Lions 37, Packers 30 : Game # 17 ( 2021 )

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Thoughts in ****

Instant observations: Lions stun Packers with razzle-dazzle game plan, will pick second in NFL draft



Instant observations: Lions stun Packers with razzle-dazzle game plan, will pick second in NFL draft

Updated: Jan. 09, 2022, 5:36 p.m. | Published: Jan. 09, 2022, 4:10 p.m.

By Kyle Meinke | [e-mail]
DETROIT -- Dan Campbell has been one of the most daring head coaches in NFL history all season. Then the finale rolled around, and he said hold my coffee.

And considering his go-to coffee order is two ventis with two shots apiece, about 410 milligrams worth of caffeine -- the Mayo Clinic says about 400 milligrams is safe for human consumption -- well, that’s saying something.

On Sunday, the dangerously caffeinated Dan Campbell emptied out his playbook with passes by the punter and the receiver and the quarterback (on fourth down) and the quarterback (on a double-reverse flea-flicker) before D’Andre Swift ran one in the old school way for a dazzling 37-30 victory on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field.


The Lions finish the season 3-13-1, matching their fewest wins in 12 years. They also cost themselves the first overall draft pick with their win against Green Bay, as Jacksonville also prevailed in its finale against Indianapolis. Detroit will settle for the second pick instead, where it hasn’t picked since taking Ndamukong Suh in 2010.


But Campbell said all along he was more focused on building culture and getting wins, and he coached like it as he put an exclamation point on the first season of this very promising rebuild.

**** Terrific win by the Lions! The Lions overcame the loss of Taylor Decker during the game and a 3 point deficit after the Lions once led by 11 points. The win from my perspective, coupled with having pick # 2, is worth more than having pick # 1 ( if the Lions would have lost to the game ). The Lions have lost far too many games to the Packers and against NFC North Opponents overall. Winning this game is a testament to the efforts and coaching style of Dan Campbell and his staff! ****


Campbell opened the game with another fake punt, his fourth of the season and 39th attempt to go for it on fourth down overall, matching the 1995 New England Patriots for the all-time record.


The fake wasn’t successful. Campbell was undeterred.

****Jack Fox threw another great pass. Godwin Igwebuike should have caught the ball. Props to Aaron Glenn and the Lions Defense for keeping the Packers from even getting a FG, following the Fake Punt resulting in an incompletion on 4th Down in Lions territory. ****

He would go for it again on fourth-and-goal from Green Bay’s 2-yard line, breaking the all-time fourth-down attempts record. And rookie sensation Amon-Ra St. Brown rewarded his faith once again by motioning from right to left, then sticking his foot in the ground and finding the soft spot in the defense for a 2-yard touchdown catch.

**** I would have settled for the FG. I'm glad Dan Campbell didn't. Great route by Amon-Ra St. Brown! He looked like a long time NFL Veteran on that play and at least several other plays in this game. ****


St. Brown, one of the hottest wide receivers in the NFL, finished the game with eight catches for 109 yards and one touchdown. He finished the season by catching at least eight passes in six straight games -- an NFL record for a rookie, and a Lions all-time record -- and scored in his last four games overall. The list of receivers ever to have 90 receiving yards and one touchdown in four straight games as a rookie: Randy Moss, Odell Beckham, Amon-Ra St. Brown. That’s the list.

**** Tremendous accomplishments by # 14.****

St. Brown also broke Roy Williams’ franchise record for receiving yards by a rookie in the finale, after breaking Jahvid Best’s record for catches by a rookie weeks ago.

**** Amon-Ra St. Brown set new standards for all Lions Offensive rookies that follow in the seasons to come ****

He was involved in two other daring touchdowns as well. In the first half, St. Brown took the ball from Jared Goff while streaking right to left in the backfield, then pitched the ball to receiver Tom Kennedy coming back around on the reverse, who then pulled up to throw a pass to a wide-open Kalif Raymond for a 75-yard touchdown. That’s the longest touchdown thrown by a receiver in the NFL since 1992.

