The Good, Bad, and Ugly of Week Six

The Detroit Lions defeated the Los Angeles Rams 31-28 on Sunday.  Exactly the score line everyone predicted right?  …Right?  No defense allowed?

Matthew Stafford finished with his second highest quarterback rating ever, and was near perfect with his passing and decision making all game.  He needed to be, because the defense once again looked out of sync, slow, and unorganized.  Case Keenum had his best game of his career, and set a franchise record for consecutive completions (yes, you unfortunately read that right).  However, similarly to the Philadelphia Eagles game last week, the defense forced a game-ending interception on a quarterback that had been tearing them to shreds earlier.  This team just does not make sense, and that makes for some entertaining games.

So take a look back at the game that sent the Detroit Lions to .500 on the year, in the good, bad, and ugly of week six.

The Good

Matthew Stafford

Stafford was nearly flawless on Sunday.  He ended the game completing 23/31 passes for 270 yards and four touchdowns, but his receivers dropped five on the day as well.  The only mistake he made on Sunday was attempting to force a pass across the field late in the play to Marvin Jones.  Besides that one ultimately meaningless play, Stafford was dialed in.

What makes his performance even more special is playing like he did without many key starters on offense.  Eric Ebron, Theo Riddick, and Larry Warford, not to mention Brandon Pettigrew or Ameer Abdullah, all were sidelined for various ailments against the Rams.  Clay Harbor was the starting tight end, Zach Zenner received starter’s snaps, and still Stafford was unfazed.  These types of games are not new to Matthew Stafford anymore.  In fact, the 28-year old has been one of the best quarterbacks in the league since the middle of last year.

So yeah, Jim Bob Cooter for President.

Jim Caldwell’s 4th down calls

I have been critical of Jim Caldwell all year, mainly due to his conservative nature during games.  On Sunday, I have no complaints on how he handled the game.  None.  Caldwell used his timeouts correctly and timely, played to win with his aggressive calls, and even his failed challenge was acceptable given the magnitude of the potential outcomes.

The most critical aspect of this game was his 4th down calls.  On the very first drive, the Lions faced a 4th and 1 from their own 49.  Caldwell decided to go for it, and the offense took advantage.  The drive ended up with a touchdown to Marvin Jones.  Then, later in the 2nd quarter, Caldwell went a step further and kept the offense on the field on a 4th and goal from the two-yard line.  Matthew Stafford and Andre Roberts delivered.

This could simply be a case of a man coaching for his job, as Caldwell has been notoriously conservative in key situations in the past, but I for one could get used to new, aggressive Caldwell.

Rafael Bush’s interception

Not to be outdone by Darius Slay’s game-winning interception last week, Rafael Bush wanted some of the action.  On 2nd and 6, Case Keenum — apparent Lion destroyer — dropped back for his 32nd attempt in the game.  Rafael Bush did not let him attempt number 33.  Any time a defensive player makes a game-deciding play, he deserves to get his due.  Even if he was mostly inadequate, like the entire defense was, the entire game up to that point.

Zach Zenner

Quick shout-out to Zach Zenner.  Against a mean Rams front line, making his first start this year, Zenner literally had the same yards and attempts as Todd Gurley.  Zenner faced a much better defense on Sunday too, and was effective as a receiver when necessary.  It was his best game of his short career thus far.

Golden Tate

Golden Tate finally broke out of his slump.  And yes, that is all that this was.  No, he never “mentally checked out.”  He certainly is not “Lionized.”  Professional football players go through slumps.  Good players break out of slumps, and Golden Tate is a very good player.  Even if he added to the increasingly frightening drop total today, that should not overshadow how well he played.

Celebrate!

The Bad

The Defense

Expectations for this side of the ball have been low ever since DeAndre Levy and Ezekiel Ansah succumbed to injury early in the year, but we all might have to lower them even more.  Case Keenum completed a franchise record 19 consecutive passes on the Lions’ defense at one point.  More on that later.  Keenum also put up 27/32 for 321, three touchdowns and one interception, good for a 126.7 QB rating.

The Lions have yet to hold any quarterback under a 100 QB rating for the year.  They have faced Brian Hoyer, Marcus Mariota, and Case Keenum on three of six games.  Last season, the New Orleans Saints gave up a historically bad 116.2 quarterback rating against.  This season, the Lions are allowing a 119.3 quarterback rating.

The quarterbacks they are going to face will not be easier than what the defense has already faced.  With Sam Bradford, Drew Brees, Eli Manning, Aaron Rodgers, and Dak Prescott/Tony Romo upcoming, this defense could use all of their starters and then some to avoid holding yet another disparaging record of futility.

The Ugly

Case Keenum completing 19 passes in a row

Do I really need to expand on this?  Case Keenum set a franchise record, with a franchise that had Kurt Warner, for consecutive completed passes.  Against the Lions.

Case Keenum got what all struggling or ailing quarterbacks get when facing the Lions defense: sweet, sweet relief.

Up next for the Lions is the Washington Redskins.  Knowing this Lions defense, the Redskins are planning on giving Kirk Cousins a massive five-year deal upon completion of said game.  Luckily for the fans, this offense is actually something fun to watch, and Matthew Stafford is evolving into a top five quarterback before our eyes.  That can be enough to win in this league sometimes.

Next: Late interception gives Detroit 31-28 victory over rams