Detroit Lions Defeat Miami Dolphins with More Late Game Magic
The Detroit Lions defeated the Miami Dolphins by a score on 20-16 on Sunday at Ford Field. Matthew Stafford led yet another late-game rally by Detroit, throwing a strike to Theo Riddick for the go ahead score with 0:29 seconds left in regulation. The win is the Lions third come-from-behind win the last three games.
20. 50. 16. 59. Final
The Detroit Lions entered the game fresh off a much-needed bye week. Returning to the starting line-up after missing the last five weeks with injury was Calvin Johnson. Johnson’s match-up with cornerback Justin Grimes proved to be a thrilling, back and forth battle all game long, with Johnson getting the better of the affair early on. Stafford would find Calvin in the endzone for Detroit’s first touchdown of the day.
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Grimes would make an amazing, one-handed catch for a Miami interception later on.
Johnson ended the day with seven catches for 113-yards and TD.
Golden Tate continued to make plays when in mattered most for Detroit, finishing the day with 11 catches for 109-yards. Tate stepped up big for the team during Johnson’s absence before the teams bye, and has proven to be a great free agent addition by the Lions.
Matthew Stafford’s great game winning drive and clutch 11-yard touchdown pass to Riddick is something that Detroit Lions fans have grown to be familiar with.
This would be the 31st start Matthew Stafford has won in his career. 13 of them have been 4th-Q comebacks, per @pfref #Lions
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) November 9, 2014
Stafford would finish the day 25-40 for 280-yards, 2 TDs, and 1 INT.
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Detroit Lions punter Sam Martin also had himself a good day through the air, both via his leg and his arm. Martin would complete passes on not one, but two Detroit fake field goals. The first one would convert with a perfect touch pass from Martin to fullback Jed Collins over the middle. The second was a completion, but would come up sort of the first.
The game was also advertised as a battle of the defenses.
The Dolphins entered the game with the NFL’s No.3 ranked defense, the Lions with the No. 1.
Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
The Lions D would get the better of the match-up on paper, allowing just 236-yards of total offense. The unit can also boast the fact that the squad has allowed zero 100-yards rushers this season. They were able to get pressure on Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill early on, and continued to make their presence felt all game long.
James Ihedigbo was able to come up with his first interception of 2014, picking off Tannehill in the second quarter.
The win improves the Detroit Lions record to 7-2 on the season. It’s the first time the club has had a 7-2 start since 1993, and is only the second time they have accomplished the feat since 1962.
Detroit takes their five-game winning streak to the desert next Sunday as they take on the Arizona Cardinals for what may be first place in the NFC. The following week they get Tom Brady and the AFC East leading New England Patriots back at Ford Field.
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