Detroit Lions: Week 1 game balls for win over Cardinals

The Detroit Lions defeated the Arizona Cardinals by a score of 35-23 in week one of the NFL season. Here are the three players did the most to make that happen.

On offense, there were a few candidates for a game ball. Matthew Stafford went 29/41 for 291 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. Rookie Kenny Golladay had four receptions for 69 yards. He contributed two second half touchdowns. But the player who gets my offensive gave ball is Golden Tate. For the first half, tate was the entire offense for the Detroit Lions.

The Lions did not accomplish much offensively in the first half. Ameer Abdullah averaged only 1.4 yards per carry and Matthew Stafford had only 4.5 yards per attempt. Tate had 6 receptions for a 10.5 average at the half.  On the Lions sixth offensive play of the second half, he injured his hand on a Stafford short range howitzer. Tate stayed in the game and finished as the Lions leader in yards from scrimmage on the day, with 107 yards receiving and seven more on the ground.

The only other Lions with even 50 yards from scrimmage was Golladay, and 45 of his 69 yards came on a spectacular 45 yard touchdown catch. Without Golden Tate, the Lions would never have been in position for yet another fourth quarter comeback, and so he gets the offensive game ball for week one.

Defensive game ball

On Defense The Lions also had no shortage of options for a game ball. Miles Killebrew effectively iced the game with a pick six in the fourth quarter. Tavon Wilson kept things close early with a nice interception of his own. Rookie Jarrad Davis had nine tackles in his debut, and was a huge part of the Lions limiting David Johnson to 23 yards rushing before the Cardinals superstar’s injury.

Glover Quin though intercepted a pass, forced a fumble, and was second on the team in tackles for the day. He also kept the Lions secondary in perfect position to limit Carson Palmer’s options, putting them in place for three interceptions, and only a single touchdown pass allowed. Glover Quin gets this week’s defensive game ball.

Special teams game ball

On special teams there is no question who gets the game ball. After Kasey Redfern made a rookie mistake on a first quarter fumbled snap in the end zone, Matt Prater had to finish the game CFL style. He handled the Lions kickoffs, punts, and field goal duties after Redfern was injured. This is not to say that Prater did a good job punting, his punting average was 34.8. Kicking required absolute focus, and routine.

Jake Rudock had clearly not done a lot of holding in the last while. He completely muffed a perfect snap on the Lions opening touchdown extra point try. With all the reason in the world for doubt Prater followed that gaffe with a 58 yard field goal, and two extra points. He did not miss a single attempt. His punts were short, but the Cardinals did not return any of them for a single yard. Prater got the team through a potentially damaging injury. For his one man show Matt Prater get’s the special teams Lions game ball.

Next: Michigan week two game ball

After a rocky start, the Detroit Lions came alive in a big way during the fourth quarter. Last season they came from behind to win in the fourth quarter of eight games. If this week is any indication, it is something Detroit fans can look forward to more of in the future.