Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Mike Payton | Last updated Dec 23, 2024
The Detroit Lions made some franchise history on Sunday with their 34-17 win over the Bears. They’ve now won 13 games for the first time ever. Just huge stuff for this team. We’ve got 0 winners and 0 losers in this game, here they are:
Winners
Jared Goff
Before last week’s game against the Bills, I said that the Lions needed to win and Goff needed to have a big game in order to have a real shot at the MVP. He did have a big game, but the Lions lost. That game was big enough to keep his name in there, but he needed another one the following week. He got it.
Goff completed 71.9% of his passes for 336 yards and three touchdowns against a pretty good Bears defense. I think he’s right back near the top of the conversation now.
Amik Robertson
The Lions made some shifts in the secondary and Robertson took to it like a fish to water. He did allow one big 30-yard catch despite having good coverage, but otherwise, it was two catches allowed for 36 yards on four targets. Robertson also forced a fumble and had two nice pass breakups.
Levi Onwuzurkie
You didn’t see Onwuzurkie get to the quarterback in this one, but this was a great game for him. He led the team with five pressures and five hurries. He had three tackles as well. He walked out with the second-highest PFF grade on defense too. An 84.7.
Ifeatu Melifonwu
Welcome back Iffy. He hit the ground running in this game. the Lions made sure to use him in both the safety and linebacker realm and it paid off. He had three pressures, a sack, and three tackles. Played 50 snaps and looks healthy and ready to go despite missing the whole season to this point.
Ben Johnson
The guy worked up a play where his quarterback and running back stumbled and fell down on purpose and that play went for a touchdown. I don’t need to say anything else.
Christian Mahogany
Ladies and gentlemen, your future starting guard on either the left or right side next year. In his first start, the kid played pretty well. He allowed two pressures, but his pass blocking was solid otherwise. Run blocking was good too. It’s going to be interesting to see what happens the rest of the season. Graham Glasgow has not been playing all that well as of late and he’s hurt.
We don’t know what the rest of the year looks like for him, but you have to ride the hot hand. Maybe Mahogany is that hot hand.
Losers
Ezekiel Turner
Things started out so nicely for Turner and the Lions, but he has struggled in the last few games. He got beat up against the Bills and allowed a touchdown and then got beat up against the Bears and allowed a touchdown. He just keeps finding himself out of position. Has to be better going forward.
Za’Darius Smith
Smith has been so good for the Lions since getting traded here back in November, but this was a bad game for him. He did manage five pressures, but he also got pushed a round a lot and had a really bad 15-yard penalty. I wouldn’t worry too much about it, but this one wasn’t too good.
Terrion Arnold
Arnold has been really good lately and he had a beautiful pass breakup in the end zone in this one, but he also got burnt on a bad touchdown at the end of the second half and allowed 82 yards on four catches. Like Smith, I wouldn’t worry too much, but this one and last week’s game have not been good for the rookie who has been thrust into a larger role.
