National Football League

Rodgers, Packers survive scare against Lions 28-26

Published Oct. 4, 2010 6:31 a.m. ET

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As far as Aaron Rodgers is concerned, the Green Bay Packers offense is at its best when using multiple-receiver shotgun formations to spread out opposing defenses.

So when the offense went scoreless in the second half and the Packers barely held on for a 28-26 victory over Detroit on Sunday, Rodgers saw his team not playing to its main strength.

''It's a win, so we're happy about that,'' Rodgers said. ''Offensively, we've got to find our identity again. I think we've got to make sure that we've got our best players on the field at all times and find ways to get them the ball.''

Rodgers chose his words deliberately but diplomatically, making his point without directly challenging his coaches.

It was another sign that the Packers remain unsatisfied with what they've shown the rest of the NFL so far this season. Despite their 3-1 start, they're a team with Super Bowl aspirations that has yet to prove it can play like one of the league's elite for a full game.

''We haven't hit our rhythm yet,'' Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. ''It's no different with what every team is going through right now. I'd like to get some people healthy and get ready to go to Washington (next Sunday). So I still don't think we've played a complete football game yet as a team, and that is something that we will strive for this week in our preparation.''

Rodgers threw for 181 yards and three touchdowns. But he also threw a pair of interceptions for the Packers, who were coming off a sloppy performance in a loss at Chicago on Monday night.

If Sunday's game didn't feel like a satisfying win for Green Bay, it also didn't feel like anything approaching a moral victory for Detroit (0-4). It was the franchise's 20th straight loss to the Packers in Wisconsin, a streak that began in 1992 and includes a playoff loss.

The Lions showed that they're more dangerous than they have been in the recent past, but it still wasn't enough to win.

''This team doesn't need me to stand up here and say how close we are,'' coach Jim Schwartz said. ''It's obvious to anybody that watches our game, anybody that follows us, the people in the locker room, everyone else. It's our job to get over the hump. We're right on it, we just can't get over the hump.''

The Packers appeared ready to rout the Lions when Charles Woodson returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown and a 28-14 lead early in the third quarter.

But the Packers' offense went silent in the second half while the Lions rallied for four straight Jason Hanson field goals to cut the lead to two points.

Had the Lions been able to finish any of those drives with a touchdown instead of a field goal, they might be celebrating a victory.

''When we're rolling, I think we're one of the best offenses in the league,'' Detroit running back Jahvid Best said. ''Just got to stop shooting ourselves in the foot with either penalties or mistakes. It's just self-inflicted wounds.''

A last drive by the Packers ran out the final 6:32 of the clock as Green Bay rediscovered its running game at the best possible moment.

Woodson wasn't worried about style points.

''It doesn't matter if it's a good-looking game, an ugly game, it (doesn't) matter,'' Woodson said. ''As long as you win, that's the main point.''

Detroit again was without injured quarterback Matthew Stafford, but backup Shaun Hill looked poised under center. He threw for 331 yards and two touchdowns to Calvin Johnson, helping to make the game close despite the Lions committing 13 penalties.

''Guys fought hard today, they fought so hard,'' Hill said. ''We deserved that win, we deserved to get the feeling of a win in this locker room. We really do. I just feel terrible that we haven't got that yet.''

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