Detroit – Richard Silva evaluates the Detroit Lions’ performance in their 26-20 overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams.
quarterback
Jared Goff was everything Lions fans love him for early on: smart, reliable and efficient. He completed 18 of his 28 passes for 217 yards, but then put the ball in danger twice – one of those plays was an interception that gave the Rams a late touchdown to take the lead, and Los Angeles dropped a pass that would have been another interception on the next drive. Goff flashed his rarely used legs to run for a crucial first down, and he capitalized on an opportunity for a big play, throwing the ball deep down the left sideline to Jameson Williams for a 52-yard touchdown. Grade: B-
Running backs
The David Montgomery-Jahmyr Gibbs tandem had a similar day to Goff – nothing spectacular, but plays in crucial situations – until overtime. Montgomery dominated the overtime as he decided to lead the Lions to victory, collecting 45 yards on five carries and the game-winning touchdown.
Another key sequence occurred in the first half. After falling behind 3-0 early, the Lions answered with a 63-yard run that started seven consecutive carries (37 yards) to help tie the game. Gibbs also later showed off some impressive acrobatic moves to score Detroit’s first touchdown of the season on a 1-yard run where he lifted his legs off the ground and spun his way into the end zone. Grade: A-
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
That mark goes almost entirely to Williams, who lived up to his preseason reputation by catching five balls for 121 yards and a touchdown, a career high. The rest of Detroit’s receivers and tight ends combined to catch eight balls for 60 yards. The most impressive catch from that group was an 18-yard catch by TE Sam LaPorta that set up a field goal for Detroit that sent the game into overtime. Amon-Ra St. Brown’s 13 receiving yards were the third-fewest of his career. Grade: C+
Offensive line
Things started poorly for Kevin Zeitler, making his Lions debut at right guard. Detroit’s first drive ended in a three-and-out, largely because he allowed a 9-yard sack on Rams linebacker Byron Murphy. The offensive line largely rallied after that, but there were still some isolated mistakes — Goff was brought down again and there were two false start penalties (one each by Graham Glasgow and Frank Ragnow) on the drive where Goff threw his interception. But all that was forgotten as the O-line pushed the Rams down the field in overtime. The unit was there when it mattered most. Grade: B+
Defensive line
LA’s running backs combined to average 3.3 yards per carry, so that’s a solid performance from Detroit’s defensive front. But the pass rushers had the advantage of having to face a third left tackle for most of the game, and the result was just two sacks. Aidan Hutchinson caused havoc with his pressure, but he couldn’t get his hit until he brought down Matthew Stafford at the end of regulation. The other sack came when Levi Onwuzurike and Marcus Davenport connected at the QB, a play that helped the Rams settle for a field goal. Grade: B
Linebackers
Alex Anzalone started the game with two tackles and a loss of yardage on the Rams’ opening drive, forcing them into a three-and-out. Derrick Barnes also had a notable play when he teamed up with defensive back Brian Branch to block Los Angeles running back Kyren Williams at the goal line on a first-and-goal. The Rams settled for three points on that drive, a play that clearly proved decisive in a game that went into overtime. Grade: B
Secondary
Branch uncharacteristically missed a few tackles early on, but settled down after that, finishing the game with seven tackles and three pass deflections. One of those PBUs resulted in a punt, but it was a dropped interception that could have decided the game earlier. Speaking of INTs, Kerby Joseph had one in the end zone at the end of the first half to stop the Rams before halftime.
Looking at the numbers, Cooper Kupp rushed for 110 yards and a touchdown. Puka Nacua also played well but had to leave the game early due to a knee injury. Grade: B
Special teams
Jake Bates did his job, kicking a 25-yard field goal in the third quarter and converting a 32-yard field goal to send the game into overtime. He also sank each of his extra points. The grade is marred by the fact that there was a Jack Fox punt in the third quarter that was as good as it gets — the ball landed near the goal line and bounced off the end zone — but rookie cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. came in a little too quickly and pushed the ball across the flat for a touchback. To be fair, that only resulted in a Rams punt on their ensuing drive, so no harm, no foul. Sort of. Grade: A-
trainer
There was little opportunity for coaching decisions to directly affect the game. Dan Campbell tried once on fourth down and converted the attempt on a drive that ended in one of Bates’ field goals. The coaching staff was smart enough to realize that Montgomery was unstoppable in overtime and continued to bet on him. They get an incentive for that. Class: A
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