Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions: 2017 Week 17 Recap

Game story

In Week 17 of the 2017 NFL season on 2017-12-31, the Detroit Lions took care of business against the Green Bay Packers, pulling away with a 35–11 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Stafford (Detroit Lions) paced the passing game, with +11.41 total EPA, and +3.0% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Stafford (Detroit Lions) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +11.41 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+18.8% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Detroit Lions changed the game: (7:35) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep middle to 19-K.Golladay for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

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 M. Stafford · Detroit Lions · Passing · +11.41 total EPA · 35 snaps · +0.33 EPA/play
2. 2 K. Golladay · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +6.38 total EPA · 3 snaps · +2.13 EPA/play
3. 3 G. Tate · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +6.06 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.87 EPA/play
4. 4 M.Jones Jr. · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +5.41 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.08 EPA/play
5. 5 R. Cobb · Green Bay Packers · Receiving · +5.21 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.74 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Davis · Green Bay Packers · Receiving · +3.53 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.18 EPA/play
7. 7 E. Byrd · Green Bay Packers · Receiving · +2.05 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.02 EPA/play
8. 8 G. Tate · Detroit Lions · Passing · +1.05 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.05 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 — K. Golladay (M. Stafford pass) (Q2 37:35)
• Detroit Lions — M. Jones (M. Stafford pass) (Q2 32:24)
• Detroit Lions — G. Tate (M. Stafford pass) (Q3 16:50)
• Green Bay Packers — R. Cobb (B. Hundley pass) (Q4 11:35)
• Detroit Lions — A. Abdullah (Q4 7:23)

Field goals

• Green Bay Packers — M. Crosby (Q1 50:04)
• Detroit Lions — M. Prater (Q1 48:06)
• Detroit Lions — M. Prater (Q2 30:35)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. Green Bay Packers connected on a field goal from the DET 23 (Q1 50:04) — (5:04) 2-M.Crosby 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-61-B.Goode, Holder-8-J.Vogel.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the GB 10 (Q1 48:06) — (3:06) 5-M.Prater 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin..

The second quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 17–0. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the GB 54 (Q2 37:35) — (7:35) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep middle to 19-K.Golladay for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the GB 15 (Q2 37:27) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the GB 3 (Q2 32:24) — (2:24) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short left to 11-M.Jones Jr. for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the GB 15 (Q2 32:20); Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the GB 12 (Q2 30:35) — (:35) 5-M.Prater 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin..

The third quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 7–0. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the GB 71 (Q3 16:50) — (1:50) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep left to 15-G.Tate for 71 yards, TOUCHDOWN. GB-31-D.House was injured during the play.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the GB 15 (Q3 16:38) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 8–8. Green Bay Packers found the end zone from the DET 17 (Q4 11:35) — (11:35) (Shotgun) 7-B.Hundley pass short middle to 18-R.Cobb for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Green Bay Packers registered a safety from the DET 2 (Q4 11:27) — (Pass formation) TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 7-B.Hundley pass to 18-R.Cobb is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the GB 7 (Q4 7:23) — (7:23) (Shotgun) 21-A.Abdullah left end for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions registered a safety from the GB 2 (Q4 7:16) — (Pass formation) TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 15-G.Tate pass to 9-M.Stafford is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS..

Turning points

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

• Detroit Lions (Q2 37:35) — (7:35) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep middle to 19-K.Golladay for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +18.8% · EPA +5.55]
• Green Bay Packers (Q1 45:54) — (:54) (Shotgun) 7-B.Hundley left end to DET 16 for 4 yards (27-G.Quin). FUMBLES (27-G.Quin), RECOVERED by DET-59-T.Whitehead at DET 13. 59-T.Whitehead to DET 16 for 3 yards (7-B.Hundley). [WPA -13.4% · EPA -5.46]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 49:52) — (4:52) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep middle to 11-M.Jones Jr. to GB 18 for 56 yards (31-D.House). [WPA +12.7% · EPA +3.29]
• Green Bay Packers (Q1 55:27) — (10:27) (Shotgun) 7-B.Hundley pass short middle intended for 30-J.Williams INTERCEPTED by 40-J.Davis at DET 8. 40-J.Davis to DET 20 for 12 yards (84-L.Kendricks). PENALTY on DET-28-Q.Diggs, Low Block, [WPA -12.0% · EPA -4.22]
• Detroit Lions (Q2 33:12) — (3:12) 6-S.Martin punts 34 yards to GB 11, Center-48-D.Muhlbach. 44-D.Brown MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by DET-58-P.Worrilow at GB 14. 58-P.Worrilow to GB 14 for no gain (25-M.Evans). [WPA +10.2% · EPA +4.66]

