Packers vs. Lions final score: Aaron Jones enjoys career day, Green Bay steamrolls Detroit in high-scoring win

The Green Bay Packers moved to 2-0 on the season after rolling over the Detroit Lions, 42-21, to open up Lambeau Field. This game was all about the Packers offense as they were able to top the 40-point total for the second straight week. While Aaron Rodgers was the main figure in the opener, this time around the offense was led by Aaron Jones, who had a career day against the Lions defense. 

Detroit, who fell to 0-2 with the loss, did show some promise out of the gate but ultimately couldn't keep this Green Bay offense at bay, as the Packers would eventually go on a 31-0 run that proved to be the main difference in this game. For a deeper dive into how this game shook out, check out our takeaways below. 

Why the Packers won

Green Bay absorbed Detroit's first punch (14 points in the first quarter) and was unphased. For the second game in a row, they were able to post 40-plus points in the winning effort led by Aaron Jones. The back was dominant in all phases of the game. He finished with 168 yards on the ground and two touchdowns on a 9.3 yards per carry clip, while also catching four passes for 68 yards and another touchdown. Jones was also great in pass protection as Rodgers threw for 240 yards on the day with two touchdowns and was sacked just once. What's arguably the most impressive about the Packers offense scoring 42 points on the day is that they missed a number of opportunities to put up even more as there were a number of drops by various pass catchers. 

Defensively, Green Bay was able to force a clutch turnover as corner Chandon Sullivan picked off Matthew Stafford and rolled into the end zone for a touchdown. Not only that, but the Packers shut out the Lions offense during the second and third quarters as the offense was able to score 31 unanswered points. When you're able to score with that level of success and have the defensive prowess to shut out a given opponent for half the game, that's a formula that will find you on the winning side of things nearly every single time. 

Why the Lions lost

Detroit couldn't continue to fend off the Packers. After going up 14-3, the Lions allowed Green Bay to stick around and eventually take the lead with under a minute left in the first half. On that drive, the Packers received the ball with just a minute remaining on the clock and Detroit committed back-to-back penalties that not only moved Green Bay into Lions territory, but also took minimal time off the clock. As the Packers would eventually go on a 31-0 run, the Detroit offense missed a field goal attempt, punted twice, and then Matthew Stafford threw a pick-six to allow Green Bay to run away with the victory. 

The Lions also had no answer for Aaron Jones, who not only ran all over them but also was a force in the passing attack as well.  

Turning point

The Lions had control from the start with back-to-back touchdown drives to open up the game, but they couldn't keep their foot on the gas to keep Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense to from making a push. That push came on Green Bay's final offensive possession of the first half. Rodgers drove the offense 62 yards down the field in just 46 seconds to give the Packers their first lead of the game. 

Green Bay's defense was able to avoid Detroit evening up the score at 17 before halftime and right out of the locker room, Aaron Jones blew the game open. On the first play of the third quarter, Jones took a handoff up the middle and ran 75 yards for a touchdown. 

All that was in the span of a 31-0 run that the Packers enjoyed en route to the blowout. 

Play of the game

With 8:37 to play in the third quarter and the Packers up 10, corner Chandon Sullivan made the defensive play of the game by jumping Danny Amendola's route and picking off Matthew Stafford. Sullivan was not only able to haul in the interception, but he also stayed on his feet and rolled into the end zone for a touchdown. That score blew the game wide open and gave the Packers a strong enough lead that left any Lions comeback hopes at bay. Sullivan finished with a tackle and two passes defended along with that pick.   

Aaron Jones' 75-yard touchdown run is an honorable mention, but this defensive effort was simply too impressive not the highlight. 

What's next

From here, the Packers will look to move to 3-0 on the season when they visit the New Orleans Saints for a primetime matchup on Sunday Night Football. As for the Lions, Matt Patricia's club will continue to try and get into the win column when they travel to Arizona to face Kyler Murray and the Cardinals.