The Detroit Lions have had three home games this season, and all three have come down to the wire, with Detroit emerging victorious each time. Sunday was no exception, as the Lions held on to beat the Packers on a last-second field goal, 20-17.
It was a tight game throughout, and the Lions nearly fumbled it away several times (literally) while also handing the Packers the ball in plus territory late in the fourth quarter thanks to a questionable turnover on downs.
The Lions notched their first divisional win of the season to improve to 4-2.
What did we learn?
Jared Goff should be the MVP frontrunner
At this point, I don’t know how this is even a discussion: Jared Goff is currently the best quarterback in the NFL. He may not be first in touchdowns or passing yards, but he’s right up there in the top 5-10 in all major categories.
We keep hearing “let’s see how he does against (insert any team),” and he continues to dominate. Against the No. 9 passing defense in the NFL, he had 303 yards and two touchdowns on 22-of-32 completions. He’s one of the most sure-handed quarterbacks in the NFL, and he’s been playing better than anyone this season.
Goff had some near-turnovers late in the second half, but he came up clutch when the team needed a game-winning drive. He’s fifth in the NFL in passing yards, fourth in touchdown passes, and first in interceptions with a whopping zero (!!).
Crown this man.
Dan Campbell’s boldness knows no bounds
Dan Campbell is known for being one of the gutsiest coaches in football, and he’s constantly going for it on fourth down when the situation calls for it. Usually, that’s deep in opposing territory, but he made one of his craziest fourth-down decisions to date in the fourth quarter against the Packers.
Facing a fourth-and-short deep in their own territory, the Lions lined up to go for it in a tie game. The Lions were at their own 24-yard-line, so it looked like a potential hard count to get the Packers to jump offsides.
Nope, Goff snapped it and Jahmyr Gibbs was swallowed up, turning the ball over on downs.
Fortunately, this didn’t backfire as the Packers missed the go-ahead field goal from near PAT range, but if the Lions had lost, Campbell would have received the bulk of the blame.
Some former coaches loved it, though.
The Lions have a top-3 WR duo in the NFL
Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams combined for 14 catches for 244 yards and two touchdowns, and they really made it look rather effortless against the No. 9 pass defense in the NFL.
The Lions easily have one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL, and it’s probably in that top-three range, although it doesn’t get the same love as CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens or Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, but it’s every bit as good, if not better.
Williams is starting to really heat up with 13 catches for 240 yards and four touchdowns over the past three games, while St. Brown is a model of consistency, totaling 46 catches (6th in the NFL) for 525 yards (9th) and five touchdowns (3rd) this season. He recorded his second 100-yard game of the season, and he’s caught at least six passes in all but one game.
This is easily a top-three wide receiver duo and it’s helping Goff have an MVP-type season.
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