3 Detroit Lions game balls for Week 9 vs. the Packers

1. S Kerby Joseph

Joseph has stepped into a starting spot after Tracy Walker suffered a season-ending torn Achilles in Week 3, and he has stepped up. Sunday made it three games in a row responsible for a takeaway for the rookie out of Illinois, with two key interceptions as well as a terrific pass breakup. Oh, and he also had 10 tackles (second on the team after Barnes).

Joseph is the first Lions’ rookie with two interceptions in a game since 1986 (Devon Mitchell), and the first Lions’ safety with two interceptions in a game since 2013 (Louis Delmas).

Lions safety DeShon Elliott had high, slightly profane, praise for his rookie teammate after the game.

"Kerb a big-ass kid, but he a big-ass athletic freak kid. I think Kerb is going to be playing in this league for a very long time, bro. Man, so proud of that boy, so happy for him.”"

Joseph did leave Sunday’s game with a head injury after a “friendly fire hit from Jeff Okudah, and he went into concussion protocol. So his status for Week 10 against the Chicago Bears is tentative right now, but his Week 9 performance gets him the No. 1 Lions’ game ball for the week.