Post by D6 on Nov 11, 2024 14:40:03 GMT -5
Thoughts in ****
Observations: Lions shock Texans, come back to win on Jake Bates FG
Observations: Lions shock Texans, come back to win on Jake Bates FG
Updated: Nov. 11, 2024, 7:32 a.m.|Published: Nov. 10, 2024, 11:37 p.m.
Detroit Lions at Houston Texans: Sunday Night Football
By Benjamin Raven | braven@mlive.com
HOUSTON, TEXAS -- On a night Jared Goff threw five interceptions, Jake Bates saved the day.
The Detroit Lions' kicker hit a 52-yard field goal as time expired to complete an improbable 26-23 comeback win over the Houston Texans.
**** Tremendous comeback win by the Lions. This team truly is #AllGrit. ****
Goff became the first quarterback since Matt Ryan in 2012 to throw five interceptions and win. The Lions had trailed 23-7 at the half, but rallied for their sixth straight victory to improve to 8-1 and stay atop the NFC.
**** At least the first 3 interceptions weren't bad decisions that put the Lions in harms way. The first two weren't accuracy issues. The 3rd one, the desperation pass on the last play of the 2nd QTR, is hard to blame Jared Goff and probably anyone else. The most important thing is the Lions came back, despite the first half interceptions and the two interceptions in the 2nd half. The resolve and poise on this team is at least as good as any Lions team since the 1950s. ****
Detroit tied the game at 23-23 with a 58-yard field goal by Bates that snuck just inside the right upright with 5:06 remaining. The Lions' game-winning drive then began after Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn missed a 58-yarder of his own.
**** Huge swing! ****
On third-and-6 at the Houston 48 and 1:40 left, Goff hit Armon-Ra St. Brown for a 11-yard completion, which allowed Detroit to run the clock down to the game’s final game-winning kick.
**** Big time route by Amon-Ra St. Brown, great throw by Jared Goff, and the protect was good enough. ****
Earlier in the comeback, St. Brown set a Lions franchise record with a touchdown catch in his seventh consecutive game.
****Amon-Ra St. Brown is already a top 5 all-time Lions WR when it comes to the combination of production and performance. ****
Detroit’s defense played lights out in the second half, led by two interceptions from Carlton Davis III, with one on the first snap of the third quarter and the other a couple of minutes later in his own end zone.
**** Aaron Glenn, his assistants, and the Lions Defensive players did a great job. Brian Branch, Carlton Davis, Alim McNeill, Jack Campbell, and Josh Paschal were the Lions Defensive players I thought were the most differential in the comeback win. Branch deserves serious consideration for NFC Defensive Player of the Week, much like Jake Bates deserves serious consideration for NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. ****
Goff had three first-half interceptions, one of them on a Hail Mary as time expired. Detroit’s previous largest deficit of the season was 10 points against Minnesota.
**** It's been a long time since the Lions won after falling behind 16 or more points. It probably goes back to the Matthew Stafford days. The Lions comeback win over the Falcons in London in the 2014 season comes to mind as a greater comeback than 16 points behind. The Lions trailed 21-0 at halftime. The Lions won 22-21 on a Game Winning FG by Matt Prater, who had two chances to kick the Game Winning FG. Jake Bates had only one chance. He delivered!!! ****
Here are some observations from the game:
-- The lone bright spot for Goff in the first half was a picture-perfect play-action rollout to Sam LaPorta for a 20-yard touchdown. The Lions' star tight end had to leave the game in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury.
**** Sam LaPorta had a much better game as a receiver than as a blocker. Hopefully, the injury won't keep him out long, which appears to be the case. ****
-- Goff’s fifth interception, a career-worst mark, came on a deep shot targeting Jameson Williams. It was the first five-interception game by a Lions quarterback since Matthew Stafford in 2009.
**** This was probably the worst of Jared Goff's interceptions. It looked off target and it would have very likely at best been a contested catch situation if the ball was on target. ****
-- Dan Skipper has played a ton of snaps for the Lions as their extra blocker in those heavy-set formations, and even some starts inside at guard. But Sunday night‘s game marked the first start for Skipper at tackle for Detroit -- scratch that, in the NFL. Penei Sewell had moved to left tackle the last two times Taylor Decker was forced out of action.