Impact plays

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

• Detroit Lions (Q2 37:35) — (7:35) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep middle to 19-K.Golladay for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +18.8% · EPA +5.55]
• Green Bay Packers (Q1 45:54) — (:54) (Shotgun) 7-B.Hundley left end to DET 16 for 4 yards (27-G.Quin). FUMBLES (27-G.Quin), RECOVERED by DET-59-T.Whitehead at DET 13. 59-T.Whitehead to DET 16 for 3 yards (7-B.Hundley). [WPA -13.4% · EPA -5.46]
• Green Bay Packers (Q4 5:10) — (5:10) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 7-B.Hundley pass short right intended for 81-G.Allison INTERCEPTED by 23-D.Slay [55-C.Ringo] at DET 28. 23-D.Slay ran ob at DET 28 for no gain. [WPA -0.0% · EPA -5.09]
• Detroit Lions (Q3 16:50) — (1:50) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep left to 15-G.Tate for 71 yards, TOUCHDOWN. GB-31-D.House was injured during the play. [WPA +1.2% · EPA +5.01]

Quarterback report card

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

• M.Stafford (Detroit Lions) · 35 dropbacks · 57.1% completion · +3.0% CPOE · +0.33 EPA/play · +11.41 total EPA
• B.Hundley (Green Bay Packers) · 34 dropbacks · 41.2% completion · -7.4% CPOE · -0.25 EPA/play · -8.50 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Detroit Lions held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.04 vs -0.27), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Detroit Lions: 14 drives, +2.95 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Green Bay Packers: 13 drives, -22.87 total EPA, 2 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.
• M. Stafford (Detroit Lions) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• B. Hundley (GB) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

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

1. Green Bay Packers FG (+3) — Q1 50:04 · DET 23 · Score 3-0
   (5:04) 2-M.Crosby 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-61-B.Goode, Holder-8-J.Vogel.
2. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q1 48:06 · GB 10 · Score 3-3
   (3:06) 5-M.Prater 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
3. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 37:35 · GB 54 · Score 3-9
   (7:35) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep middle to 19-K.Golladay for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 37:27 · GB 15 · Score 3-10
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
5. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 32:24 · GB 3 · Score 3-16
   (2:24) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short left to 11-M.Jones Jr. for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 32:20 · GB 15 · Score 3-17
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin. PENALTY on GB-76-M.Daniels, Leverage, 15 yards, enforced between downs.
7. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 30:35 · GB 12 · Score 3-20
   (:35) 5-M.Prater 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
8. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q3 16:50 · GB 71 · Score 3-26
   (1:50) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep left to 15-G.Tate for 71 yards, TOUCHDOWN. GB-31-D.House was injured during the play.
9. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q3 16:38 · GB 15 · Score 3-27
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
10. Green Bay Packers TD (+6) — Q4 11:35 · DET 17 · Score 9-27
    (11:35) (Shotgun) 7-B.Hundley pass short middle to 18-R.Cobb for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Green Bay Packers Safety (+2) — Q4 11:27 · DET 2 · Score 11-27
    (Pass formation) TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 7-B.Hundley pass to 18-R.Cobb is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
12. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q4 7:23 · GB 7 · Score 11-33
    (7:23) (Shotgun) 21-A.Abdullah left end for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Detroit Lions Safety (+2) — Q4 7:16 · GB 2 · Score 11-35
    (Pass formation) TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 15-G.Tate pass to 9-M.Stafford is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.