Lions score 7 TD’s in first seven possessions for first team in the NFL to do this since 2007
By Roy J. Akers- www.skyviewsports.net
Detroit’s seven game winning streak takes them home to play a Jacksonville team that has lost their QB and maybe with a loss, their coach. Doug Pederson is a two-time Super Bowl champion and he is now at the midway point of his third season. The Jaguars have put together back to back winning seasons for the first time since 2004-05. This year, with Trevor Lawrence, the number one overall pick four years ago out, they will rely on New England Patriots castoff Mac Jones to make up the slack. Detroit is at home and a Jaguars team that is sputtering awaits Detroit.
In this, Detroit pulled out a miracle in Houston, getting behind by 16 points with Jared Goff throwing five interceptions. Jake Bates two field goals of 58 and a game winner from 52 kept the streak alive. Its great to win games occasionally like this, but Detroit needs a game where they can air out their offense and make big plays on defense to keep the winning streak alive. Detroit has activated recent trade acquisition DE Za’Darius Smith for the game and he will attempt to wreck havoc on the Jaguars.
First Quarter
Jacksonville takes the opening kickoff and effectively moves the football and converts essential third downs. The drive results in a Jaguars 59-yard field goal. Drive: 9 plays-29 yards 5:24 Jaguars 3- Lions 0. Detroit has the ball for the first time in the game and they methodically move down the field. The Lions are cooking on their first play on a 22-yard pass from Jared Goff to Shane Zylstra. Three David Montgomery runs and a key pass to Amon-Ra. St. Brown get the Lions to the goal line where Montgomery punches it in. Scoring Play: David Montgomery 2 Yd Rush (Jake Bates Kick) Drive Summary: 9 plays, 70 yards, 4:37. Key Play: The Montgomery runs combined. Lions 7- Jaguars 3.
The Jaguars take the kickoff trailing by four and punt on a three and out. Detroit’s next drive starts slowly with St. Brown hauling in a short grab for a first down. Goff does the next same thing on the next third down with a crossing route by St. Brown and an 18-yard completion. After a run by Jahmyr Gibbs, the quarter ends.
Key Stats: St. Brown 4 catches for 40 yards on four targets.
Second Quarter
The Lions Goff lunges for a first down and then targets Jameson Williams who uses a stiff arm to gain 24 yards. Jahmyr Gibbs goes left tackle for 23 more and the Lions are goal to goal on the four. two plays later, Gibbs reverses field and scores. Lions 14- Jaguars 3. Drive: 13 plays, 93 yards, 5:27. Key Play: The Jameson Williams catch for 27 but Gibbs big run is just as good.
The Lions take the punt inside their 30 and Zylstra laterals it to St. Brown for 11.
- After Jacksonville takes the opening kickoff and Travis Etionne runs for a yard, a timeout and a five yard penalty have the visitors on second and long. A huge stick on third and 14 by Amik Robertson on Etionne forces a Jags punt.
The Lions are on the march
The Lions Montgomery runs twice and catches a swing pass for key yardage. St. Brown has a big first down grab over the middle and Goff finds no open receiver and takes off for five yards. The key play is the TD run by David Montgomery for six yards. (Jake Bates Kick) 8 plays, 64 yards, 4:12 Lions 21- Jacksonville 3.
Another Lions Score
Jacksonville takes the kickoff and promptly goes three and out. Big Mistake. Detroit uses big plays with long pass plays to Gibbs and St. Brown. Scoring play: Amon-Ra St. Brown 27 Yd pass from Jared Goff (Jake Bates Kick). Amon-Ra St. Brown 27 Yd pass from Jared Goff (Jake Bates Kick). 4 plays, 84 yards, 2:12. Key play. Goff pass to Gibbs from the Jags 40 for 54 yards. Lions 28- Jaguars 3.
