Pride of Detroit
The Detroit Lions (7-5) dropped another close game in Week 13, falling to the Packers (8-4-1) for the second time this season. The Lions were dealing with a multitude of injuries, while also returning players from injury lists and signing/elevating several practice squad players to fill the voids.
Let’s take a look at how the Lions adjusted to all the moving parts on their roster by exploring how they utilized their personnel against the Packers in Week 13.
Goff found a way to keep the Lions in this game, despite losing offensive weapons, but it wasn’t enough to overcome poor execution on defense and questionable coaching calls/strategy.
The Lions continue to lean further on Gibbs as the season progresses, but he lacked the explosive plays that helped him have a career day in Week 12. Montgomery was as productive as we’ve seen in recent weeks, and the use of him on the Wildcat provided mixed results; a touchdown on the first attempts and a near interception on the second.
Already without Raymond, the Lions lost St. Brown just four plays into the game, forcing the Lions to adapt on the fly. Williams was vaulted into the WR1 role, registering seven receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown. Williams took the blame for the drop on fourth down (Goff also took the blame for it being a poor throw), but he provided the Lions offense with a spark, finding ways to produce even when it was clear he was the primary target.
TeSlaa saw his role expand from WR3 to a WR2 level of snaps, and he caught both his targets for 35 yards and a score. If St. Brown indeed misses one to two weeks, TeSlaa will be called upon for a much bigger role and will hopefully be able to take some pressure off Williams. At a minimum, you’d like to see his targets increase.
Kennedy entered the game expecting to pick up the slack left available in Raymond’s absence, but he quickly had to step into the St. Brown role, though he maintained a WR3 level of opportunities. Kennedy also took on Raymond’s returner duties, showing why the Lions have rostered him for the last seven seasons.
Despite the attrition, Lovett surprisingly didn’t see the field in any capacity.
