Hail Mary helps Packers close in on NFC North lead

DETROIT (AP) — It's a play Mike McCarthy says the Packers practice every Saturday — because they've been victimized by this type of desperation heave in the past and want their defense to be prepared to stop it.

Detroit appeared to have the game won when Aaron Rodgers was tackled about 75 yards from the end zone, but Lions defensive end Devin Taylor was called for a facemask, giving the Packers one more chance from their own 39.

The Lions, fearing the Packers (8-4) would start lateraling and force Detroit to make a tackle, did not put 6-foot-5 Calvin Johnson in the game for defensive purposes.

Linebacker Josh Bynes dropped back away from Richard Rodgers to cover another potential target, allowing the tight end to drift into the end zone and haul the ball in at the front of a pack of players, with no Lions in great position to knock the pass down.

Richard Rodgers' father played a role in another famous game-winning touchdown.

Richard Rodgers Sr. threw two laterals on the final play of the Cal-Stanford game in 1982, when the Golden Bears went through the Stanford band and reached the end zone.