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The Detroit Lions Survive the New York Giants in Week Eight

By Bob Heyrman

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 27: Kenny Golladay #19 of the Detroit Lions makes the touchdown catch as Deandre Baker #27 and Grant Haley #34 of the New York Giants defend during the third quarter of the game at Ford Field on October 27, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit defeated New York 31-26. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 27: Kenny Golladay #19 of the Detroit Lions makes the touchdown catch as Deandre Baker #27 and Grant Haley #34 of the New York Giants defend during the third quarter of the game at Ford Field on October 27, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit defeated New York 31-26. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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The Detroit Lions entered a must-win football game yesterday without their best corner, and interior pass rusher, yet found a way to survive the New York Giants.

After trading away a defensive captain in Quandre Diggs to the Seattle Seahawks, many people, myself included, wondered how the Detroit Lions players would react.  It didn’t seem to faze the club on the field, although the move left many players discouraged off the field.

The Offense

Matthew Stafford was expected to shoulder the offense again without his starting running back Kerryon Johnson, who will be sidelined until at least week 16 with a knee injury after being placed on IR-R. He did.

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The Lions were struggling to run the football with Kerryon, so to think they’d improve without him would be wishful thinking at best.  They didn’t.  The lead back wasn’t Ty Johnson, who many fantasy football owners rushed to the waiver wire to pick up, it was recently claimed back Tra Carson.  Carson rushed for 34 yards on 12 carries or not good.  It’s a very concerning trend that seems to continue from week to week.

It’s incredible to think Kerryon Johnson went from averaging 5.4 yards per carry in ’18 to a mere 3.3 in 2019.  Carson didn’t fare much better at 2.8 per tote.  Ty Johnson broke a couple of nice runs inside, but they were called back due to holding calls.  He’s the back I guessed would have received 20 touches in the absence of Kerryon, yet he only garnered 8 total touches.  Ty carried the football 7 times for 25 yards averaging just 3.6 yards per carry.  He remains the best option in a Lions backfield that is desperate to add a lead back for the remainder of the season.

Matthew Stafford tossed for 342 yards and 3 touchdowns.  He’s having himself a fantastic first half of the season, yet again without any type of consistent run game. Last week it was Marvin Jones putting on a show, this week it was Kenny Golladay‘s turn.  He reeled in 6 grabs for 123 yards and 2 scores. Danny Amendola also notched 8 catches for 95 yards.

The Defense

It was the run defense that impressed me the most yesterday.  The Lions received the services of Da’Shawn Hand for the first time this season.  He seemed to help in the run defense alongside of Robinson and Snacks Harrison.

Detroit was able to limit Saquan Barkley to 64 yards on 19 carries.  Detroit had been allowing average backs gallop for 100 plus yards.  Maybe Hand will help stabilize the defensive line.  Barkley did make 8 catches for 79 yards and a touchdown.  That’s why he’s a top-three back in all of football.

The Detroit Lions really missed Darius Slay in pass coverage.  Rashaan Melvin was burnt not once but twice by Darius Slayton in man-to-man coverage for touchdowns.  Later in the game, Detroit put Mike Ford on Slayton, and he held up on back to back endzone targets.  Mike Ford may start to see more playing time if Melvin continues to struggle.

Next. Lions need to utilize rookie Ty Johnson. dark

Sometimes karma can come back to haunt you.  As previously mentioned, the Lions traded away Quandre Diggs, and yesterday Tracy Walker went down with an apparent knee injury.  He’s been a rising star in Detroit’s secondary, his status is one to monitor over the next week of practice.

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