Green Bay Packers miss out on NFL playoff spot after 20-16 loss to Detroit PIstons as Seattle Seahawks clinch wild card spot | NFL News

The Green Bay Packers lost 20-16 to the Detroit Lions in a game in which a victory would have guaranteed them a post-season berth; The result meant the Seattle Seahawks claimed the final NFC spot in the playoffs after earlier defeating the Los Angeles Rams 19-16 in overtime.

Aaron Rodgers threw the last interception as the Green Bay Packers lost 20-16 to the Detroit Lions on Saturday night short of the playoffs.

Story of the Game

After winning four straight games and receiving a lot of help from other teams, the Packers (8-9) have controlled their postseason destiny going into the final game of the NFL regular season. But they fell short to the Lions (9-8), who were eliminated from the playoffs earlier on Friday when the Seattle Seahawks (9-8) beat the Los Angeles Rams 19-16 in overtime.

Seattle instead earned an NFC final playoff spot and will play San Francisco (13-4) in the opening round. The Packers missed the playoffs for the first time in Matt LaFleur’s four seasons as coach.

Jamaal Williams, a former Packer, scored two Lions touchdowns and rushed for 72 yards, while Jared Goff passed for 224 yards and Kalif Raymond caught four passes for 66 yards.

Rodgers passed for 205 yards with one touchdown but was intercepted on Green Bay’s final drive. Christian Watson caught five passes for 104 yards for the Packers.

The first half featured five field goals and ended with Green Bay clinging to a 9-6 lead.

Aided by a pass interference penalty, the Packers scored on their first possession when Mason Crosby kicked a 22-yard field goal.

Green Bay went for a fourth down in their own territory midway through the first quarter, but Allen Lazard was sacked for a loss. The Lions then settled for Michael Badgley’s 37-yard field goal on the next drive.

Crosby made a 49-yarder late in the quarter and a 48-yarder early in the second to make it 9-3.

Badgley missed from 46 yards with 6:16 left in the first half. He knocked over a 33-yard attempt on the last play of the half after the Packers were whistled for a personal foul.

Crosby had attempted 53 yards from the crossbar and returned to the field of play early in the second half.

Detroit needed just three plays after the miss to score its first touchdown of the game. A 43-yard pass from Goff to Raymond set up Williams’ 1-yard run, giving Detroit a 13-9 lead.

A 45-yard pass to Watson set up Rodgers’ 13-yard scoring strike to Lazard later in the quarter.

Detroit went ahead again on Williams’ second 1-yard score with 5:55 remaining. That ended a 13-play, 75-yard drive.

Kerby Joseph intercepted Rodgers on Green Bay’s final possession. The Lions then ran out the clock by picking up three first downs.