Post by D6 on Dec 20, 2021 4:20:39 GMT -5
Instant observations: Jared Goff, Craig Reynolds lead Detroit Lions to shocking rout of Cardinals
Thoughts in ****
Instant observations: Jared Goff, Craig Reynolds lead Detroit Lions to shocking rout of Cardinals
Updated: Dec. 19, 2021, 6:14 p.m. | Published: Dec. 19, 2021, 4:13 p.m.
By Kyle Meinke | kmeinke@mlive.com
DETROIT -- They started their fifth-string running back. They got all their tight ends from the practice squad. They were without either of their top edge rushers. They still haven’t had their top cornerback since the opener. They started a safety at cornerback, plus two backups at safety, including a guy who usually plays exclusively on special teams.
The Detroit Lions were among the worst teams in the league at full strength. They haven’t sniffed full strength in months. Then a COVID outbreak forced them to flood the field with a bunch of guys you’ve never heard of, and might never hear from again after this season.
But on this day, they clowned the Arizona Cardinals.
Clowned. Them.
**** Tremendous performance by the Lions! This was the most improbable decisive Lions victory I can recall at this time. The Lions played with passion and for the most part, the Lions were focused. The first drive of the game, in which the Lions had the ball for the majority of the 1st QTR, set the tone of the game. Two 3rd Down conversions in the beginning of the drive, gave the Lions momentum and confidence. I thought it was essential that the Lions put up points in that drive. Hence, I'm glad the Lions didn't go for the 1st Down on 4th and 3 at the Arizona 14. The Lions tried to draw the Cardinals Off-Side, which resulted in a Delay of Game Penalty. The penalty was concerning but K Riley Patterson (successfully Kicking a 38 TD FG) demonstrated why Dan Campbell was willing to take the risk of a 5 yard penalty. ****
Jared Goff threw three touchdown passes -- including long ones to Amon-Ra St. Brown and Josh Reynolds -- while Craig Reynolds racked up another 112 yards on the ground in a stunning 30-12 beat down on Sunday against the Cardinals (10-4). Yes, the Cardinals. The Arizona Cardinals. The league-leading Arizona Cardinals. That’s a Super Bowl contender, with one of the best quarterbacks in the league (Kyler Murray) throwing to one of the best receivers in the league (A.J. Green) and best tight ends in the league (Zach Ertz).
**** As well as the Lions played, the Cardinals performance was shocking on the opposite end of the spectrum. The lack of focus and synchronization occurred in part because of how well the Lions Defense played. But the Cardinals made numerous unforced errors in their passing game. I was shocked that the Cardinals rarely went after Will Harris (who was used at Outside CB =) until the 4th QTR when they trailed by 18 points.
The decision by. Cardinals HC Kliff Kingsbury to go for a 2 point Conversion after WR Christian Kirk was on the receiving end of a TD on a heavy blitz that didn't generate even close to enough pressure, was also baffling. Jalen Reeves-Maybin, who made many impressive & important plays in the game, broke up his 2nd pass of the game when coming after Kyle Murray. That kept the score 27-12. ****
And the Lions had 10 points and 161 yards before that team -- playing for the first seed in the NFC -- even moved the chains. They went on to win for the second time in three weeks, and while they no longer have control of the No. 1 pick because of it -- the Jaguars fell to 2-12 with their loss on Sunday against Houston -- there’s so much to like about their fight, against all odds, under Dan Campbell.
**** The Lions win easily could cost the Lions the # 1 pick and the LA Rams pick might turn out to be several picks later because of the Lions win over the Cardinals. Yet, the value of the Lions win over Arizona, especially with how well the Lions played, and the game not being in doubt in the final 2 + minutes, is enormously high. This game is a huge foundation piece for the Lions. ****
Detroit (2-11-1) set the tone early, opening the game with a methodical 15-play drive that settled for a field goal, but also forced Murray to remain on the sideline for nearly 9 minutes. Then the defense forced a three-and-out, and Detroit jumped all over Arizona again, this time thanks to a 37-yard touchdown pass to St. Brown on a creative play that was installed just this week.
****Tremendous poise and throw by Jared Goff and execution by Amon-Ra St. Brown on the TD. ****
Just like that, it was 10-0 in the second quarter.
Then the defense just kept rolling, somehow, someway, from two sacks by Charles Harris to back-to-back pass breakups in the end zone by Amani Oruwariye on third down and A.J. Parker on fourth down. Then the Lions came right back the other way after that goal-line stand, including St. Brown coming up big again with a 6-yard catch on fourth-and-1.
**** Charles Harris has been the most impactful Lions Defensive player for at least 3 straight games. I think that Harris is having at least a good of a season as Romeo Okwara had last season. ****
One play later, Goff connected with Reynolds on a nifty post route for a 22-yard touchdown just 19 seconds before halftime.
Suddenly, it was 17-0.
