Lions over Bears: 10 Observations from wild comeback win

Detroit Lions 10 Observations–Offense vs Chicago

3. The receivers and tight ends had their best showing of the season.

Throwing for 400 yards without your best receiver and most versatile running back would be nearly impossible without the type of game that Stafford’s supporting cast on offense had. The usual suspects, T.J. Hockenson (7 rec, 84 yd)  and Marvin Jones Jr. (8 rec, 116 yd, td) each a big day, but that wasn’t all.

Quintez Cephus had a beautiful diving 49-yard score for his first career touchdown. Danny Amendola had 62 yards, including an incredibly difficult twisting fingertip grab to help set up the touchdown on the 96 yard drive. Jesse James contributed a rare touchdown, Mohamed Sanu made a few nice plays on crossing routes, and I don’t remember a single dropped pass from the Lions on Sunday.

4. A.D. was heroic at the goal line, but the overall run game is a complete mess.

Adrian Peterson has picked up a second wind over the past few weeks, scoring four short touchdowns over the past two games. His powerful five yard plunge with 1:37 remaining provided the winning score for Detroit.

Despite Peterson’s two TDs and 57 yards on the day, the paltry run game continues to prevent any true offensive balance. A poor read and indecisive running from Jamal Agnew stifled a well-designed 4th-and-1 end around in the first quarter, and Kerryon Johnson did next to nothing on his three carries. With 60 yards on 22 attempts, less than three yards a pop, the Lions’ run game drops to 29th overall in the league.

5. Matthew Stafford is an all-time fourth quarter performer.

Stafford’s 31st career fourth quarter comeback passes Matt Ryan and ties him with John Elway for 7th place in NFL history. Of the Lions’ five wins this year, four have come on the wings of a game-winning drive from Stafford.

While only seven yards were needed for Stafford’s 38th career ‘game winning drive’ (tied for 8th all-time), Stafford more than earned it in going 96 yards in just over two minutes without burning a single time out shortly before that.

Stafford finished the game 27-42 passing for 402 yards and three touchdowns. He shook off a horrid interception (even in the best of circumstances, why are you trying to side-arm a screen pass to Jesse James?) to provide yet another dose of late game heroics. This time, his defense carried their weight as well to finish off the comeback.