****Tremendous play call and execution on the play! ****


Then in the third quarter, Goff handed off to Jamaal Williams, who then lateraled the ball to St. Brown, who then got the ball back to Goff on a flea-flicker, who then threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to tight end Brock Wright, a blocking tight end who opened the season on the practice squad.

**** The same, regarding what I expressed in my previous comment! ****

St. Brown saved his longest catch, a 28-yarder, for when Detroit needed it most. The Packers had just taken a 30-27 lead late in the fourth quarter when St. Brown raced through the heart of their defense coming back the other way. D’Andre Swift finished off the drive with a 14-yard touchdown run that pushed Detroit ahead for good, 34-30.

**** Jared Goff looked like a long term solution on this drive and in this game overall I think this was his best performance in the 14 games he played in this regular season. This drive and overall game offers realistic hope that the Lions Offense will be at least a middle of the NFL Offensive unit in the 2022 season. Tremendous progress by the Lions Offense, compared to the first 10 games of the regular season! ****


With 21 seconds left on his rookie contract, No. 21 -- safety Tracy Walker -- sealed the memorable win with an interception.

****After the missed tackle on what became the Packers go ahead TD, it was great to see Tracy Walker rebound. Walker made two key plays on the Packers final drive. ****


Listen. This has been a long, hard season for the Detroit Lions. They haven’t won fewer games than this since 2009, when they were still trying to emerge from the wreckage of the Matt Millen era. But it’s hard not to walk away from this season feeling good about the foundation laid at so many key positions, and by so many players. Penei Sewell looks like a monster at offensive tackle. Amon-Ra St. Brown just turned in the greatest season ever by a Lions rookie wide receiver. They scoured undrafted free agency for starters like Jerry Jacobs, who was one of the best UDFAs in the league, and A.J. Parker, an opening-day starter who closed out the season by forcing a huge fumble in the third quarter against Green Bay.

**** It's still a long run ahead but light can now be seen from the tunnel! ****

Then on the final day of the season, down four starting offensive linemen and their best tight end and their two best pass rushers and their top two outside cornerbacks and both guys who opened the season at inside linebacker, they knocked off a Green Bay team that played most of its starters for the entire first half despite already being locked into the top seed in the NFC.

**** Three starters from the Lions starting Offensive Line, entering the first practice leading up to the opening game vs. the 49ers, were out during the vast majority of the 2nd half of today's game. And 3 starters from the game in Atlanta two weeks ago were out during the ball of the 2nd half. Only 'Big V' remained in the position (RG) he began the season. Jonah Jackson was the 3rd Lions Center today, moving over from LG in the 2nd half.***_


Detroit led 17-13 before the benches cleared, led most of the second half too, and when it briefly faced a deficit for the first time since the first quarter, it immediately retook the lead thanks to yet another really good fourth-quarter drive by Jared Goff.

**** Jared Goff's game winning TD drive against the Vikings was the turning point for him this season.****


The Lions, by the way, were 3-1 in Goff’s final four starts of the season.

****The only loss, in Denver, was under extremely adverse conditione because of COVID-19 test results and injuries. Jared Goff led the Lions to victory in the final 3 home games of the season. ****


That feeling you’re feeling? It’s called hope. It was a bad season, no doubt about it, but one with so much to feel good about. So much so, it seems possible they could compete for a playoff spot as soon as next season, especially if this indeed was Rodgers’ final foray in Green Bay.


**** Plenty needs to go right for the Lions to reach the playoffs next season. But it's no longer a pipe dream. ****


Let’s get to some more instant observations, one final time:


-- Jared Goff was one of the hottest quarterbacks in the league before he missed two games with COVID and a knee injury. But he wanted to play in the finale, and picked right up where he left off. He completed 14 of 17 passes while building a 17-13 halftime lead, threw two touchdown passes, then led the 75-yard game-winning drive in the fourth quarter, his second comeback of the season. All told, he threw 11 touchdown passes and two interceptions in his five healthy starts with Dan Campbell as his playcaller, and Detroit went 3-1 in his final four starts. Again, just so much to feel good about. The Lions are expected to kick the tires on the quarterback class in the draft -- where they hold two first-round picks -- but Goff has played well enough down the stretch to offer hope Detroit can make a big leap forward next season even without a change at QB.

