6 winners and 3 losers from Lions win over the Giants, Detroit has a sneaky shutdown cornerback on the roster
Do you smell what the Rock Ya-Sin is cooking?
The Detroit Lions gutted out a not-so-pretty win over the New York Giants on Sunday, and while there’s some concern about the game from Lions fans, everyone probably should have expected it, considering the Giants have been pushing good teams all year long.
But it is what it is. I’ve got six winners and three losers for this one.
Winners
Jahmyr Gibbs
What a game for Jahmyr Gibbs, who has had some trouble in recent weeks. He didn’t have any problems in this one. He put up 219 yards on the ground and 45 yards through the air. He also had three touchdowns.
One of which was the 69-yard game-winning touchdown in overtime. Gibbs put himself closer to breaking Barry Sanders’ record for the most touchdowns scored by a player under the age of 24. He needs four more to reach 48 and break the record.
Roy Lopez
If you’re not paying attention to Roy Lopez right now, you should be. He’s stacking some really good games on top of each other every week. He’s been a tremendous run stuffer. He recorded two big stops in this game that allowed the Lions to get the ball back.
Amon-Ra St. Brown
People will focus on the drop that he had that turned into an interception, but don’t ignore that Amon-Ra St. Brown had nine catches for 149 yards and a touchdown in this game.
He balled out and showed that, at the end of the day, the issue isn’t really an issue.
Thomas Harper
When the Lions claimed Thomas Harper early in the season, I called the move the steal, and in these last few weeks with Kerby Joseph out, that notion has been proven correct.
Harper has come in and taken on the starting role, and there hasn’t been a steep drop-off. He got his first pick as a Lion in this one and chipped in six tackles as well.
Jake Bates
A 59-yard field goal is no chip shot. Doing it with the game on the line is even harder. Lions fans have to know how hard it is to find a kicker after circulating through five kickers during the Dan Campbell era. So knowing that you have a good one makes you sleep better at night.
Rock Ya-Sin
You might not believe it since the Giants were loading up explosives in this game, but the Lions had a cornerback who locked down his half of the field all day, and that was Rock Ya-Sin.
He played 70 snaps; the Giants didn’t bother throwing it his way. He was targeted just once and didn’t allow a catch on that play. He’s been really solid in the starting role. He will be even better off the bench once Terrion Arnold and D.J. Reed are full go.
Losers
Amik Robertson
This was a bad day for Amik Robertson, for sure. He was targeted 12 times and allowed eight catches for 115 yards. Wan’Dale Robinson had him beat all day long, and there was just no stopping him.
The Lions had Reed back in this game, but on a pitch count, and you hope Arnold is back on Thanksgiving. It’ll give the Lions a chance to get Robertson back in the slot, and it’ll also give him a chance to get off the field a little bit.
Brian Branch
Brian Branch has to stop with these hits that get him and the team in trouble. At times, it’s endearing, and you like to see the big hit, but other times it’s a hit on a defenseless receiver that gets the Giants from field goal range to the Lions’ 8-yard line. It’s also going to net him a fine.
This stuff just isn’t worth it, especially when you take this into account:
Kayode Awosika
It wasn’t just because Jonathan Vilma murdered his last name. It was because the majority of the interior pressure and sacks came through him. He was kind of like a turnstile out there. That’s the confusing part of it all.
We’ve seen him play some good football in the last few years. But he just couldn’t do it in this one. It makes you wonder if the Lions may consider a change on Thursday against the Packers. A game that might be a must-win.
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