Thanksgiving Day was a rare highlight for the 2023 Green Bay Packers. They defeated the Detroit Lions, who are the best team in the NFC North, by the score of 29-22 after leading by as many as 17 points at Ford Field.

Packers quarterback Jordan Love, who has struggled for most of this season, had a good outing by completing 22 of 32 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns, giving him a stellar 125.5 passer rating for the game. Afterward, he threw a bit of shade at the Lions while expressing gratitude for a good performance.

“We knew exactly what type of game this was gonna be. We knew what happened the first game, the first time we played them,” Love told reporters after the game. “We had their number. We’ve been waiting for this game for a while. To be able to go out there and be able to do the performance we had today, was something we were definitely looking forward to.”

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Green Bay’s very first offensive play was a sign of things to come, as Love found second-year wide receiver Christian Watson for a big 53-yard gain. Watson ended up leading the team with five receptions and 94 receiving yards plus a touchdown.

Detroit had been rolling all season, and it took an 8-2 record into this contest. Perhaps this was a reminder that as well as it has been playing and as much talent as it possesses, it isn’t quite ready for Super Bowl contention.

Meanwhile, for the Packers, the win was likely more of a happy respite and aberration than a sign of things to come. They have a 5-6 record, and while they’re technically in the hunt for a wild-card playoff spot, actually getting one doesn’t seem likely.

They will face the defending world champion Kansas City Chiefs next Sunday, and on New Year’s Eve, they will visit the Minnesota Vikings, who have been winning games with regularity despite injuries to quarterback Kirk Cousins and star wide receiver Justin Jefferson.

Green Bay will likely have to win at least one of those two contests while winning all of its remaining four contests versus the New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears.

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