**** The Lions can go into next season with Jared Goff at QB. With the luxury of not reaching for a QB in the draft. ****

-- As for Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers played the first half before taking a seat heading into next week’s first-round bye. The Packers gave him the option of playing or not, and Rodgers valued the opportunity to sharpen up heading into the postseason. But Aaron Glenn didn’t take it easy on him, coming for the future Hall-of-Famer -- who has terrorized Detroit for years -- throughout the first half. Rodgers was hit big a couple times, including on a nice blitz by linebacker Jessie Lemonier. The Lions showed double A-gap pressure, but initially rushed four, before Lemonier came after Rodgers on the delay. Rodgers finished the day 14 of 18 passing for 138 yards, two touchdowns, no picks and a passer rating of 135.6.

****Very few, if any QBs, would have put up the numbers that Aaron Rodgers did in the 1st Half of this game. The earned the two TDs, both in terms of the actual plays and what led up to the TDs on those drives.

Jessie Lemonier's sack came on the 3rd Down play, following the failed Fake Punt play. ****


-- Rookie offensive tackle Penei Sewell did not play while dealing with a thumb injury and illness, ending his rookie season one game short. But my oh my, what a rookie season it was. Sewell bounced from left tackle to right tackle, then back to the left side before ultimately settling in on the right side for the stretch run. And he was very good wherever he played. Outside of a two-game wipeout in Weeks 4-5 -- when speed rushes to his inside shoulder got to him for four sacks -- Sewell allowed just one sack the rest of the year. He was one of the best right tackles in the league once he settled in there, and in what proved to be his final game as a rookie, he didn’t allow so much as a single pressure on 42 pass rushes against Seattle. Remarkable stuff from a kid who just turned 21 years old, only played two seasons in college and hadn’t played in more than a year when he was asked to go make his NFL debut as the youngest player in league history at left tackle. I asked Dan Campbell about it this week, and the first-year coach couldn’t contain his excitement about centering this rebuid on the mauling offensive tackle from American Samoa.



“Man, over the last half of the season, he’s really grown,” Campbell said. “You feel like there are about three or four sets in there (against Seattle) where you watch him on Carlos Dunlap, who is still a good rusher -- he’s long -- and, I mean, Sewell’s doing a few things you see out of a pretty crafty, wily, eight-year vet. Like you’re watching him do some things where he’s trapping his hands and he’s just, man, he’s learning at an exponential rate.”

****Winning against the Packers without Penei Sewell and without Taylor Decker for close to the entire 2nd half is w heck of an accomplishment. With 37 points in the game. The Lions didn't even get 20 points for 10 straight games earlier this season! Progress! ****


Sewell’s emergence is a big reason why the Lions had such a good offensive line despite losing two of their best three players to injuries for so much of the season. With Sewell, Taylor Decker and Frank Ragnow all back in 2022 -- plus Halapoulvaati Vaitai and Jonah Jackson too -- that unit has a chance to be special.

**** The Lions projected starting Offensive Line for the 2022 season has the potential to be a top 5 NFL O-Line.****

-- Sewell’s loss was compounded by the early exits from left tackle Taylor Decker and center Evan Brown, leaving Detroit without four offensive linemen against Green Bay. Decker missed the first eight games of the season while recovering from finger surgery, but has played really well since returning to the field, including catching his second career touchdown pass last week in Seattle. He allowed just one pressure in that game. But then he tested positive for COVID on Monday and didn’t practice all week. He wound up clearing protocols in time to be activated on Saturday, but then left the game with a foot injury shortly after halftime. Will Holden took his place at left tackle.