****Dan Skipper did as well as anyone could have realistically expected in this game. He gave up some pressure, even with help often. But he did enough for the Lions to be in position to win the game. I give him a ton of credit. Skipper's grit and determination far exceed his abilities. Major props to Skipper for everything he's provided the Lions over the years. ****
-- St. Brown‘s fourth-quarter TD broke Herman Moore’s record of six straight games with a touchdown catch, set in 1994.
**** For most of the game, Amon-Ra St. Brown was quiet on the stat sheet. The Texans made a concerted effort to keep St. Brown from getting open. In the 4th QTR, St. Brown demonstrated why he earned a lucrative contract extension from the Lions this past off-season. His blocking in this game looked very good. ****
-- Goff threw his first interception since Week 3 in Arizona in unlucky fashion. The ball meant for Jahmyr Gibbs was tipped in the air, and Texans defensive back Jimmie Ward was there to grab it at the 33-yard line.
**** It was unlucky for Jared Goff and the overall Lions but credit the Texans for their execution. They are a good team that will very likely win their 2nd straight AFC South Title. ****
-- Detroit‘s pass rush notched four sacks and found a way to make Texans QB C.J. Stroud sweat. That‘s even with newly acquired Za’Darius Smith watching from the sidelines in street clothes.
**** James Houston also deserves credit for his pass rush contribution, even factoring in that Houston and the Lions pass rush was shutdown on many occasions.
Having Josh Paschal back made a major difference. His run Defense helped put the Lions in decent and favorable 3rd Down Defensive situations. ****
****
-- Rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold was hit with another defensive pass interference. The first-round pick didn’t turn around, and it resulted in a 41-yard penalty, This penalty was Arnold’s ninth of the season, a tough league-high mark. Detroit held the Texans to a 56-yard field goal on the drive.
**** Terrion Arnold was fortunate he wasn't penalized for Pass Interference on the 3rd Down play right before the 58 yard missed FG by Ka’imi Fairbairn. Having said that, he battled through out the game. Arnold suffered an injury on the incompletion that could have been called for P.I. Hopefully, he's ok. ****
-- Houston’s second takeaway of the game was ruled a fumble recovery and then changed to an interception by the NFL’s statistician. Goff’s arm was moving forward when the ball came out. Also, it was Sewell who surrendered the pressure and sack, a rare instance for this offense.
**** Penei Sewell got beat for a sack in Green Bay in the previous game, even though statistically, the sack wasn't considered on him. But much more often than not, Sewell contributed to both wins. His run blocking last night was the # 1 reason why the Lions ground game got going in the 2nd half. Especially, in the 4th QTR. Sewell is arguably the most differential run blocker in the NFL.
Also, major props to Frank Ragnow, who's playing at a VERY high-level game after game as a run blocker and as a pass blocker. He's a definition of an All-Pro. Bob Quinn made a lot of mistakes as Lions GM but his decision to draft Ragnow with Pick # 20 in Round 1 of the 2018 Draft turned out to be a great decision. Probably, his best decision as Lions GM. ****
-- Williams made some impressive catches in his return from a two-game suspension, with a couple of third-down conversions, and somehow hanging onto a ball downfield while getting nailed in both directions. Williams left the game for a couple of plays, but that play set up an Amon-Ra St. Brown touchdown to cut the score to 23-20.
**** On the field, Jameson Williams has made enormous progress this season. Great job by Williams with his clutch play and toughness. ****
-- The Honolulu blue wave was in full effect in Houston. From the flights in, restaurants, hotels and anywhere else in the city, if you threw a rock somewhere, you would have hit a Lions fan. There was an impressive spattering of blue through the three levels at NRG Stadium, with a couple of “Let’s go Lions” chants prevailing despite the rough showing for most of the day. And there they were with “Ja-red Goff” chants and a roar when Bates’ final boot went through the uprights.
**** The Lions fans at the game in Houston contributed heavily to the Texans committing a False Start penalty in the 4th QTR! This isn't the norm! ****
...........
This new thread is a continuation of the following thread:
Lions at Texans preview: Game # 9 ( 2024 )
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/2304/lions-texans-preview-game-2024