Another penalty-filled performance
leaves the Packers fuming after 20-17 loss to the Lions
[October 27, 2026]
By STEVE MEGARGEE
Penalties have caused problems all season for the Green Bay Packers,
who have been flagged more times per game than any other NFL team.
The Packers (4-3) were penalized seven times for 76 yards in the
second half of a 20-17 loss at Detroit that came down to Jake Bates’
22-yard field goal as time expired on Sunday. Some Green Bay players
believe they weren’t treated fairly.
“I feel like the refs were on their side the whole day, if you ask
me," defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt said after the game.
Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur could be seen on the sideline
expressing frustration over what the Packers perceived as
questionable calls.
Defensive lineman Karl Brooks was called for roughing the passer on
the drive that led to Detroit’s winning field goal.
“That’s teach-tape tackle. That’s not roughing the passer,” Dean
Blandino, a Fox rules analyst and former NFL vice president of
officiating, said during the telecast.
In the third quarter, Detroit's Amon-Ra St. Brown got tackled after
catching a pass, then started running again before Wyatt brought him
down. Wyatt was called for unnecessary roughness, and Jared Goff
threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jameson Williams two plays later.
LaFleur and Wyatt said after the game that they didn’t hear a
whistle before St. Brown got up.
“We ruled the play was over,” referee Alex Moore told a pool
reporter. “I can’t honestly hear if there was a whistle or not, but
the tackler made the tackle, the play was over. Then, there was an
additional action, and he basically tackled him again with force
after the play was over.”
On Detroit’s next series, Brenton Cox was called for roughing the
passer to nullify a third-and-10 incompletion and Brandon Cisse was
penalized for pass interference to wipe out his interception. That
series ended with the Lions losing the ball on downs at the Green
Bay 6-yard line.
Packers quarterback Jordan Love was called for intentional grounding
on the first play of the fourth quarter after he threw the ball in
the area of tight end Tucker Kraft. Love threw a third-and-21
interception two plays later.
Moore said the ball couldn’t merely be in the direction of Kraft and
that “it has to actually reach where he is if it doesn’t get to the
line of scrimmage” to avoid an intentional grounding penalty.
“That is not grounding,” Blandino said on the telecast.
Green Bay has been penalized a league-high 9.3 times per game. The
Packers have 78 penalty yards per game for the NFL’s second-highest
average, below the Carolina Panthers' 79.2.
“You got to play above it,” LaFleur said. “I thought there were some
tough calls, but it is what it is.”
Packers safety Xavier McKinney says he wants other defenses to get
the same treatment from officials that Green Bay’s defense is
receiving. According to Sportradar, the Packers have committed an
NFL-high eight roughing-the-passer penalties, while their opponents
haven't been called for that a single time this season.
[to top of second column] |
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, center, questions a call
during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit
Lions, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
“Sometimes we’re not seeing the same calls for our
quarterback,” McKinney said. “We’re not seeing the same calls for
our offensive guys. I just don’t really understand.”
What’s working
Green Bay’s defense limited Detroit’s high-powered offense to its
lowest point total of the season. The Packers stopped Detroit on
each of its fourth-down attempts. Goff threw an incompletion on
fourth-and-goal from the 5, and Keisean Nixon stuffed Jahmyr Gibbs
for a 2-yard loss on fourth-and-1 from the Detroit 24 with the score
tied in the fourth quarter. … Green Bay’s offense went 3 of 4 on
fourth down.
What needs work
The Packers didn’t score at all in three of their four red-zone
possessions. Two of those series ended in missed field-goal
attempts. Green Bay also went for it on fourth-and-4 from the
Detroit and lost the ball on downs. … Even with Josh Jacobs back on
the field, the Packers didn’t get much from a rushing attack that
ranks last in the NFL. Green Bay gained 60 yards on 19 carries. …
Dropped passes remain a major issue. Jacobs had a potential 17-yard
tiebreaking touchdown pass go off his hands with 3 1/2 minutes left.
Stock up
Nixon’s fourth-down stop of Gibbs in the fourth quarter could have
been the play of the game if Green Bay’s offense had capitalized. …
Cisse had a pass interference penalty to nullify his interception,
but he had quality coverage on Detroit’s last two plays of that
series to thwart a Lions scoring opportunity.
Stock down
K Trey Smack sent a 26-yard field goal wide right on Green Bay’s
first series and had a 35-yarder blocked when the score was tied
with 3:21 remaining.
Injuries
C Sean Rhyan left with an ankle injury in the first quarter. Jacob
Monk took over for him and hurt his quadriceps shortly afterward.
Monk was placed on injured reserve Monday, meaning he must miss at
least the next four games. Those injuries forced the Packers to turn
to John Williams, whose only previous career action came on special
teams.
Key number
1 — The number of field goals from 35 yards or closer missed by any
NFL kicker other than Smack this season.
Next steps
Green Bay gets right back at it Thursday night by hosting Carolina.
The Panthers won 16-13 at Lambeau Field last season. The Panthers
(3-3) are coming off a 43-13 home loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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