Leftovers from Green Bay’s Turkey Day stuffing
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Horrible. Embarrassing. Ugly.
Those are just a few of the words that have been used to describe the Packers 40-10 loss to the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day. Packers fans, players and coaches are no doubt leaving last Thursday’s game behind and focusing on the remaining four games on the schedule. But here’s a quick look back at some of the numbers from the most recent loss.
* The Lions had 561 total yards in the game while the Pack could muster only 126. It was the 16th time since 1970 that one team had over 500 total yards and their opponents had under 150 in an NFL game. The Packers have been on the low end in three of these 16 games, most in the league. In 1999, the Packers lost to the Denver Broncos 31-10, with the Broncos gaining 514 yards to the Pack’s 133. In 1978, the Cowboys gained 537 yards en route to a 42-14 win over Green Bay. The Packers had only 142 yards in that contest.
* Until Matt Flynn connected with James Jones on that 56-yard pass play late in the game, the Packers had only 70 total yards. Had they stayed under 100 total yards for the game, it would have been the fourth time since 1970 that one team had over 500 yards and their opponents had under 100 in a game. The last time was in 1988 when the Vikings had 553 yards to Detroit’s 89 in Minnesota’s 44-17 win over Detroit.
* This was the 23rd game since 1970 that the Packers had under 150 total yards for the game. They are now 2-21 in such games. The last game with under 150 yards was November 19, 2006 against the New England Patriots. That resulted in a 35-0 defeat at the hands of the Pats.
* The Packers did have four takeaways in the game against the Lions. It was their second game this year with four takeaways (also vs. Cincinnati). Unfortunately, the Packers have lost both games when they had four takeaways. NFL teams this year are 30-6 (.833 winning percentage) in games where they have four or more takeaways. The Packers have two of those six losses; the Vikings have also lost two of those games. Green Bay is 101-25-3 (.795 winning percentage) in games since 1970 when they force their opponents into four or more turnovers; they are 30-4 (.882) since 2000.
* The Packers last 30-point loss was November 19, 2006 to New England when the Patriots won 35-0. Their last 30-point loss on the road prior to the Detroit beating on Thanksgiving was December 19, 2005 when they lost 48-3 to Baltimore.
* The Packers offense had no TDs last Thursday. It was the first game with no offensive TDs since December 12, 2010 when they lost 7-3 to the Lions. The Packers have had no offensive TDs in 11 games since 2000. They are 4-7 in those games.
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James Jones’ three TD pass reception game puts Packers on top
Sports Stats ‘on Tapp’ is a sports statistics blog published with a focus on stats that go beyond the numbers.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Green Bay receiver James Jones jumped to the head of the list of receivers with the most TD receptions in 2012 with a three-TD performance in yesterday’s win over the Bears. (He now has 12 TD receptions for the season.)
Jones became the sixth receiver this season (and second Packers receiver) to catch three touchdown passes in a game. Jordy Nelson had a three-TD pass reception game in October against the Houston Texans.
Jones’ three TD game also put the Packers in a tie for most games with three TD receptions by a receiver since 1966. The Packers have had 15 such games, which now ties them with the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers. Here’s a look at how many games since 1966 each team has had where one receiver caught three or more TD passes.
Games with a player with three-plus TD receptions, teams
15: Green Bay, New York Jets, San Francisco
14: Dallas, Indianapolis, Oakland
13: Minnesota, San Diego, St. Louis, Washington
11: Cincinnati, Miami, Philadelphia, Tennessee
10: Denver, New England, New York Giants, Pittsburgh
9: Arizona, Buffalo
7: Chicago, Detroit
6: Atlanta, Cleveland, Kansas City
5: Baltimore, Seattle
4: Carolina, New Orleans
2: Tampa Bay
1: Jacksonville
0: Houston
Of the Packers 15 such games, Sterling Sharpe leads the club with three games with three TD receptions. Jordy Nelson, James Lofton and Antonio Freeman each had two games with three TD receptions.
Looking at the league totals since 1966, it’s no surprise that Jerry Rice leads the league with 11 games with three or more TD receptions. He is followed by Marvin Harrison and Randy Moss (nine each), Wesley Walker and Terrell Owens (five each) and Kellen Winslow and Carl Pickens (four each).
Here’s another interesting stat from Jones’ game yesterday: Jones had three TDs but only 60 yards total in receiving yards. This was the 25th time since 1966 that a player had 60 or less receiving yards with three or more receiving TDs. Fewest yards receiving in a game with three receiving touchdowns? Houston Oiler Mack Alston had three receptions, all for touchdowns and only 22 yards receiving in a game versus the Cleveland Browns on October 12, 1975.
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