****Will Holden and Matt Nelson exceeded my expectations for them in this game. They weren't perfect but they weren't liabilities. Holden did much better as a pass blocker than I thought was going to be the case when he took over for the injured Taylor Decker. Credit the coaches as well, headed by the play calls, for the backup Tackles not being liabilities. ****



The Lions also lost Brown on the first series of the game. That was a pretty big loss -- Brown has played extremely well for Frank Ragnow this season -- and it was felt immediately. Ryan McCallum replaced Brown at center, then was immediately pushed back about 7 yards by a bull rush and beaten for a third-down sack.

****Ryan McCollum's greatest weakness continues to be against the bull rush in pass protection. I'm not sure if McCollum suffered an injury or got benched, when Jonah Jsckson was moved from LG to C. ****

-- Campbell said he wanted to use these late-season games to develop his rookie class. That was especially true on defense, where rookies like Ifeatu Melifonwu, A.J. Parker and Derrick Barnes all started against Aaron Rodgers on Sunday. Two of them combined for one of the defense’s best plays too, with Parker forcing a third-quarter fumble that Melifonwu recovered. That set up another Lions touchdown -- this one the double-reverse flea-flicker to Brock Wright -- that extended their lead to 24-13.

****A.J. Parker overcame a missed tackle on Davante Adams on a 3rd Down play on the first drive of the game. The forced fumble and a 3rd Down pass breakup, that forced the Packers to settle for a FG when the Lions led 24-13, had enormous impact on the Lions winning the game. ****


-- I’m especially intrigued to monitor Melifonwu’s development over the next few months. He was selected with the third-round pick that Detroit added in the Matthew Stafford trade, and while he didn’t play nearly enough snaps this season to offer a proper evaluation, he sure looked good while he was out there. He’s as big as any cornerback I’ve seen come through Detroit, and uses that size to his advantage. He played really well when pressed into a tough starting assignment on Monday Night Football against Green Bay back in Week 2, then played really well in another starting role against Green Bay on Sunday, including breaking up a deep pass while running alongside Davante Adams -- you know, one of the best receivers in the league. Again, don’t put him in the Hall of Fame quite yet. He missed most of his rookie season with a thigh injury, which is never good for development. But I’ll be damned if he didn’t look really good most of the time when he was out there this season. A good first step, all things considered.

****Ifeatu Melifonwu was a much better player in games than he was in training camp practices(according to practice reports). He rebounded from his worst performance (at Seattle), looking like viable competition for a starting outside CB spot, for the 2022 season. ****

-- Julian Okwara, the second-year edge rusher, was another young defensive piece that got in some good work heading into the offseason. He racked up two sacks against the Packers, one of which separated Jordan Love from the football to open the third quarter.

**** And pass rush pressure by Julian Okwara on an inside loop that helped cause the interception by Tracy Walker that sealed the game. Other than the Offside Penalty on a 4th Down play that extended a Packers drive (the one resulting in the FG following A.J. Parker's pass breakup on 3rd Down), another good performance for Julian Okwara to build on. ****



-- The Lions wore their throwbacks for the first time this season against Green Bay. They’re a popular look, and I understand why. They’re clean, traditional, just cool. But I, for one, would like to say good riddance to the look. The Lions are eligible to make a uniform change next season, changes are expected, and it’s time bring back these ‘90s babies. Barry Sanders is already Detroit’s most popular player and most popular jersey anyway, and with ‘90s nostalgia killing it these days -- just look at how it has influenced the NBA -- there’s no better time than right now for Detroit to embrace its iconic look from the era. As the throwback, absolutely. As the full-time deal, why not. Because this is a better fit than anything they’ve worn since.

**** I would definitely be in favor of that. Great look, plus the numbers are much easier to read than the blue jerseys the last 5 seasons and even the throwback jerseys. ****


.......


