Jordan Love, Micah Parsons Shine as Packers Take Down Lions in Week 1

The Green Bay Packers opened their 2025 season in style, knocking off the Detroit Lions 27 to 13 at Lambeau Field. Jordan Love delivered one of his cleanest performances against a division rival, while Micah Parsons made his presence felt in his highly anticipated Packers debut.

Jordan Love Stands Tall in Statement Win

Love had dropped both of his previous home starts against Detroit, each with costly mistakes. Sunday was different. The 26-year-old quarterback looked composed, spreading his first eight completions to eight different receivers and guiding the Packers to two touchdowns and a field goal on their first three drives.

Coming off a thumb procedure, Love showed no signs of discomfort. When Detroit cut the lead to 10-3, he quickly answered with a 48-yard strike to Romeo Doubs and a 17-yard touchdown to Jayden Reed. Later, he kept a drive alive with a gutsy fourth-and-1 sneak in the red zone before finishing with another score.

Love was not flawless, throwing what could have been a pick-six that was erased by a defensive penalty, but he bounced back and made the plays Green Bay needed. It was the type of steady performance that makes the Packers look like playoff contenders.

Lions Offense Falls Flat in Coordinator Debut

Detroit’s offense, which had been among the NFL’s most dangerous under Ben Johnson, struggled badly in John Morton’s first game as play-caller. The Lions made three trips into the red zone in the first 35 minutes and came away with only two field goals and an interception.

Jahmyr Gibbs was bottled up, managing just 50 yards on 19 touches, and Jared Goff rarely pushed the ball downfield. After an early deep shot to Amon-Ra St. Brown, Goff did not attempt another 20-yard pass until late in the fourth quarter with the game already out of reach.

Rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa provided a highlight with a spectacular touchdown grab, but overall Detroit’s attack was short, conservative, and uninspired. The Lions may settle in as the season goes on, but this was a surprisingly tame showing for a team built to win now.

Parsons Wins Matchup Against Hutchinson

The spotlight was on two of the league’s premier defenders, Micah Parsons and Aidan Hutchinson. Neither recorded a tackle until late in the fourth quarter, but Parsons left the stronger impression.

Parsons logged three pressures in just 29 snaps, including one against Penei Sewell that forced Goff’s interception. He capped his debut with a chase-down sack that brought the Lambeau crowd to its feet. Hutchinson, playing nearly every snap in his return from last year’s leg injury, was less impactful, despite Green Bay losing right tackle Zach Tom to injury.

If this was just Parsons at less than full strength, his presence could take Green Bay’s defense to another level.

By the Numbers

• Jordan Love completed 6 of 8 passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns on intermediate throws (10-19 yards).

• Love connected with 10 different receivers, including every eligible player who ran more than three routes.

• Josh Jacobs scored a rushing touchdown for the 10th straight game, becoming only the 11th player since 1970 to do so.

• The Lions were held to just one offensive touchdown in John Morton’s play-calling debut.

The Bottom Line

The Packers look like serious NFC contenders with Jordan Love running the show and Micah Parsons energizing the defense.

For the Lions, Week 1 was a humbling reminder that changing coordinators can take time. Detroit still has the talent to rebound, but this was a flat and uninspired start for a team with championship aspirations.