Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers: 2022 Week 18 Recap

Game story

In Week 18 of the 2022 NFL season on 2023-01-08, the Detroit Lions took care of business against the Green Bay Packers, pulling away with a 20–16 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Goff (Detroit Lions) paced the passing game, with +5.13 total EPA, and -0.0% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Goff (Detroit Lions) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.13 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+16.4% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Green Bay Packers changed the game: (4:34) 12-A.Rodgers pass deep right to 9-C.Watson to DET 14 for 45 yards (24-A.Oruwariye). Penalty on DET-24-A.Oruwariye, Defensive Pass Interference, declined.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 J. Goff · Detroit Lions · Passing · +5.13 total EPA · 38 snaps · +0.13 EPA/play
2. 2 C. Watson · Green Bay Packers · Receiving · +3.91 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.65 EPA/play
3. 3 A. Lazard · Green Bay Packers · Receiving · +3.87 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.65 EPA/play
4. 4 K. Raymond · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +2.83 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.47 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Chark · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +2.72 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.68 EPA/play
6. 6 Ja. Williams · Detroit Lions · Rushing · +2.55 total EPA · 16 snaps · +0.16 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Dillon · Green Bay Packers · Rushing · +2.18 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.24 EPA/play
8. 8 A.St. Brown · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +2.08 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.23 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Detroit Lions — M. Nelson (Q3 23:07)
• Green Bay Packers — A. Lazard (A. Rodgers pass) (Q3 18:22)
• Detroit Lions — unlisted player (Q4 5:57)

Field goals

• Green Bay Packers — M. Crosby (Q1 56:25)
• Detroit Lions — M. Badgley (Q1 52:04)
• Green Bay Packers — M. Crosby (Q1 46:59)
• Green Bay Packers — M. Crosby (Q2 43:01)
• Detroit Lions — M. Badgley (Q2 30:02)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Green Bay Packers won the period 6–3. Green Bay Packers connected on a field goal from the DET 4 (Q1 56:25) — (11:25) 2-M.Crosby 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-56-J.Coco, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the GB 19 (Q1 52:04) — (7:04) 17-M.Badgley 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Green Bay Packers connected on a field goal from the DET 31 (Q1 46:59) — (1:59) 2-M.Crosby 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-56-J.Coco, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell..

The second quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. Green Bay Packers connected on a field goal from the DET 30 (Q2 43:01) — (13:01) 2-M.Crosby 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-56-J.Coco, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the GB 15 (Q2 30:02) — (:02) 17-M.Badgley 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the GB 1 (Q3 23:07) — (8:07) 67-M.Nelson and 70-D.Skipper reported in as eligible. 30-Ja.Williams right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the GB 15 (Q3 23:05) — 17-M.Badgley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Green Bay Packers found the end zone from the DET 13 (Q3 18:22) — (3:22) 12-A.Rodgers pass short left to 13-A.Lazard for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Green Bay Packers added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q3 18:17) — 2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Coco, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell..

The fourth quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 13–0. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the GB 1 (Q4 5:57) — (5:57) (Shotgun) 30-Ja.Williams up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the GB 15 (Q4 5:55) — 17-M.Badgley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Green Bay Packers (Q3 19:34) — (4:34) 12-A.Rodgers pass deep right to 9-C.Watson to DET 14 for 45 yards (24-A.Oruwariye). Penalty on DET-24-A.Oruwariye, Defensive Pass Interference, declined. [WPA +16.4% · EPA +2.79]
• Green Bay Packers (Q1 53:35) — (8:35) (No Huddle) 13-A.Lazard left end to GB 31 for -1 yards (34-A.Anzalone). [WPA -12.4% · EPA -3.72]
• Detroit Lions (Q3 23:53) — (8:53) 16-J.Goff pass deep right to 11-K.Raymond to GB 1 for 43 yards (20-R.Ford). [WPA +12.2% · EPA +3.50]
• Green Bay Packers (Q1 47:45) — (2:45) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers sacked at DET 31 for -11 yards (97-A.Hutchinson). [WPA -10.1% · EPA -2.63]
• Green Bay Packers (Q1 57:58) — (12:58) 12-A.Rodgers pass incomplete deep right to 13-A.Lazard. PENALTY on DET-39-J.Jacobs, Defensive Pass Interference, 46 yards, enforced at GB 49 - No Play. [WPA +10.0% · EPA +2.91]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Detroit Lions (Q4 0:33) — (:33) 16-J.Goff kneels to GB 7 for -1 yards. [EPA -4.69]
• Detroit Lions (Q2 36:16) — (6:16) 17-M.Badgley 46 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox. [WPA -6.8% · EPA -3.72]
• Green Bay Packers (Q1 53:35) — (8:35) (No Huddle) 13-A.Lazard left end to GB 31 for -1 yards (34-A.Anzalone). [WPA -12.4% · EPA -3.72]
• Green Bay Packers (Q2 31:24) — (1:24) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass short left to 33-A.Jones to DET 24 for 8 yards (79-J.Cominsky). FUMBLES (79-J.Cominsky), RECOVERED by DET-25-W.Harris at DET 15. [WPA -8.9% · EPA -3.59]

Quarterback report card

J.Goff led all passers in efficiency for Detroit Lions, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Goff (Detroit Lions) · 38 dropbacks · 60.5% completion · -0.0% CPOE · +0.13 EPA/play · +5.13 total EPA
• A.Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) · 33 dropbacks · 51.5% completion · +3.5% CPOE · -0.09 EPA/play · -3.09 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Detroit Lions generated the better offensive EPA per play (-0.03 vs -0.10), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Detroit Lions: 10 drives, -2.18 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Green Bay Packers: 9 drives, -7.11 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Detroit Lions leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• J. Goff (Detroit Lions) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• A. Rodgers (GB) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Green Bay Packers FG (+3) — Q1 56:25 · DET 4 · Score 0-3
   (11:25) 2-M.Crosby 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-56-J.Coco, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell.
2. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q1 52:04 · GB 19 · Score 3-3
   (7:04) 17-M.Badgley 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
3. Green Bay Packers FG (+3) — Q1 46:59 · DET 31 · Score 3-6
   (1:59) 2-M.Crosby 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-56-J.Coco, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell.
4. Green Bay Packers FG (+3) — Q2 43:01 · DET 30 · Score 3-9
   (13:01) 2-M.Crosby 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-56-J.Coco, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell.
5. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 30:02 · GB 15 · Score 6-9
   (:02) 17-M.Badgley 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
6. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q3 23:07 · GB 1 · Score 12-9
   (8:07) 67-M.Nelson and 70-D.Skipper reported in as eligible. 30-Ja.Williams right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q3 23:05 · GB 15 · Score 13-9
   17-M.Badgley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
8. Green Bay Packers TD (+6) — Q3 18:22 · DET 13 · Score 13-15
   (3:22) 12-A.Rodgers pass short left to 13-A.Lazard for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Green Bay Packers XP (+1) — Q3 18:17 · DET 15 · Score 13-16
   2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Coco, Holder-16-P.O'Donnell.
10. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q4 5:57 · GB 1 · Score 19-16
    (5:57) (Shotgun) 30-Ja.Williams up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Detroit Lions TD (+7) — Q4 5:55 · GB 15 · Score 20-16
    17-M.Badgley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.