Lions lead the way as Montgomery steers Detroit to victory over Packers

David Montgomery rushed for 121 yards and three touchdowns as the Detroit Lions moved into first place in the NFC North with a 34-20 victory over the host Green Bay Packers on Thursday night.

Jared Goff completed 19 of 28 passes for 210 yards, one touchdown and one interception for the Lions (3-1). Amon-Ra St Brown caught a touchdown pass and Jerry Jacobs had two interceptions as Detroit won by 14 points for the second straight week.

It marked the fourth straight time in which the Lions defeated the Packers, for whom Wicklow native Dan Whelan was on punting duties.

Green Bay had just 21 yards (on 22 plays) and three first downs while digging a 27-3 half-time deficit before showing life in the second half.

The Packers started the third quarter with a 12-play, 86-yard drive. It was capped by Love's one-yard scoring pass to Watson and followed by the ensuing two-point conversion throw to Jayden Reed with 8:17 left in the third quarter.

Green Bay cut the deficit to 27-17 on Love's nine-yard scamper with 14:52 remaining in the game. Love kept the ball on the two-point conversion run but was stopped short of the goal line.

Detroit's Riley Patterson kicked a 30-yard field goal with 8:10 left but unsportsmanlike conduct was called on Walker for running forward and jumping over the Lions' line - his right foot pressed into the back of Detroit long snapper Scott Daly during the leap.

The Lions took the points off the board and had a first down at the Green Bay6-yard line. Four plays later, Montgomery scored on fourth-and-goal from the 1 to give Detroit a 34-17 lead with six minutes remaining to all but seal it.

Anders Carlson opened the scoring with a 34-yard field goal for the Packers before the Lions scored the final 27 points of the