Packers Stun Lions On Last Second Play

Aaron Rodgers took the shotgun snap on an untimed down with no time left, shuffled to his left, slipped a sack, rolled right and heaved a pass that seemed as high as it was long.

Richard Rodgers, drifting toward the end zone while teammates and opponents crowded behind him, leaped and made the catch on the 61-yard play, giving the Green Bay Packers a stunning 27-23 victory over the Detroit Lions on Thursday night.

"I knew I was going to have to buy some time to allow them to get into the end zone," Aaron Rodgers said. "I knew once I got outside the right that I was going to be able to set up and throw."

The Packers got one more shot to win after Detroit defensive end Devin Taylor was called for grabbing Aaron Rodgers' face mask on a tackle on what would have been the last play. The 61-yard touchdown is the longest game-winning, game-ending Hail Mary in NFL history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The 61 air yards also are the most air yards on a touchdown in the past 10 seasons.

The Packers (8-4) had lost four of five.

"Unfortunately, this counts as one win," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "It feels like more."

The Lions (4-8) had won three straight and blew a chance to sweep the season series with Green Bay for the first time since 1991.

"Tough one to lose," Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. "Those are the ones that eat at you. The guys are upset because they gave so much, but we needed one more play. It is never over in this league."

Matthew Stafford connected with Calvin Johnson on his second touchdown pass of the first quarter to help Detroit build a 20-point lead that it couldn't keep.

"Not an easy pill to swallow," Stafford said.

Aaron Rodgers scored on a 17-yard run with 3:04 left, pulling the Packers within two points.

Stafford connected with TJ Jones to convert a third-and-12 from the Detroit 18 after Green Bay called its final timeout with 2:54 to go. The Lions needed one more first down to seal the victory, but Green Bay forced them to punt and got the ball back on the 21 with 23 seconds left.

 Sunday, December Schedule (All Times Central)

New York Jets at New York Giants, noon

Arizona at St. Louis, noon

Atlanta at Tampa Bay, noon

Seattle at Minnesota, noon

Houston at Buffalo, noon

Baltimore at Miami, noon

Cincinnati at Cleveland, noon

Jacksonville at Tennessee, noon

San Francisco at Chicago, noon

Denver at San Diego, 3:05 p.m.

Kansas City at Oakland, 3:05 p.m.

Carolina at New Orleans, 3:25 p.m.

Philadelphia at New England, 3:25 p.m.

Indianapolis at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.