This new thread is a continuation of the following thread:

Lions vs. Packers preview: Game # 17 ( 2021 )

detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1306/lions-packers-preview-game-2021

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Inside the locker room: Jonah Jackson impresses Detroit Lions even more with late-game switch to center
....

Tommy Kraemer got called for a Holding Penalty on a running play on the set of Downs, following the Interception by C.J. Moore. Huge mistake by Kraemer, when the Lions were trying to force the Packers to use another Timeout and be in position to get a 1st Down that would all but officially ended the game. The Lions had to eventually settle for a FG. Otherwise, much like in the Cardinals game, Kraemer looked like a much better player at LG than in the games he played RG.

[batchrules10]

Lions with the #2 pick. Brad Holmes has shown he’s a master at the draft so he doesn’t need my advice regarding the draft/off-season moves. I’ll give him my advice anyway.

# 1 Draft Aidan or Kayvon with the #2 pick UNLESS

#2 Explore a trade a trade with a team like Philadelphia who has 3 first round picks. If no deal sounds good, stick with the #2 pick.

#3 with the second first round pick, choose Treylon Burks or Drake London. If Nakobe Dean drops or is available in the late teens or early 20s is the only way I’d deviate from this plan and trade up. Otherwise, go with Treylon or Drake.

#4 DON’T draft a QB in the first 3 rounds. It’s not a pressing position. Give Goff another year to prove himself. This is the draft to pick Defense or WR……not a QB.

# 5 Cut Trey Flowers after June 1. That’ll save us about $12 million in cap space.

# 6 If you are going to spend in Free Agency, spend it in the secondary. Most notably on S Marcus Williams. Maybe a backup QB depending on the options. Anyone else don’t overspend too much on

# 7 Re-sign Josh Reynolds (preferably to a 1 or 2 year). Goff has developed Chemistry with him and will have even more with an off-season with him. We will be set if a draft a WR in the first round and the current depth we have.

#8 Offer Evan Brown a 2 year deal. He’d be good insurance if Ragnow goes down again and he would compete with Vaitai to be starting next year. He might leave anyway for a team offering him a better starting position and more money but it’s worth a shot.

#9 Re-sign Riley Patterson. He earned a spot as our kicker, just have him work on his distance in the off-season

Did I miss anything?

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Batchrules, thanks for your input. Great analysis!

My guess at this time is the Lions won't get an enticing enough offer to trade down from pick # 2 because there doesn't appear to be a QB worth trading into the top 2 for. Assuming, the Jaguars keep pick # 1 and draft either Kayvon or Aidan, the one the Jags don't draft would be my current preference for the Lions with pick # 2.

I would be comfort with a QB with other Lions picks in the first 3 Round if the pick isn't a draft reach. Ideally though, a combination of Defense and a # 1 WR type of prospect in the first 3 Rounds would be my preference.

My only concern with Marcus Williams is he has a history of giving up huge plays because of mental mistakes. Being that Aaron Glenn coached Williams, I would be comfortable if the Lions signed him, barring a ridiculous contract.

With Tracy Walker becoming an UFA, the Lions have a need for 2 starting Safeties. At least one should be a veteran player. My preference probably would be to re-sign Walker, if his asking price is much less than t be expected cost to sign Marcus Williams. Then, address Safety in the top 3 Rounds of the draft.

I think the Lions should try to re-sign Charles Harris, Jalen'Reeves Maybin, Josh Woods ( RFA ), Kalif Raymond (WR depth and very reliable Punt Returner.), and Godwin Igwebuike (high caliber Special Teams Coverage and versatility).

If Tim Boyle is re-signed, it needs to be at a more favorable price for the Lions than was the case in 2021. With viable competition for Boyle necessary. David Blough isn't viable competition because the coaching staff demonstrated they practically have no confidence in him.

I definitely agree with what you expressed regarding Josh Reynolds, Evan Brown, and Riley Patterson. The latter should be re-signed with no difficulty, being that he's only entering his 2nd NFL season.