By Mark Halpern
This past weekend, the Detroit Lions played the most exciting game of the week when they faced off against the Chargers. I had said how crucial it would be for the Lions to come out victorious, and they did by three points.
This game meant a lot, not just for standings but for team motivation. With the Packers losing but the Vikings winning, the Lions hold just a game and a half lead over the Vikings, but their schedule is much easier over the next five games as all teams are just under .500, and one is still trying to figure out who they are. The Lions could win the next five games and be 12-2 by Christmas, and it would be glorious to Detroit fans. Also, 12-2 would be Topps with Philly, with San Fran, Dallas, and Seattle as the following teams behind them. Dallas has the second easiest in the next five games. The Lions could take control of the NFC, home-field advantage, and a first-round bye.
I said certain things had to work and the offense, including having to play flawless football. Those fans of Jared Goff are used to seeing him throw a pick a game because of his aggressiveness (nothing wrong with that as long as they are winning), and that’s not a bad thing. Goff threw for 333 2td and 0 picks. He spread the ball around plenty as St. Brown had eight receptions for 156 yards and a TD, seven other receivers had two or more receptions and a TD, David Montgomery had a triumphant return with 12 carries for 116 yards and a TD, and Gibbs had 14 for 77 yards, and that’s almost 200 yards on the ground almost 550 yards of total offense with no mistakes.
Now the Defense had an arduous task, and they went toe to toe, helmet to helmet, with one of the best triple combos in the NFL: Herbet, Ekeler, and Allen. Ekeler was contained all day but did have a hundred yards combined between running and pass-catching and a TD; Hebert had 323 yards, 4, and 1 INT, and Keenan Allen, the focus, had an electric day with 11 receptions for 175 yards and 2 TDS. He has been so consistent over his career that he will see a gold jacket one day, but a Ring would make it easier. I hate to say the Defense was weak, but it gave up more passing yards than it used to and was not able to sack Herbert once, which is something this Defense does well, too.
Ultimately, it came down to one final drive, and Goff got them into position to win the game with a few seconds left with a nine-play, 53-yard effort to get Riley Patterson set up to win the game with a 41-yard field goal. This was one of the more exciting games of the weekend. The Lions control their destiny, but the loud roar can hear all things of the team and its fans.
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