Detroit Lions: Week 6 victory in Jacksonville preserves Matt Patricia’s job

It seems Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia has saved his job for at least another week after an impressive victory in Jacksonville.

The Detroit Lions enjoyed a coming-out party for rookie running back D’Andre Swift en route to their second victory of the season.  Swift was able to gallop for 116 yards on just 14 totes and rushed for a pair of touchdowns.

Swift successfully displayed his elite burst as he hit the open field for a 54-yard run, along with finishing a couple of tough runs by lowering his shoulder and exploding through defenders.  Swift is well on his way to being the Detroit Lions featured back after averaging over eight yards per carry.  Swift proved to be the back general manager Bob Quinn expected when selecting Swift 35th overall in the most recent draft.

Adrian Peterson out carried Swift 15 to 14. Still, it’s apparent offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell wants to continue to use the future Hall Of Famer, but expect much more of Swift moving forward, which means far less of Kerryon Johnson, who only saw four rushing attempts.

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Matthew Stafford enjoyed having a 100-yard rusher, something he’s rarely experienced.  The franchise quarterback now has a career record of 7-1 when one of his backs reach the century mark.  Don’t overlook the fact that this is Stafford’s 12th NFL season.

Stafford completed 19 of his 31 passing attempts totaling just 223 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

When you consider the real lone bright spot on offense had been Swift’s success, ironically was Patricia’s defense that may have preserved his job.

The Detroit Lions front seven consistently created pressure on Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew, something the team has failed to do throughout the last couple of seasons.

Star defensive end Trey Flowers successfully converted a strip-sack that led to a Romeo Okwara fumble recovery.  Pressure also led to Minshew throwing up a lollypop that ball-hawking safety Duron Harmon came down with.  It again proves that being able to pressure the quarterback will always be the key to any defensive success.

I firmly believe Sunday’s matchup with Jacksonville had been a must-win for Patricia, maybe even Quinn.  Now the Detroit Lions sit with a 2-3 record after their 34-16 victory in Florida, there is still time to salvage the season, in turn, preserving Patricia’s job…for now.

If the Lions happen to lose a string of games in the coming weeks’ things may change.  Detroit will have a date in Atlanta with the reeling Falcons next week.