Olympic champion freaks out at slap for German star
Thanksgiving is a holiday for many in the USA and for some a reminder of oppression and genocide. But football is always played and this time the Green Bay Packers surprise the Detroit Lions with NFL star Amon-Ra St. Brown. Olympic champion Simone Biles also plays a role.
What was at stake?
Thanksgiving in the USA means turkey, family celebrations - and football. Unfortunately, the facts of the holiday are still glorified at the expense of Native Americans, for whom Thanksgiving is a day of mourning and remembrance of centuries of oppression and genocide.
In the middle of it all this time: the highly hyped Detroit Lions (8-2 record before the game for the first time since 1962) led by German Amon-Ra St. Brown. For a long time, the national spotlight was not an issue for the Lions. But now they are suddenly considered a serious Super Bowl contender. The cheapest ticket for the highlight game is in the low four-figure range. Thanks in part to wide receiver St. Brown, who is increasingly developing into one of the best in his field worldwide. The 24-year-old is improving from week to week.
But instead of breaking his 1000-yard mark (yards caught) against the Green Bay Packers, he and his team were dealt a bitter blow. Thanks to the increasingly strong performance of quarterback Jordan Love, Green and Gold managed a 29:22 victory, which in the end reads tighter than it was. But it was not to be expected that turnaround superstar Simone Biles would also play a role.
Nothing less than the NFL playoffs are at stake at Ford Field. The Packers are making up important ground in the battle with the Minnesota Vikings for the final spots in the knockout round in January. The Lions, on the other hand, fail to extend their lead in the NFC North and red-carpet their way to their first division win since 1993.
What happened.
The Packers are still searching for their form in year one after the departure of veteran Aaron Rodgers. Actually. Because even without the star quarterback, who left for the New York Jets, they are doing better and better. The Green and Gold have won two of their last three games. And Rodgers' successor, 25-year-old Jordan Love, who was heavily criticized in his first season as a starter, showed against Detroit that he and his team are becoming a force to be reckoned with.
The Packers kick off with plenty of holiday spirit. In the first drive, everything the coaches had previously laid out in the playbook works: a few long throws (including a gorgeous 53-yard pass to Christian Watson) against the Lions' rather weak pass defense - and it's 7-0. The Packers only need five plays to get on the scoreboard in Detroit.
The Lions respond with a good running game and two simple throws to Sam Laporta for the rookie tight end's fifth touchdown of the season. However, the extra point is missed and immediately afterwards the Packers march inexorably towards the end zone again. Love fakes a handoff on a run play and throws instead: It's 14-6 and the scoring spectacle takes its course.
The Lions then hand out presents, even though it is Thanksgiving and not Christmas. First a fumble by quarterback Jared Goff makes it 20-6, followed seconds later by the next bitter mistake: Goff loses the ball again, this time on a run of his own. The top quarterback had not had a single fumble all season, now two within four plays. Although the Packers cannot capitalize on this mistake, the sleeping Lions do not wake up and do not come close to this year's normal form. The Packers, on the other hand, continue to play smoothly thanks to their almost outstanding quarterback Love (15 of 20 throws for 189 yards and two touchdowns in the first half). A field goal put them 23:6 up at half-time.
Was there turkey in the locker room? Probably not, but the Lions storm out of the half-time break with renewed vigor. Several good runs lead to 14:23 thanks to the subsequent 2-point conversion. Detroit's defense now also builds up far more pressure. However, after a failed fake-point play, the Lions receive the ball deep in the opposing half. Shortly afterwards, Love, who kept his cool, threw for another touchdown to make it 29:14 (2-point conversion failed).
In the final quarter, the Lions fumbled with another turnover on downs - five unsuccessful fourth attempts today. Afterwards, Love completes the longest run of his career (37 yards) after a beautifully faked handover. Even if it wasn't enough points, the clock ran down mercilessly for Green Bay and Goff and Co. were only able to cut the score to 22:29 just before the end. Waste of time.
Scene of the game
In the first quarter, the Packers' defense proves that it will cause trouble in this duel. For the Detroit Lions and especially for Jared Goff. The ball is knocked out of the quarterback's hand after just under 13 minutes and a certain Jonathan Owens grabs the egg. The defender is the husband of superstar gymnast and Olympic champion Simone Biles and runs unchallenged for a touchdown after picking up the ball.
While the 28-year-old celebrates his triumph with a little dance on the lawn, his wife completely freaks out on X, formerly Twitter. "That's my husband," Biles writes in capital letters, "my husband, my husband, my husband." Normally Owens is allowed to cheer on Biles as she continues to set new records, but now it's the other way around and the gymnast is taking full advantage of it. After the final whistle, she cheers once again: "A Packers win, baby! Happy Thanksgiving."
Owens' touchdown is a statement from which the Lions do not recover for the rest of the game and is emblematic of the many times Goff is brought down. Although the extra point misses (there is no wind in the closed arena), the Packers already lead 20-6 at this point, with two minutes left on the clock in the first quarter. Love's team had scored exactly two touchdowns in the first quarter in the first ten days of the game. On today's festive day, there are three in the first period.
Player of the game
"The Packers' patience with Jordan Love may finally be paying off," wrote Sports Illustrated three days ago. After bitter failures and weak performances, the quasi-rookie showed against Detroit that he could become a great. Love is once again showing progress, a few days after his 322 yards and two touchdowns in the win against Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers. With 228 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, he eclipsed the next elite quarterback in Goff and beat a real top team in the Lions.
Keeping his cool under pressure, plus his tremendous arm strength, Love's future with the Packers could be looking bright sooner than expected after Aaron Rodgers' departure. The quarterback's performance prevents a five-game losing streak against Detroit and avenges the clear defeat in week four.
The NFL playoffs are at stake for the Green Bay Packers as they face the Detroit Lions. Despite the historic performance of wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown for the Lions, the Packers manage to secure a 29:22 victory, thanks in part to the improved play of quarterback Jordan Love.
Football, including American Football in the form of the NFL, is a constant in many American holidays, even during Thanksgiving when its history is often glossed over.
[Source: www.ntv.de]
Source: www.ntv.de
