Packers Sack Detroit’s Offensive Production

Sept. 3, 1978 – The Green Bay Packers shut down the Lions holding Detroit to a meager 122 yards and no offensive play greater than 17 yards in a solid, season-opening 13-7 win. Led by defensive end Ezra Johnson (five sacks), the Packers dump Lions’ quarterback Greg Landry eight times as Detroit manages but 40 net yards passing. “The quarterback didn’t have anywhere to go because (Mike) Butler, (Dave) Roller and (Carl) Barzilauskas were all coming,” Johnson says. “He couldn’t step up because Roller was there. And he couldn’t go the other way because Butler was there. And he couldn’t come my way because I was there.” Rookie linebacker John Anderson picks off Landry for the only interception of the game.