Detroit Lions Week 8 Review: The Good and the Bad

2 of 2

Oct 26, 2014; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) ducks to avoid a tackle from Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Kroy Biermann (71) during the first half of the game between the Detroit Lions and the Atlanta Falcons at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports

The Bad

Injuries

The Lions are fortunate to have their bye week coming up, because the amount of injuries they’ve suffered lately is absurd. Nick Fairley was added to that list today after suffering a knee injury that held him out for the rest of the game.

Luckily for them they’re still 6-2 and will likely get at least a couple of their best players back in a couple of weeks, including Calvin Johnson who accounts for a large margin of their offense.

Tight Ends

The Lions went into today’s game with their top three tight ends all sidelined due to injuries. Replacing them were newly acquired TE Kellen Davis and UDFA Jordan Thompson who was recently signed off the practice squad. They combined for a total of zero catches and three dropped passes today.

With an extra week of rest, it’s safe to say that they’ll get at least one of their top tight ends back by week 10, possibly even all three.

Matthew Stafford

I will give Stafford a bit of credit for having ice in his veins and continuing to pull out fourth quarter comebacks, but it would be nice if he could get into a rhythm earlier than the second half once in a while.

Stafford looked completely out of sync with his offense early in the game. Whether it was throwing behind his receivers, in the dirt, or five feet above his target, he just couldn’t throw an on-target pass in the first half. On their first score, the Lions had to settle for a field goal after Stafford nearly threw it in the stands aiming for a wide open Golden Tate on a slant route.

Stafford eventually settled down and got into a rhythm during the second half, but you have to wonder when he’ll be able to play well for four quarters, because we haven’t really seen him do so since week one.

Rashean Mathis

Mathis has done a decent job all year. I wouldn’t say he’s been great, but he definitely hasn’t done anything to suggest he’s been bad. He also hasn’t seen a #2 receiver as talented as Atlanta’s either, which led to poor performance on his part.

It seemed as if Mathis was playing in slow-motion today and it didn’t help when he was asked to play 5-10 yards off his man.

Honorable Mentions:

Joique Bell, Tahir Whitehead, Danny Gorrer, Ashlee Palmer, officiating, NFL in London

Home/Lions News