****I disagreed with the decision for the Lions to go for the 1st Down on 4th and 1. I'm glad I was wrong! Great execution. on the 4th and 1 play and on the TD that followed. The Lions Passing Game has improved greatly. Josh Reynolds has made a major positive difference in the last 4 games. ****
The Lions weren’t just hanging with yet another opponent. They were rolling.
**** I was in pleasant disbelief!!!****
This wasn’t just another opponent either. This is an Arizona Cardinals team that is among the top contenders in the NFC. A Cardinals team that has stars all over the field and on both sides of the ball. Playing against a Lions team that tore apart its roster in the first year of a rebuild, then lost so much of the talent they did have to injury or illness, from Romeo Okwra to Jeff Okudah, Trey Flowers, Tracy Walker, Tyrell Williams, Frank Ragnow, T.J. Hockenson, D’Andre Swift, Jamaal Williams and so on.
**** The Arizona Cardinals were 7-0 on the road, with double digit wins in each of the 7 games, before their trip to Detroit. This game is as big of a surprise in the NFL through most of week # 15 of the season, when combining the approximate 12 1/2 point spread, with the Lions winning by 18 points. ****
That’s how an NFL team ends up starting a guy like Craig Reynolds, a former Kutztown running back -- that’s a university, in case you were wondering -- with 4 career yards heading into last week. But when Swift went down with a shoulder injury and Williams contracted COVID, and ball security issues elsewhere in the rotation, “Netflix” -- called so because he was signed off his couch in the middle of training camp -- rolled for 83 yards on 11 carries against the Broncos.
On Sunday, Reynolds was rewarded with his first NFL start after toiling around the league for years. And he ripped Arizona for 112 yards on 26 carries, and teed up a pair of touchdowns for others into Cardinals territory.
****I hope Craig Reynolds is on the Lions 53 man roster by now! ****
There was a time when the Lions couldn’t run the football no matter who was out there. That time, of course, was at any point in the last two decades. This team has not run the ball even better than average since Barry Sanders was still playing for them. Nowadays, they can sign some guy off the street, plug him into the lineup against the best team in the NFC, and break off another 100 yards, a testament to both the scheme as well as the players that are running it.
**** The Lions didn't have a 100 yard plus rusher in a game after Reggie Bush had over 100 yards in the Lions Thanksgiving Day Game win over the Packers in 2013, until Kerryon Johnson had over 100 yards rushing in the Lions upset win over the Patriots, in Game # 3 of the 2018 season. ****
The defense was even more of a mess depthwise, yet it too continued to make plays against a more talented unit. That includes the end-zone PBUs from Oruwariye and Parker, as well as a massive interception by Oruwariye at a critical moment early in the second half. Godwin Igwebuike had just fumbled for the third time in two weeks, and did so right after Arizona had pulled within 17-3 to open the half. That could have been a turning point, as it was when Igwebuike fumbled coming out of halftime last week.
Instead, Oruwariye dove for a breathtaking interception on the ensuing series, then scrambled to his feet and didn’t stop running until he was pushed out of bounds 50 yards downfield. One play later, Goff went over the top of the defense with a 6-yard touchdown pass to fullback Jason Cabinda.
At that point, it was 24-3.
****Great Defensive Call by Aaron Glenn on the pass breakup by A.J. Parker on 4th Down and Goal late in the 2nd QTR. Kyler Murray anticipated man to man coverage. The Lions switched into a zone on the Lions Defensive Right Side.
Amani Oruwariye has terrific ball skills. Interception vs. Arizona was arguably the Lions Best Defensive play of the season through 14 games. A.J. Green didn't help Murray on the play with his route. Oruwariye took advantage of the opportunity and bailed out Godwin Igwebuike. ****
In a week where Urban Meyer was fired for the toxic dumpster fire that engulfed him in Jacksonville, it is notable to see the Lions’ resilience under Dan Campbell. This roster is in disarray. They are outmanned on both sides of the ball most weeks, and especially this week. Yet they continue to hang with teams that are far better, and just punched one right in the face that will be pushing for the Super Bowl next month.
**** This Lions team has grit! ****
Say what you will about Dan Campbell’s in-game strategy -- and there is so much to say about Dan Campbell’s in-game strategy, which has been clumsy at times -- but he continues to squeeze more out of this roster than could be reasonably expected. Jared Goff against Kyler Murray? Craig Reynolds against James Connor? Brock Wright against Zach Ertz? You’ve got safety Will Harris lining up over A.J. Green? And you’re running laps around them at Ford Field? Are you kidding?
****All of the Lions Coaches deserve credit! ****
What Campbell is doing in Detroit is impressive. Don’t look now, but a team littered with backups all over the field has won two of its last three games, and is 2-3-1 since the bye overall.
**** The Lions have noticeably improved on both sides of the ball since the bye, following the Eagles game debacle. ****
Let’s get to some more instant observations:
-- Amon-Ra St. Brown was the 17th receiver taken in this year’s draft. He slipped that late because he’s not that big and not that fast, which isn’t a great combination for your draft stock at that position. But the Lions also loved St. Brown because he was a polished player at USC who played hard and physically. Now he’s starting to look like he just might become one of the best Day 3 steals of the draft. After racking up 18 catches the last two weeks, one of which was that walk-off TD against Minnesota, St. Brown added another eight catches for 90 yards against Arizona. He now has 65 catches for the season, which breaks Jahvid Best’s franchise record for receptions by a rookie (58).