Taking the kickoff trailing by 25, the Jags are just shy of a first down at their own 39. The Lions’ Alex Anzalone was injured and was escorted off the field and he led the Lions in tackles with five total tackles. J-Ville is showing some meddle in this possession as Jones earns the visitors a first down. On the drive, M.Jones pass short middle to Brian Thomas Jr. to DET 35 for 24 yards. New Lions player Za’Darius Smith is injured on the play. The drive slows from there. Kicker Cam Little’s 35-Yd Field Goal makes it Jags 6- Lions 28. 11 plays, 53 yards, 2:46
Key Stat: Jared Goff is 13-16 for 205 yards and one TD. Detroit has not punted in the game.
Detroit is putting on a clinic at home.
Third Quarter
Even though the Lions have 28 unanswered points until the field goal with no first half time left, Campbell will most likely keep his starters in the game as playing his reserves will make this a three hour second half.
Detroit takes the second half kickoff and Dan Campbell said he instructed the team to treat the game is if its (0-0). The team took his cue. J. Williams takes a pass over the middle and hits the sideline and in second gear, just blew by the Jaguars defense for a 64-yard TD reception from Goff (Jake Bates Kick) 4 plays, 80 yards, 2:05. Lions 35- J-Ville 6.
Detroit has had five possessions and has five touchdowns– Will it be six?
The Jags go three and out and Detroit will look to build on their lead. St. Brown (26 yards) and J. Williams with a 22-yard grab move the Lions down the field. Goff scrambles for eight and moves the chains. Detroit has seven plays of 20 or more yards in the game. The Lions tried running Montgomery twice and he comes up short on the Jaguars 15. Detroit goes for it and Tim Patrick catches a pass over the middle for nine yards. Goff earns his third TD pass with a Brock Wright 5 Yd pass. TOP: Brock Wright 5 Yd pass from Jared Goff. 14 plays, 83 yards, 7:49. Both the St. Brown and Williams catches are the key plays. Lions 42- Jags 6.
The Jags Brian Thomas Jr. can play.
Early in the drive, Mac Jones finds Brian Thomas Jr. for 24. He has three catches for 47 yards and has shown some good speed. The Lions add a defensive pass interference call to extend the J-Ville drive. Etionne’s nine yard run has the Jags at the Lions 32. It will not matter. The Lions Kerby Joseph has his seventh interception of the season. This leads the NFL.
The Lions score 7 TD’s in a row
Gibbs takes the e opening play for a run of 16 yards. On third down and three, Goff hits St. Brown for 23 yards. Detroit continues to move down the field. On third and four on the J-Ville 44, Goff hits St. Brown for a 22-yard grab. Tim Brown catches another for 13 more on the Jags eight. St. Brown catches a sideline out route for a TD. Goff has four TD throws. The drive summary. 9 plays, 96 yards, 3:55. Bet Goff is done for the day. Detroit is the first team since the 2007 Patriots to accomplish this in an NFL game.
Hendon Hooker comes in for Goff
Detroit now has Sione Vaki and Craig Reynolds in at running back. Allen Robinson, just promoted from the practice squad from Orchard Lake St. Mary’s nearly hauls in a pass on third down. A Jake Bates 54 Yd Field Goal makes it 52-6. 5 plays, 23 yards, 2:04. Jacksonville shows promise after the kickoff but a 33-yard grab by Thomas Jr. is ruled incomplete when he was juggling the ball as he went out of bounds.
The Lions are running the football with a few short possession passes to keep the clock moving are on the menu and Allen Robinson squares his body against the DB for a first down grab.
Key Takeaways
Detroit has NOT been 9-1 to start a season since 1934.
Detroit’s Offensive line was spectacular
All Detroit TD drives were 64 yards or longer and six were 80 yards or more.
Three Stars
First- Jared Goff has a perfect 158.3 passing game.
Second- Amon- Ra St. Brown 11-161yds and 2 TD’s and 11 targets.
Third- Detroit’s offensive line is nearly perfect. The Jags had two hits, two TFL’s and no sacks and Detroit had 40 rushes for 195 yards (4.9) average and three rushing TD’s.
Roy J. Akers is a multi-media reporterĀ and covers several sports forĀ www.skyviewsports.net