| Lions QB Matthew Stafford rallied his team to victory, but had Detroit converted just one of three first-half opportunities into a TD, those late-game heroics wouldn't have been needed. (US Presswire) |
Heading into their Week 6 meeting with the Eagles, the Lions faced lingering questions about their inability to score early, move the ball against zone defenses and effectively cover kicks.
Following their 26-23 win Sunday, only one of those questions was answered. The special teams unit didn’t hurt the Lions, but the team still struggled to find the end zone and the passing game hasn’t solved its difficulties against the zone.
The difference between Sunday’s game and the Lions’ three 2012 losses was the defensive effort. The unit allowed Detroit to stay close enough to Philadelphia to make the comeback win possible.
Offense: C
Detroit’s comeback was exciting, but the offense had enough early opportunities to score that QB Matthew Stafford’s late heroics shouldn’t have been needed. The Lions had the ball in scoring range three times in the first half and could manage only a pair of Jason Hanson field goals. Running backs Mikel Leshoure and Joique Bell continue to impress. The pair averaged nearly 5 yards per carry, and their play set the stage for the Eagles’ defensive adjustment that led to Detroit’s comeback.
In the second half, Detroit’s rushing success drew the Eagles’ safeties up in coverage, eliminating the bracket help that had allowed cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha to limit WR Calvin Johnson’s effectiveness. Stafford struggled against the zone early, but the coverage shift after halftime helped Johnson make five catches for 107 yards. The performance continued Johnson’s 2012 trend of remaining quiet in the offense until late in games -- something that must be corrected going forward.
The O-line had its best pass-protection performance of the season, holding the Eagles without a sack in 45 pass attempts. The line was helped by the presence of rookie Riley Reiff, who is pushing for a starting place by excelling in his role as an extra blocker. Discipline continues to be an issue along the line. Multiple false-start penalties and some untimely holding calls contributed to the Lions’ 16 infractions -- the most by an NFL team this season. Previous game’s grade: C-
Defense: B
The D-line responded with its most authoritative performance of the year a week after being described as “overrated” by an unnamed NFL GM. Detroit’s pass rushers hit, hurried or sacked Eagles QB Michael Vick on 26 of his 45 pass attempts. The line severely limited the impact of Eagles RB LeSean McCoy with the help of excellent ball pursuit from the LB corps. McCoy finished the day with a supbar 22 yards on 14 carries. Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh’s biggest play of the game was his deflection of a key third-down pass in the fourth quarter that helped start the Lions’ comeback.
The secondary was bolstered by the return of safety Louis Delmas, whose intensity led to more aggressive pass coverage. That coverage resulted in Detroit’s first two interceptions of the year. An assignment breakdown led to a 70-yard Jeremy Maclin touchdown, but if the Lions had lost, it wouldn’t have been for lack of defensive effort. Penalties remain an issue. Detroit was flagged for multiple encroachment fouls and a pass-interference call that led to the Eagles’ first score. Previous game’s grade: C
Special Teams: B
The Lions’ kick coverage wasn’t perfect, but they didn’t allow a return for a touchdown for the first time since Week 2. That’s a good first step in the re-tooling of Detroit’s coverage units. Jason Hanson continued to add to his Hall of Fame-worthy resume. He was 4-4 on field goals -- he’s missed just one all season -- and was perfect on his 45-yard game-winner in overtime. Previous game’s grade: F
Coaching: B-
Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan’s continued use of a balanced offensive attack will pay dividends as the season progresses, and his decision to use Reiff as an extra blocker has proven to be a wise and innovative choice. His next task must be addressing Detroit’s first-half scoring difficulties. Defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham’s unit benefitted from Delmas’ return, but he faces a difficult task in getting his players to maintain the intensity they showed Sunday while eliminating costly penalties. Previous game’s grade: C
Follow Lions reporter John Kreger on Twitter at @CBSLions and @JohnKreger.