Lions lose shootout in Green Bay, 45-41, and finish #6 in NFC

Matt Flynn set franchise records with 480 yards passing and six touchdowns in his second career start as the Green Bay Packers handed the Detroit Lions their 21st straight loss in the state of Wisconsin, 45-41.

The Lions actually amassed more yardage -- 575 yards -- and had several opportunities to win.

Wide receiver Calvin Johnson finished with 11 catches for 244 yards and quarterback Matthew Stafford joined Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Dan Marino as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to top 5,000 yards passing in a season. He finished with franchise records of 5,038 yards and 41 touchdowns.

The Lions finished the regular season 10-6, their best record since 1995, but the loss dropped them to the sixth and final seed in the NFC playoffs, which sets up a showdown against the #3 seed New Orleans Saints on Saturday night in a return trip to the Superdome.

The Saints (13-3) enter the playoffs on an eight-game winning streak that includes a December win over the Lions and with a quarterback in Drew Brees, who recently broke Dan Marino's record for most passing yards in a season.