Lions over Chargers: Clutch throws, kicking woes, and more observations
Taking the game out of the kickers’ hands (and feet)
On the two deciding drives of the game, it was clear that neither coach wanted the game decided by field goals. Considering each team’s kicking game up to that point, it’s easy to see why, and these mishaps likely contributed to the aggressive playcalling with the game in the balance later on.
In probably his worst game since joining the Lions in 2014, Matt Prater missed the extra point after Kerryon Johnson‘s 36-yard scamper on a screen pass misdirection (a play that they used to run for Joique Bell all the freaking time but I’ll say Kerryon wore it better). Later in the first half, with a chance to give the Lions their first lead, he was off target on a 40 yard chip shot, one he could probably make left-footed on any other day.
Midway through the 4th quarter, Detroit had a tricky decision to make, trailing by four points with 4th and a yard to go. They were right around the 35 yard line, usually automatic for Prater, and typical NFL coach conservatism might have elected for a field goal to cut the lead to one and then play defense. If Prater hadn’t been off earlier in the day, my guess is that’s exactly what they would have done (then again, it Prater hadn’t been off, the score would have been tied by then).
Instead, the offense rolled the dice, Stafford sent a missile that still might be lodged in Marvin Jones‘s sternum, and they converted the 4th down. One play later, Stafford found Golladay from 31 yards out for the deciding touchdown.
On the Chargers’ final drive, it was equally clear that Anthony Lynn wanted no part in a third missed kick either. Punter-turned-kicker Ty Long had previously missed from 39 and 40 yards, so rather than playing it safe once they got into field goal range, Phillip Rivers got aggressive.
Up to that point in the day, Keenan Allen pretty much had his way with Darius Slay (eight catches, 98 yards, two pass interference calls drawn on Slay), but this 3rd and 19th launch into double coverage wasn’t going to work, any more than a similar one Stafford tried earlier to Marvin Jones.
Slay was all over it this time, and rather than a tie game (and even more kicking adventures to look forward to, the Lions had the ball back with the finish line in sight.