tie the match at 14 halfway through the third frame to end a 51 yard drive.

Micah Hyde opened scoring in the first quarter when he returned a punt 55 yards for a Packers touchdown.

Both sides are playing for top spot in the NFC North, and the loser will sit at the number-six spot in the conference for postseason play.

Packers strike first over Lions

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Micah Hyde returned a punt 55 yards for a touchdown as the Green Bay Packers snatch a 7-0 lead over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Hyde had a 75 yard punt return touchdown against the Eagles in a 23-point victory Nov. 16. 

The Lions had 12 yards, all rushes, on 8 plays over two drives until then as both quarterbacks have been held to no yards passing.

After going 62 yards over ten plays on their first drive, the Packers were held to nothing on their first possession.

The Packers took to the ground as Eddie Lacy carried five times for 38 yards including a burst into Lions territory on a 22 yard gainer. James Starks responded with a 17 yard rush to the Lions 3.

But Lacy was stuffed on the 4th-and-Goal play from the Lions 1 when his rush over left tackle was sniffed out by Detroit's Ezekiel Ansah after two incomplete passes from Aaron Rodgers.

Detroit (11-4) has not won a contest at Lambeau Field since 1991, though the winner of the game Sunday will determine the champion of the NFC North.

Lions center suspended

ALLEN PARK, Mich. - Detroit Lions center Dominic Raiola has been suspended one game by the NFL for stomping on Bears tackle Ego Ferguson's ankle in their game Sunday at Soldier Field. 

Raiola stepped on Ferguson's right ankle at the end of a tackle in the third quarter of that game and will miss the Lions' regular season finale with the Green Bay Packers next Sunday in a game that will decide the winner of the NFC North.

Game officials did not see the incident and no penalty was called.

"I did not try to stomp on his ankle," Raiola said after the game. "I'm not going to try to take somebody out of the game."

Raiola was stumbling on the tail end of a pile near the end of a rush. He appeared to have a chance to avoid Ferguson's outstretched leg, but stopped his progress intentionally to step on it.

"It was totally unintentional," he said. "I remember I was stumbling out. I didn't see the end of it. I apologized at the end of the game, told him it was unintentional and we shook hands and that was it."

That was not it, according to Ferguson, who was injured on the play but returned to the field soon after.

"None of that matters," he said. "We all saw the play. You can't take back what happened with that play. That's the end of it.

"I haven't seen the replay," he added, "but I am pretty sure I know what happened. I told the man to keep it between the lines. He said a couple words during the game and a couple words at the end of the game but at the end of the day, it's on the film. The film don't lie."

Lions coach Jim Caldwell said he accepted his center's version of the story though also understood why the league was looking into the incident.

Bears receiver disagreed with Caldwell's assessment.

"He should be banned from the NFL," Marshall said of Raiola to the Chicago Tribune. "This guy is a dirty player and he's a worse human being."

Raiola has the right to appeal the suspension per the collective bargaining agreement, though should he lose, rookie Travis Swanson will likely start in his place.

Lions clinch playoff spot

LANDOVER, Md. - The good people of Detroit are very grateful Saturday night to the good people of Philadelphia.

Or rather, to the bedraggled and beleaguered eleven in white and green who fell in a 27-24 upset to the Washington Redskins this evening.

And in so doing, propelled their previously hapless and ever-beloved Detroit Lions into the postseason without needing a victory in either of their final two regular season contests.

Playing extra football for the first time since 2011 and the second time in four seasons, Detroit gets a boost of confidence when they head to Soldier Field to face Jimmy Clausen's Chicago Bears on Sunday.

The Lions hold a first-place tie with the Packers for the NFC North, though hold a tiebreaker thanks to their 19-7 victory over Green Bay in Week 3. 

Lambeau Field will likely decide the division winner when both sides meet in their rematch Dec. 28.