3 reasons the Detroit Lions will beat the Bengals in Week 6
2. Amon-Ra St. Brown vs. Mike Hilton
St. Brown has stepped into a bigger role over the last two weeks, with 13 receptions for 135 yards on 16 targets.
.@Lions WR @amonra_stbrown is the first rookie wide receiver in franchise history to record at least 6 receptions in consecutive games.
— Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) October 15, 2021
He's also Detroit's first rookie wideout to produce at least 65 receiving yards in consecutive games since 2011.#OnePride pic.twitter.com/cUUonuXZhJ
Even with that increased involvement lately, quarterback Jared Goff told reporters he wants to get the rookie wideout from USC more involved in the offense.
“Saint’s done a great job and I think it’s our job to get him involved more,” Goff said this week. “It’s on me, it’s on how we’re doing things. We need to get him the ball a little bit, and I think last week we did that (seven catches for 65 yards).”
St. Brown has spent 80.5 percent of his snaps in the slot through five games (174 of 216 snaps; according to RotoWire). That means he’ll matchup with well-compensated Bengals’ slot corner Mike Hilton for most of the game Sunday. Hilton is allowing a 75.9 percent completion rate and 103.5 passer rating in his coverage this season (according to Pro Football Reference). He is a strong blitzer and a capable tackler, but he has hardly been a shutdown cover guy through five games.
St. Brown is the one Lions’ wide receiver who can absolutely win his individual matchup regularly on Sunday. Goff should easily get him to double-digit targets on what has become patented short throws. Over half of St. Brown’s catches on the season (10 of 19) have moved the chains, so going his way with heavy volume will be met by actual, meaningful production.