The Detroit Lions are 1-0 after pulling the upset in Kansas City, upending the host Chiefs, 21-20, in the first game of the entire NFL season.
Detroit pulled this one off with a great defensive performance, holding Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs to 316 total yards and just 17 first downs. It was just enough to help the Lions prevail despite an uneven offensive performance.
Buy Lions TicketsThe Lions ran for 118 yards, with David Montgomery charging his way for a touchdown and also the game-clinching third down conversion. Jared Goff avoided making mistakes and found ways to move the ball while under pressure and while dealing with a strong performance from the Chiefs defense.
Here are aa few quick takeaways from watching the game on Thursday night.
3 key plays
Dan Campbell stayed true to his character, playing to win. It was never more obvious than going for a fake punt on 4th-and-2 from the Lions own 17-yard line on the second offensive possession. That’s a bold move that Campbell doesn’t make unless he’s got faith in his team to overcome not making it there.
But they did. Jalen Reeves-Maybin took the direct snap and converted. It led to the Lions’ first touchdown of the night.
The pivotal negative play came in the second quarter, when the Lions accepted a holding penalty created by Aidan Hutchinson to force the Chiefs into 3rd-and-17 instead of a fourth down. Patrick Mahomes whizzed a perfect strike to Marquez Valdes-Scantling that got to the receiver a split second before Lions CB Jerry Jacobs did. It was a throw that sums up why Mahomes is a perennial MVP candidate.
It took Mahomes two more passes to largely wide-open targets to get the Chiefs into the end zone and a 14-7 lead. It was a demoralizing development for the Detroit defense.
On a night when the Lions offense couldn’t get much going, the Chiefs made the big play when given an extra opportunity. Fortunately for Detroit, rookie DB Brian Branch seized an opportunity of his own.
Branch’s pick-six off a deflected pass from Mahomes brought the Lions back to life. On a night when the LIons offense couldn’t get much going, the defense came to the rescue.
The defense came to play
The Lions finished 32nd in yards allowed per game and 28th in scoring defense in 2022. Much of that atrociousness came from being woefully inept early in the year. The resurgence started midway through last season and it carried over impressively into Kansas City.
One of the keys to neutralizing the high-flying Chiefs is to make them one-dimensional. Detroit did that effectively by bottling up the Kansas City run game.
Mahomes ran for 45 yards on six carries, none of which were designed. When he handed the ball off, the Chiefs runners gained 45 yards on 17 carries, an average of 2.6 yards per attempt. The most emblematic play was DE Josh Paschal knifing through the line and hammering Chiefs WR Rashee Rice for a loss on a gadget play 3rd-and-short.
It was not a clean slate. There were some miscommunications in coverage and a couple of missed tackles. But doing what they did in Kansas City against Mahomes was impressive. Put an asterisk for the Chiefs not having All-Pro TE Travis Kelce if you want, or the Chiefs dropping at least four passes. That’s football.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson (5 tackles, 2 PDs), Alex Anzalone (6 tackles, 1 PD, 2 QB pressures), Aidan Hutchinson (4 tackles, 3 QB hits, 9 unofficial QB pressures) and the defense executed with aggression and attitude. Rookies Brian Branch and Jack Campbell made huge contributions in areas where the Lions defense has specifically struggled in recent years, too.
Detroit survived Ben Johnson's bad night
Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson got a lot of attention and head coaching job opportunities this offseason, and rightfully so, after his great 2022 season. He did not have a good Week 1 in several aspects, unfortunately.
From personnel usage to cutesy play calls and being predictable to the Chiefs defense based off film study and tendencies, Johnson might want to downplay this game in future interviews. His offense delivered just enough to get the victory, but it was not anywhere close to full optimization of the offensive talent.
One big point of contention was the usage, or lack thereof, of first-round rookie RB Jahmyr Gibbs. He had five touches in the first half and gained 36 yards (18 on three carries, 18 on two receptions). He only played nine snaps compared to 24 for RB David Montgomery, with the two of them together for two. Gibbs did have a great run in the fourth quarter, finishing with 42 yards on seven carries.
Then there was Marvin Jones. The veteran had perhaps the worst game of his lengthy NFL career. He lost his first career fumble, then had a clear drop on one pass and a debatable drop/missed opportunity on another. The Lions needed impactful speed on the field, something Jones just doesn’t offer anymore. Yet Johnson continued to overuse Jones before finally acquiescing to reality and inserting speedy Kalif Raymond into the role. Raymond’s first play saw him gain 20 yards.
When Johnson went back to basics, his offense delivered. Montgomery scored the game-winning TD on a drive where Johnson remembered he’s got a great line and a good power back in Montgomery and leaned on them to deliver. And they did just that.
Quick hits
–There is film study to be done, but the first impression of rookie TE Sam LaPorta and his blocking was very favorable. He also caught all five passes thrown his way, gaining 39 yards.
–CB Khalil Dorsey proved why he made the Lions roster on special teams. He had three tackles on coverage units, one of which nearly forced a fumble. His first tackle came on a punt where Dorsey himself was tackled but still hustled to make a great play for minimal gain.
–The Lions were 2-for-12 on third downs at one point. They finished 5-for-15, converting when they needed it most.
On the flip side, the Chiefs were 5-for-7 on third downs at the half. They finished 5-for-14.
–Only two Lions were forced from the game with trainers, and both Brian Branch and Levi Onwuzurike returned to action after being treated for what appeared to be cramping.
–There was a notable Lions contingency in the stadium, and they got loud enough at times to hear on the radio broadcast feed.
–Jared Goff had more completions and more passing yards on fewer attempts than Mahomes. Probably could have made some money if you bet on that pre-game…
–The Lions are now off on the mini-bye until September 17th when they host the Seattle Seahawks.
