By: Jeremy T. Ballreich
Detroit, Michigan was electric with the atmosphere around the NFL on CBS set as fans prepared to go into the game. The Jared Goff chants, the screaming and puffing of chest could be heard up to a mile from the stadium.
This became a highly anticipated battle between 2 juggernaut offenses. 2 QBs having their best seasons in the career and MVP hopes on the line. Josh Allen and Jared Goff showed why it’s them a top the MVP voting.
Lions offensively had an amazing game, the Bills were just better. I’ve seen the talks about our coaching decisions in the game. And I’ll address my opinion on it too. This game came down to one play that sealed our fate. It wasn’t a STs play, or the lack of the defensive prowess. We lost in the only stat that truly matters. A costly fumble that lead to a quick score. A turnover.
Both defenses struggled to stop the powerhouse offenses of Buffalo and Detroit. Proof is they combined for 1080 yards of offense. And 90 total points on the board.
The attempt on STs on the first onside kick, it was because the defense hadn’t been able to get off the field for most of the entire 3rd quarter. The Buffalo defense was good at stopping one part of the Lions offense. It was our rushing attack. David Montgomery had a paltry four yards total. Jahmyr Gibbs was better, but it was 31 yards total.
Jared Goff set two NFL Records no QB should have in the same season. Winning a game where he threw five interceptions. Then, throw for 494 yards, five touchdowns with zero Interceptions and lose.
Dan Campbell attempted an onside kick to steal back the possession lost by the fumble. The execution of the kick was near flawless. A perfect high pointed kick where Bills WR Mac Hollins tipped it to himself. And he returned it to the 4.
Devastating result, very gutsy move for the coach to try. It backfired, and Buffalo scored in under 30 seconds. I know I’m one of the few. But I liked the aggressiveness here when it was 38-28. The pass to Davis from Allen took them to 45. But it was 30 seconds off the clock! With it being a quick score the Lions managed to end the game with a one score loss.
The Lions defense only had 2 stops the entire game. If they kicked it off. The 45-28 score may have been the final Score. Because the defense played flatter than a piece of paper all day!
But the losses within the game were much more than the stat column. The Lions lost a total of 4 players for the season. DT Alim McNeil tore his ACL requiring surgery, CB Carlton Davis III had his jaw broken, CB Khalil Dorsey broke his ankle, and RB David Montgomery tore his MCL and requires surgery too. When you add that to the rest of the injuries piling up. The loss makes it hurt even more.
The Bills amassed and total of 559 yards of total offense. The Lions totalled 521 yards.
My Stars Of The Game:
Jared Goff
Jahmyr Gibbs
Amon-Ra St. Brown
Sam Laporta
My Duds Of The Game:
Aaron Glenn
The Entire Defense
Amon-Ra St. Brown
Final Score:
Bills 48
Lions 42
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