St. Brown’s biggest catch was a 37-yard touchdown on a creative play that was installed just this week, where St. Brown leaked out to the left and got behind the zone defense. That gave Detroit a 10-0 lead just one play into the second quarter, and then he added a 6-yard catch on fourth-and-1 to help set up another touchdown right before halftime.
****Amon St. Brown is far outperforming where he was selected in the 2021 Draft. St. Brown has moxie! ****
-- The wave of injuries and COVID infections forced a lot of nobodies onto the field, and no one -- absolutely no one -- has made more of his opportunities than Craig Reynolds. He was signed off his couch in the middle of training camp, then suited up a day later -- without so much as a single practice -- and scored Detroit’s only touchdown against the Colts. The former Kutztown star (that’s a real university, by the way) did enough throughout the rest of camp to land on the practice squad, then was called up last week in Denver because of the COVID outbreak. And a guy with 4 career yards accounted for a team-high 99 from scrimmage. A week later, he was rewarded with the first NFL start of his career and rolled to another 117 yards. The complete list of players who have run for at least 75 yards in each of their first two games for Detroit: Mel Farr (1967), Billy Sims (1980), Craig Reynolds (2021). That’s it. That’s the list. Have a day, Netflix. Have a day.
**** Former Bills WR Andre Reed, who played at Kutztown St., is in the Pro Football HOF. Craig Reynolds has put the Eastern Pennsylvania school back on the map!****
-- One of Reynolds’ best runs didn’t count thanks to yet another dead-play penalty on fourth down. Reynolds got a pitch working left to right on fourth-and-2, then ripped through the defense to move the chains. But tight end Brock Wright was flagged for a false start on the quick snap, at least the fourth time the Lions have been flagged this season while lined up to go for it on fourth down. Yikes.
****The good news is this time, the Lions overcame a 4th Down mistake.****
-- Sticking with the running backs for just a moment, I don’t know how you can trust Godwin Igwebuike. Not right now. Not after he fumbled coming out of halftime for the second straight week, and three times overall.
****Unfortunately, he can't be trusted as a rusher for at least the foreseeable future.****
-- Igwebuike’s fumble last week became a turning point in the game. Cornerback Amani Oruwariye made sure that didn’t happen again. On the ensuing possession, Oruwariye laid out full extension for his sixth interception in just 12 games. To put that in perspective, no Lions player has racked up more picks than that in an entire season since Darius Slay led the league with eight in 2017. And not only did this one get the ball back for Detroit, but Oruwariye returned it 50 yards before he was pushed out of bounds at Arizona’s 6-yard line. Just one play later, Jared Goff threw a touchdown pass to fullback Jason Cabinda to stretch Detroit’s lead to 24-3. Huge.
**** Speaking of Pennsylvania, two Penn.St. players made a key play, on consecutive plays: Amani Oruwariye and Jason Cabinda.****
- Also huge, Charles Harris, once again. That man was a first-round bust in Miami who had just six sacks in four NFL seasons. But Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn saw something in him, and the Lions signed him for nearly the league minimum. Now Harris has eight sacks with three games still to go, extraordinary production from a guy who looked washed up before arriving in Detroit. He added two more sacks against Arizona on Sunday, and had three tackles for loss overall.
****Charles Harris' improvement against the run since early in the season is also a major part of his and the Lions 2021 season story. ****
-- Cardinals kicker Matt Prater got booed in his return to Ford Field. Wasn’t expecting that. Prater rewrote the Lions record book in seven years in Detroit, including booting the longest field goal in team history, and the second-longest field goal in team history, and the third-longest field goal in team history, and, well, you probably see where this is going. He was the best, most productive and most accurate long-ball hitter in team history. He wanted to come back this season too, but the new regime never put the money on the table. So he went to a team that would pay him -- and then he gets booed in his return to the place where he was so good for so long? I don’t get it.
**** I think the Lions fans booing Matt Prater were viewing him as an opposing playerer who was attempting short FGs against the Lions. Hoping the booing would throw Prater off. Not surprisingly, Prater easily made the pair of 29 yard FGs ***
-- The Lions entered the weekend with the worst attendance numbers in the league, averaging just 51,705 fans per game. That’s worse than the winless season in 2008 (54,497), and it got worse against Arizona, when the announced attendance was 45,211. Detroit is trending toward its worst-attended season since 2009, when the club averaged just 49,395 people per game.
**** Lions Performances like this one or even close, will lead to sellout crowds becoming the norm again for Lions home games. ****
.............
This new thread is a continuation of the following thread:
Lions vs. Cardinals preview: Game # 14 ( 2021 )
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1285/lions-cardinals-preview-game-2021