The Detroit Lions (1-5) were shut out today by the Green Bay Packers (3-2) and things keep going wrong for the Lions.  Injuries are playing a big role in the Lions struggles, as they were without their starting quarterback Mathew Stafford and their star wide-receiver Calvin Johnson.  The injury bug got to their back-up quarterback Daunte Culpepper too, when he left the game in the 3rd quarter with a hamstring injury and Drew Stanton replaced him.  Culpepper was 6/14 for only 48 yards and an interception before leaving.  Stanton was worse, throwing two picks and going 5/11 for 57 yards.  Running back Kevin Smith was effective, getting 61 yards on 15 carries (4.1 avg), but with the Packers up 14-0 after the first quarter the Lions were forced to throw early and often.  The defense did their best to keep the Lions in the game, but the offense gave them nothing to work with it.  The Lions only got 149 total yards on offense.

The Lions defense was able to take advantage of the Packers’ weak offensive line, pressuring Aaron Rodgers all game and getting five sacks and forcing a fumble.  Julian Peterson accounted for 2.5 of those sacks and DeAndre Levy was able to get an interception.  Although the Lions defense was able to put a lot of pressure on Rodgers, it didn’t stop the Green Bay quarterback from throwing two touchdowns and 358 passing yards on 29/37 attempts.  Detroit also gave up 107 rushing yards, with Ryan Grant getting 90 yards on 24 carries.  The Lions have a lot of things to improve on, but they have to get healthy first.  They take on the 0-6 St. Louis Rams next week.