A surprising confrontation unfolded before the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions NFC North showdown on Thursday night. Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur and a Lions fan were involved in a verbal altercation just moments before the national anthem, as fans were on the field holding the flag.
The incident escalated quickly, with LaFleur reportedly telling the fan, who was wearing a Brian Branch jersey, to "shut the f--- up." Packers players and referees stepped in to de-escalate the situation, and the fan eventually walked away. The unexpected exchange was captured by other fans holding the flag who recorded the incident on their phones.
The game itself started with a bang. A defensive penalty gave the Lions an early advantage, leading to a David Montgomery touchdown on their opening drive. Detroit extended their lead to 10-0 before Green Bay answered with a Josh Jacobs touchdown in the second quarter. At halftime, the Lions held a 17-7 lead. However, the Packers rallied with consecutive touchdowns and capitalized on a Jared Goff interception to take a 21-17 lead.
Entering the game, the Lions and Packers boasted a combined 20-4 record, holding the first and third spots in their division, respectively. The Lions were aiming for an impressive 11th consecutive win, a potential franchise record. Both teams were coming off Thanksgiving Day victories. Just last month, the Lions bested the Packers 24-14 at Lambeau Field.
