NFC North Week 7 roundup: Green Bay Packers losing streak reaches 3 games, while Detroit Lions fall to 1-5

Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers offense sputtered, penalties piled up at the most inopportune moments and the Packers lost their third game in a row — 23-21 to the Washington Commanders on Sunday in Landover, Md. — for their longest skid since 2018.

Nursing a sore thumb and out of sync with receivers, Rodgers was 23 of 35 for 194 yards and the Packers went 0-for-6 on third down. Green Bay (3-4) had just 232 total yards to Washington’s 364 and lost Allen Lazard to a shoulder injury, making him the team’s third wide receiver to go down during the first losing streak under coach Matt LaFleur.

Rodgers finished the game face down on the turf after a failed final play that ended with him throwing a lateral out of bounds.

But the problems were not limited to offense: Amari Rodgers continued his struggles returning punts by muffing one that set up Washington in the red zone, and cornerback Eric Stokes was flagged for a costly illegal contact penalty that wiped out a fumble return touchdown and later for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The negatives outweighed the few positives: a 63-yard pick-six of Taylor Heinicke by De’Vondre Campbell and two touchdown passes from Rodgers to Aaron Jones — the second of which completed a 75-yard drive aided by Washington penalties that pulled the Packers within two with 3:26 left in the fourth quarter.

Playing behind a remade offensive line without All-Pro left tackle David Bahktiari, Rodgers struggled to find a rhythm, missing wide-open receivers at times and at others putting the ball in their hands for ill-timed drops.

The Packers had no third-down conversions for the first time since 1999 — 370 games ago and before Rodgers graduated high school.

Washington’s front four also played a role in frazzling Rodgers and making him look more like a rookie than a 38-year-old four-time NFL MVP. Only a series of penalties on the Commanders (3-4) made the game close in the final minutes.

Heinicke, making his first start of the season in place of the injured Carson Wentz, threw for two touchdowns and was 20 of 33 for 200 yards after starting 1 of 7 for 14 yards with the interception. One of those touchdowns was a perfect pass to Terry McLaurin.

Heinicke also found McLaurin for a 12-yard completion on third-and-9 just before the two-minute warning, sparking “Terry! Terry!” chants from the Commanders fans outnumbered by Packers supporters and helping to seal the team’s second consecutive ugly victory. McLaurin beat top Green Bay cornerback Jaire Alexander on that play and for his first touchdown catch since Week 1.

Packers: LB Rashad Gary was evaluated for a concussion in the second half. … Bahktiari (knee) was inactive after being added to the injury report Saturday. … Green Bay was also without wide receiver Randall Cobb and reserve interior lineman Jake Hanson, who went on injured reserve.

Commanders: Rookie TE Cole Turner was concussed attempting to make a catch late in the second quarter and quickly was ruled out. … Rookie WR Jahan Dotson missed a third consecutive game with a hamstring injury.

Packers: Visit the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night.

Commanders: Visit the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

Ezekiel Elliott ran for two 1-yard touchdowns and Dak Prescott threw for a score in his return from injury while the Dallas Cowboys leaned on their defense again in a 24-6 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday in Arlington, Texas.

The Cowboys (5-2) recovered Jamaal Williams’ fumble inside their 1 with a four-point lead early in the fourth quarter. Jared Goff was responsible for four other Detroit turnovers — he threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles.

Prescott was predictably ragged after missing five games with a fractured right thumb, and the offense struggled much as it did when Cooper Rush got a boost from the defense and went 4-1 as Prescott’s replacement.

The Lions (1-5) got a solid showing for three quarters from the NFL’s worst defense, but coach Dan Campbell fell to 0-11-1 on the road with the Lions in something of a homecoming for the Texas native.

Campbell’s frustration showed when he threw his headset after Williams lost the ball in a pile and Anthony Barr recovered for Dallas with the Cowboys up 10-6.

Goff’s first three turnovers led to the three Cowboys touchdowns, starting with Trevon Diggs’ third interception on a diving play inside the Dallas 20 with the Lions leading 6-3.

Elliott jump-started the ensuing 82-yard drive by hurdling DeShon Elliott on an 18-yard run. Tony Pollard ran for 28 yards two plays later, and the Cowboys took their first lead on Elliott’s 1-yard plunge.

Dallas didn’t have to go nearly as far after the next two turnovers from Goff.

Elliott’s second touchdown came after Goff was intercepted by Jourdan Lewis at the Dallas 46.

Prescott threw a 2-yard scoring pass to rookie Peyton Hendershot after Goff lost the ball on one of two sacks by rookie Sam Williams, giving the Cowboys possession at the Detroit 24.

The first multi-touchdown game of the season for Elliott came after he took a hard shot on his right knee and was sidelined briefly in the first half.

Elliott had 57 yards on 15 carries, and Pollard rushed 12 times for 83 yards.

Prescott was 19 of 25 for 207 yards, while Goff was 21 of 26 for 228 yards. Williams was effective with 79 yards on 15 carries but had the critical mistake that kept the Lions from taking a fourth-quarter lead.

Lions: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown was ruled out by the concussion protocol after leaving the game following his only catch in the first quarter. … RB D’Andre Swift missed his third consecutive game with ankle and shoulder injuries after the Lions were hopeful he could return.

Cowboys: G Matt Farniok was ruled out in the second half with a hamstring injury.

Lions: Host the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

Cowboys: Host the Chicago Bears on Sunday in the second of four consecutive matchups with NFC North teams.