The Detroit Lions did it.
The defense remained healthy. They produced the necessary turnovers and only allowed 17 points and 380 yards.
The Lions regained confidence for the postseason. Their offense looked amazing: 475 yards, 27 first downs, and 34 points. Jared Goff threw an 82-yard touchdown pass to Jameson Williams, marking his 30th game with a passer rating over 100.
Let’s break down some play calls before we get into the rest of the season.
Right off the bat, Sam LaPorta lined up, ready to block, but only did so for a split second. He immediately finds a hole between the defense where he gets his breakaway.
The defense started to trail him from this point on. He got through because while that was going down, the entire defensive line expected a scramble for the “fumbled” ball. Instead, Goff sat in the pocket, letting the defense abandon LaPorta in the back of the endzone.
The Bears lined up for a blitz, and they came in hot. Tim Patrick was the only player who went for a block. The rest of the line allowed the defense to rush in as the Detroit People Movers set up to block St. Brown’s run on the far side into the endzone.
These plays exemplify what Detroit has done a great job of all season— confusing their opponents.
What we learned:
The Lions can stay healthy.
They did it today. Nobody got hurt. Everyone stayed healthy, and they looked good doing it. A few players are expected to return through the end of the season and into the playoffs, but this is a good start for who is playing now.
The defensive line needs to secure the sacks.
The Lions efficiently applied pressure to Caleb Williams today. However, they struggled to sack him and secure a loss of yards. As the Lions face stronger opponents, they must address this issue.
Penalties were a minimum.
The secondary has struggled with pass interference this season, which has been evident. However, there were no calls of the sort this week. Terrion Arnold‘s coverage was impressive, showcasing his ability to meet all the criteria necessary to avoid the penalty. Unfortunately, there were still unnecessary calls (some questionable) for taunting and too many men on the field.
Looking forward.
The Lions had a bad week (vs. the Bills) and a bounce-back week (vs. the Bears). They can play the 49ers for a confidence boost. Their key to this game is staying healthy. The 49ers are already injured, and neither team wants to see somebody limp off the field. The Lions are seeking a little vengeance from the NFC Championship game.
However, they’ve already proven themselves this season.
The No. 1 seed is still up for grabs, so every win matters just as much.
Enjoy your Christmas as the Lions prepare to face the 49ers on Monday Night Football on New Year’s Eve Eve.
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