3 Detroit Lions game balls for Week 15 against the New York Jets

After Sunday’s win huge win over the New York Jets, here are three Week 15 game balls for the Detroit Lions.

The Detroit Lions moved to 7-7 with a 20-17 win over the New York Jets on Sunday, their sixth win in their last seven. They’re winning in different ways, and Sunday’s was certainly a grind beyond a couple big plays the Lions got that resulted in touchdowns.

The Lions’ playoff odds continue to improve as they stack wins, and they’ll need to keep winning to keep those odds up and growing. It would be rare in league history to go from a 1-6 start to a playoff spot, but it’s there for the taking and this year’s Lions seem ready to take it.

It was not a pretty win on Sunday, but there have been plenty of Lions’ losses where things that went their way against the Jets were things they did or went against them to give their opponent a win. But you never apologize for winning, and Dan Campbell certainly won’t.

Coming off the high of a win that pushed the Lions closer to a playoff spot, with a realistic Week 16 scenario that would put them in the No. 7 seed in the NFC, here are three game ball recipients for the Detroit Lions in Week 15.

3 Detroit Lions game balls for Week 15 vs. Jets

3. DE Romeo Okwara

Okwara returned after being out for 14 months due to an Achilles’ tear in Week 14 against the Vikings. He played more than expected, 25 snaps, and didn’t make much of an impact as he got acclimated coming off a major injury and a long absence.

Against the Jets, the Lions’ leading sacker in 2020 (10) and 2018 (7.5) played one more snap than he did against Minnesota. But he had four total tackles and two sacks, and noticeably had more juice in his second game back.

Campbell talked about Okwara after the game.

"Yeah, it means a lot to have Romeo back. Just to have him in the fold with us, first of all, he’s an unbelievable locker room guy and he’s a hard worker,” “And then, on top of that, to have his length, his ability. Look, he plays the run well, he can rush the passer, you can work him on a guard inside, you can work him outside. Look, he was better than he was last week. He’s gotten a little bit better and there’s some things that really showed up today."

A healthy Okwara is a notable addition to a Lions’ defensive front and pass rush that has been very good lately. It showed against the Jets, and he may only get better over the rest of the season. For Week 15, with some “he’s back” ceremony and sentiment honestly mixed in, Okwara gets a game ball for his performance.

2. QB Jared Goff

Over the last several weeks, right in obvious line with the Lions playing better, Goff has played cleaner football than literally every other quarterback in the league.

One of the most important aspects heading into Sunday’s game was Goff’s ability to avoid mistakes against a very tough Jets’ defense, since his passing numbers were not going to be great. He certainly missed a throw that would have been a touchdown to Jameson Williams, and for what it’s worth Pro Football Focus gave him a poor grade (51.8, the fourth-worst grade among Lions offensive players) for his performance.

But Goff completed around 60 percent of his passes (23-for-38) for 252 yards (however skewed by the game-winning 51-yard touchdown to Brock Wright) with no interceptions and a respectable, not awful passer rating of 88.9.

Goff’s primary responsibility against the Jets was to not get his team beat due to an avalanche of turnovers he accounted directly for (interceptions, sack-fumbles, etc.). He got that done, made a few key throws and the Lions went home from MetLife Stadium with a win for a second time this season.

1. WR Kalif Raymond

Raymond was given a game ball in the locker room after Sunday’s game, and it’s impossible to argue his worthiness. In a game against a team that cut him five years ago, a full circle moment for him if you will, Raymond had a 47-yard punt return for the Lions’ first touchdown and he also had five catches for 53 yards in the game.

Raymond has toiled in the background all season, with 39 catches for 454 yards (second on the team in both categories) as well as being one of the more productive punt returners in the league–now second in the league with an average of 14.6 yards per return. Via MLive, Dan Campbell recognized Raymond’s season-long contributions on Sunday.

"I just gave him a game ball,” He’s our iron man. He does everything for us. He’s been in there through some of the injuries we’ve had at receiver. He’s just been there every day, for every game, for every practice. He just goes. He is selfless, he’s disciplined, he’s a hard worker, he’s smart, he’s productive, he endears himself to his teammates and he’s versatile. He can block, he can play in the slot, he can play outside, he’s got run after catch, he’s a damn good punt returner. I think he’d be a great gunner too, but we want to be smart with how we use him."

Raymond naturally won’t get a lot of outside recognition for all he does. But it’s no secret to his teammates and coaches, and with an easy opportunity to give it to him he’s our No. 1 game ball recipient for Week 15.