The Detroit Lions wanted to get their win back after a devasting loss to the 49ers in the 2023 NFC Championship game and they did that with a 40-34 win. Here’s our
Goff Report
Goff continues to have big games this year. This one was no different. He went out and completed 76.5% of his passes for 303 yards and three touchdowns. That 300 yards give him his 42nd 300-yard game in his nine-year career. Only Patrick Mahomes has more in that career time span.
Defense takes the mask off in the second half to revel a better defense
The Lions’ defense just did not look like a defense that’s about to go into the playoffs looking to win a Super Bowl in the first half. They struggled to get pressures and let up chunk play after chunk play.
Then in the second half, the Lions’ defense came alive with two picks and they also forced a missed field goal. The Lions went from allowing 21 points in the first half to 14 in the second. More like seven with one of the touchdowns coming in garbage time with seconds left. They also started getting to Purdy and put a couple of sacks on the board. A really nice turnaround by Aaron Glenn.
No pressure, but then some pressure.
We have to elaborate on no pressure because this Lions defensive line was playing against a patchwork 49ers offensive line that was missing one of the best left tackles in the game and they walked out of the first half with just six pressures.
In the second half, the Lions put up 11 pressures and two sacks. A turnaround they really needed.
Kerby really wanted that pick
Kerby Joseph got an interception on a bad throw from Brock Purdy, but then it got called back because of a bad defensive pass interference from Brian Branch. Don’t worry though, he got one on the very next play. Kerby will not be denied.
He wouldn’t be denied later in the game when he showed crazy anticipation and got his second interception of the game and his ninth of the season. He’s an All-Pro and anything less is insane.
More Myles Adams, please
The Lions poached Adams after Thanksgiving and he has played limited snaps when the Lions do play him, but he has consistently played pretty well in those snaps. On Monday night the Lions played him in those limited snaps and he played well again. He even got a much needed sack in the fourth quarter. The Lions should play this guy more.
Bad Boys doing bad things and dumb things
The Lions don’t wear a white hat and sometimes that’s fun, but the Lions did a lot of unnecessary dumb stuff on Monday night. This was one of them. While it justified to a point and the slap is funny, Joseph shouldn’t have got involved. That penalty led to a touchdown.
Then later Brain Branch went after Jennings who was on the ground after a tackle and drew an unnecessary roughness that reset the downs and gave the 49ers another shot. Luckily Kerby Joseph picked the ensuing pass off. Just can’t do stuff like that though.
