Lions vs Giants: What Just Happened?
The Detroit Lions are finally back. At least they are in the fake football sense. The Lions started their preseason on Friday night by welcoming in the New York Giants. Basically no starters played on either side of the ball for either team and with that came exactly the type of football you would expect […]
The Detroit Lions are finally back. At least they are in the fake football sense. The Lions started their preseason on Friday night by welcoming in the New York Giants.
Basically no starters played on either side of the ball for either team and with that came exactly the type of football you would expect in the preseason. The Giants wound up being the uglier team and the Lions held on for a 21-16 win.
As always, I have thoughts on this game. These are those thoughts.
Well, that's one way to start a game I guess
Nate Sudefeld needed that interception like he needed a kick in the face on a Saturday night with a steel-toe grip Kodiak work boot and a trip to the hospital bloodied and bashed for reconstructive surgery. Seriously, he might have sealed his fate there. He would of course throw another interception in the second quarter.
Sudfeld had a really bad night and it just never seemed to get better. He overthrew or underthrew receivers all night. Frankly, Sudfeld made it really hard to judge the rest of the offense with him on the field because of how badly he played. It may very well have cost him a spot on this roster with Teddy Bridgewater coming in next week.
You might want to lay low for while Brian, because you're probably wanted for murder
Sweet Baby Jesus Brian Branch! Not bad for your first tackle as an NFL player. The second round pick just announced that he is here.
Rough night for Jamo
Jameson Williams had a hard night. Part of it was that Nae Sudfeld had a hard night too. The other problem is that he dropped a sure touchdown in the second quarter and gave people who don't like him another reason to well, not like him. It's not the worst thing we've ever seen, but Williams has to catch that. It was the best ball Sudfeld threw all night. Williams did have this beautiful catch on a two point conversion though. Things should get easier for Williams once Teddy Bridgewater shows up.
The Lions might have some problems with tackle depth
Matt Nelson had a rough night on Friday. He got beat regularly and got put on his butt multiple times. That's your backup left tackle if something should happen to Taylor Decker. The Lions might want to look into trying to acquire someone there. Either that or Nelson really has to have a better showing against the Jaguars in the second preseason game.
Jack Campbell is legit
Campbell had a very good series in the second quarter where he just seemed to be everywhere the ball was. Anytime there was a tackle, you'd look up and see Campbell right there as a part of it. He helped out big on back to back short yard tackles and forced the Giants to turn the ball over on downs. If Campbell and Barnes are playing this well, the Lions are going to be a fun defense in the linebacker area. An area that's been weak for the Lions for a while now.
Gibbs shows what he can do
Gibbs wasn't in for a long time, but he made the most of it. He had the prettiest eight yard run you've ever seen. He went from taking a loss to showing his lateral speed and running for a first down. He also had a big 18 yard catch for a first down. He was done by the second half of the first quarter. Maybe we'll see more of him against the Jaguars.
Maurice Alexander just made things really hard on Dylan Drummond.
I wrote on Thursday that Justin Jackson's retirement could pose a problem for undrafted rookie Dylan Drummond because it opens up the kick return spot. A spot that Maurice Alexander thrives in. Well, Alexander thrived on Friday night when he took a 95 yard punt return to the house for a touchdown. Alexander may have just won himself a roster spot with that play. When you're the last receiver on the depth chart, you have to show that you're able to do more than just be a receiver. Alexander did that.
Morse Cota
Yeah, that's a dad joke if there ever was one. The undrafted rookie Chase Cota had a pretty decent night. Sudfeld seemed to really have a trust for him because he targeted him over and over again on Friday night and Cota delivered more often than not. He's going to have a really hard time making the main roster, but play like this can help him have a real shot at the Lions practice squad.
Adrian Martinez stole Sudfeld's lunch money
Look, the Lions aren't going to carry three quarterbacks into the season. With that said, Martinez played a much better game than Nate Sudfeld did. He was more accurate and his mobility added a lot more to the Lions offense than what they were doing with Sudfeld. Martinez led the game wining drive for the Lions and might have secured himself a spot on the Lions practice squad. If that's not the case, he definitely made some teams interested in him.
Okwara Bros. Sack Company
I've been waiting for Julian Okwara to show me something for a while now. He did just that on Friday night when he racked up multiple sacks on the Giants. Including the the sack that set up the final play of the game. I have no doubt that he makes the 53 man roster, now I know he might do some things once he does that. It wasn't just Julian though. Romeo got one in the fourth quarter. That's got to make Lions fans happier than a hedgehog getting a bath.
Yes! I found a way to get this video into an article about the Lions.
Featured image by Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
