NFC North Week 9 roundup: Aaron Rodgers throws 3 interceptions in Packers’ loss to Lions, while Vikings rally for 6th straight win

Aaron Rodgers matched a career high with three interceptions and threw an incomplete pass on fourth down from the Detroit 17 in the final minute, letting the Lions hold on for a 15-9 home win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday in a matchup of slumping teams.

The Lions (2-6) ended a five-game losing streak.

The Packers (3-6) have lost five straight for the first time since 2008, when Rodgers, a four-time NFL MVP, was a first-year starter.

The Lions tried to seal the victory late in the fourth quarter when coach Dan Campbell went for it on fourth-and-3 from the Green Bay 43. Jared Goff’s pass was incomplete.

Rodgers failed to take advantage. He did convert a fourth-and-2 with an off-balance lob to Samori Toure, who fumbled out of bounds at the Detroit 17.

Rodgers, the two-time reigning NFL MVP, threw four straight incomplete passes to end a lousy game overall. He was 23 of 42 for 291 yards and a touchdown and had three interceptions for the fifth time in his career.

Goff was 14 of 26 for 137 yards with touchdown passes to Shane Zylstra and James Mitchell, a pair of tight ends who took advantage of an increased role after the Lions dealt standout tight end T.J. Hockenson to the Minnesota Vikings.

Campbell desperately needed the win. The gambling coach made some calls that worked out and some that didn’t.

He went for it on fourth-and-1 from the Green Bay 7 on the opening possession and turned it over on downs after Goff was hit as he tried to complete a pass.

Rodgers threw interceptions in the end zone on his first two possessions. Kerby Joseph picked off the first one on a deflected pass, and Aidan Hutchinson intercepted the next on a fourth-down pass toward left tackle David Bakhtiari.

Campbell made a call on the next Packers possession that panned out, winning a challenge that overturned a catch on fourth down.

The Lions took advantage, breaking a scoreless tie with Goff’s 1-yard touchown pass to an elevated Zylstra early in the second quarter. Jamaal Williams ran for a 2-point conversion after a running-into-the-kicker penalty.

Goff threw an interception early in the third quarter and Rodgers gave it back two snaps later, getting picked off at the Detroit 3 by Joseph again.

Rodgers responded with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Allen Lazard, but his 2-point conversion pass to Lazard was broken up by Jeff Okudah, allowing the Lions to lead 8-6.

Goff gave the Lions a nine-point lead with his second touchdown pass, a 3-yard throw to rookie tight end Mitchell.

The Packers stalled at the Detroit 7 on the ensuing drive and had to settle for Mason Crosby’s 25-yard field goal that cut the deficit to six midway through the fourth quarter.

Packers: The banged-up team took more hits: WR Romeo Doubs (ankle), RB Aaron Jones (ankle), CB Eric Stokes (knee, ankle), DE Rashan Gary (knee) WR Christian Watson (concussion) and LB Krys Barnes (concssuion) were injured during the game. Starting LB De’Vondre Campbell (knee) was inactive.

Lions: Joseph was briefly evaluated on the field after he and Okudah collided with a helmet-to-helmet hit early in the fourth quarter. RB Craig Reynolds (ribs) was hurt during the game and starting WR Josh Reynolds (back) was inactive.

Packers: Host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday and the Tennessee Titans four days later.

Lions: Visit the Chicago Bears on Sunday at Soldier Field.

Kirk Cousins threw two touchdown passes, Harrison Smith picked off Taylor Heinicke to set up the tying score and the Minnesota Vikings came back to beat the Washington Commanders 20-17 on Sunday in Landover, Md., and extend their winning streak to six.

Playing his first game at Washington as a visitor, Cousins rebounded from an interception at the end of the first half and popped back up after one of several big hits he absorbed to lead a 68-yard drive that ended with a field goal by Greg Joseph.

Smith’s interception midway through the fourth quarter gave the Vikings the ball in the red zone. Cousins connected with Dalvin Cook on a 12-yard touchdown pass, which was one of his best throws of the game and compensated for some earlier inaccuracies. He finished 22 of 40 for 265 yards.

After an unnecessary-roughness penalty on the initial field-goal attempt allowed the Vikings to run more time off the clock, Joseph connected from 28 yards out with 12 seconds left to keep the streak going.

Justin Jefferson caught Cousins’ first touchdown pass in the first quarter and came down with a 47-yard completion in the fourth. Jefferson finished with seven catches for 115 yards as the Vikings (7-1) extended their lead atop the NFC North and avoided what would have been their first loss since Sept. 19 in Philadelphia.

Heinicke’s magic ran out on the interception after he threw two touchdown passes, including an inexplicable heave into triple coverage that Curtis Samuel came down with after a Minnesota defender ran into an official and that had the crowd chanting his name.

He could not lead another game-winning scoring drive, and the Commanders (4-5) had their winning streak snapped at three.

Heinicke was 14 of 27 for 139 yards and ran four times for 17 yards.

Vikings: CB Cameron Dantzler left in the first half with an ankle injury and was quickly ruled out after halftime. He was previously listed as questionable with a neck injury. … DT Dalvin Tomlinson missed the game with a calf injury.

Commanders: WR Jahan Dotson (hamstring) missed a fifth consecutive game and LB Cole Holcomb (foot) a second in a row.

Vikings: Visit the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

Commanders: Visit the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday, Nov. 14.