Lions vs. Rams: Detroit falters again at home in another loss
Third Quarter
Detroit opened up the second half hoping to capitalize more offensively but sadly that wasn’t the case. Blount took the series’ first snap for a gain of three on the ground. Stafford very narrowly avoided throwing an interception on the next snap and then the QB missed Ellington on the third-down play for a quick three-and-out as Detroit ceded the ball right back the LA.
Opening up the second half, Jared Goff connected with Woods for a gain of 23-yards. On the next play, Damon Harrison sacked Goff as he forced a fumble and he also recovered the ball for Detroit so the Lions come up with their second forced turnover of the game.
Taking to the air on the next snap, Stafford hit Golladay for 15-yards. Going to the air again, Matthew Stafford hooked up with Levine Toilolo for a gain of 20+. On 3rd & 5, Stafford passed to Riddick in order to convert the first down for the home team. On First & Goal, Zenner received the pitch and an old friend, Ndamukong Suh, was whistled for a personal foul penalty with a horse-collar tackle on the play.
Stafford was then mauled by the relentless Aaron Donald as he released his pass attempt to Riddick which bounced out of the RB’s hands in the end zone. Stafford appeared to hit TJ Jones for the TD but the receiver was flagged with an offensive pass interference penalty on third down which nullified his touchdown catch. Inexplicably, the Lions handed the ball off to Riddick on third down and marched out their kicker for a 29-yard field goal which was good, 13-6 Los Angeles.
On the next kickoff, the Lions tried for an onside kick but it failed to go 10-yards and the Lions gave their opponent phenomenal field position. Nice play call but terrible execution. Still, though the Lions’ defense forced a third down play and they stopped Gurley from advancing. The Rams lined up for a 48-yard field goal and they knocked it through, right down the middle, 16-6 Los Angeles.
Blount gained 5-yards on his next play and he tacked on another 8-yards on the very next snap. Levine Toilolo was streaking wide open down the middle of the field and Stafford found him for 39-yards. Detroit opened up their playbook and tried a trick play but it was immediately blown up for no gain.
Theo Riddick came down with a 12-yard catch and he bullied his way through as he powered for the first down and on the very next play, starting left tackle Taylor Decker reported in as an eligible receiver and Matthew Stafford hit his lineman for the 11-yard touchdown score, 16-13 Los Angeles.
Lion defenders ran Gurley out of bounds for no gain to open up the next LA series. On the next snap, tight end Tyler Higbee caught Goff’s pass to move the chains. With three seconds left in the quarter, Gurley was held to a gain of three yards as that play ended the third.