Rogers throws 3 TDs in Packers 34-12 win vs. Lions

DETROIT - The Detroit Lions used to take a lot of pride in playing on Thanksgiving.

Lately, the Lions have been getting embarrassed when the nation tunes in to watch them.

Aaron Rodgers matched a career high with 3 touchdown passes, and Charles Woodson grabbed 2 of his team's 4 interceptions, giving the Green Bay Packers a 34-12 win over Detroit on Thursday.

The Lions have lost six straight games on the holiday, setting a franchise record, by an average of 23.2 points and eight of nine in the showcase game. The latest loss was an emotional setback for Detroit (2-9) four days after Matthew Stafford's gutsy play capped its biggest comeback win since 1957.

"It's a different feeling in this locker room - especially on national television to come out like that," said Detroit center Dominic Raiola.

Before its recent slide, Detroit won four straight and nine of 12 on Thanksgiving before ex-general manager Matt Millen arrived in 2001 and made a lackluster franchise awful.

Green Bay (7-4) has won three straight since losing to Tampa Bay to improve its postseason prospects.

"We can't talk about the playoffs yet," said Packers receiver Donald Driver.

Stafford, playing with a sore non-throwing shoulder, threw 1 touchdown pass and 4 interceptions. He threw 5 TD passes in Sunday's win over Cleveland after trailing by 21.

"When you've got to throw the ball every down to try to get back into it when you're behind, guys are going to be all over it," Stafford said.

Kevin Smith's longest run was 6 yards and he finished with 43 on 18 carries for the Lions.

"This is the type of game that you hit your head on a wall about," Smith said.

The Lions looked as if they were building off their rare momentum by recovering a fumble on the opening kickoff and with Stafford's TD pass to Calvin Johnson.

But the Packers scored 27 unanswered points in the second and third quarters to turn the game into a familiar rout.

"We had to dig deep," Rodgers said. "There's a lot of resolve in this team and I'm confident in our team moving forward."

The Packers have won nine straight against the Lions overall, and coach Mike McCarthy is 8-0 against them.

Woodson returned his second interception for a score late in the game and struck a Heisman Trophy pose in the end zone, just as he did in 1997 at Michigan before going on to win the award.

"Being here in Michigan with all the fans I know I still have here," Woodson said. "I just wanted to remind those guys what it was like back when I was in school."

Woodson also forced and recovered a fumble and had a sack, capping an afternoon that included an announcement of his $2 million gift to the new University of Michigan Mott Children's Hospital.

"It was a good day," Woodson said with a grin.

It was for Rodgers, too, as usual against the Lions.

Rodgers was 28 of 39 for 348 yards and connected with Driver, Donald Lee and James Jones for scores. He has played Detroit four times and those passing totals rank among the top eight in his career.

Driver had 7 receptions for 142 yards, including a 68-yard catch, and a TD that gave the Packers a 20-7 lead midway through the third quarter.

Rodgers and Driver both credited their much-maligned offensive line.

"There were a couple times when I held the ball for four or five seconds - maybe more," Rodgers said. "When you have that kind of time with the kind of players that we have, we feel like we're going to make plays."