Lions conceded being dominated by the Texans in first half on late drive
Down left tackle Taylor Decker, the Detroit Lions' offense was going to have some level of an uphill battle Sunday night against the Houston Texans. But the first half did not go well, with Jared Goff regularly under duress and the ground game getting no traction.
Aaron Glenn's defense was largely fine in the fine in the first half, forcing three field goals despite two interceptions from Jared Goff (three total already) and the offense being in the general funk it's in.
At the two-minute warning at the end of the first half, the Lions forced Houston to punt. Texans punter Tommy Townsend boomed a kick, 62 yards as Kalif Raymond was dropped for a one-yard loss on the return.
The Lions' offense was presumably going to have some urgency, if only to try to get in position for a field goal attempt before halftime. That did not happen.
Two inside runs rom Jahmyr Gibbs gained a total of two yards. After an incompletion pass from Goff in the direction of Sam LaPorta, the Lions punted the ball back to the Texans with 1:05 left on the clock.
Houston then went 66 yards on six plays in 42 seconds, capped by C.J. Stroud's 15-yard touchdown to wide receiver John Metchie to give them a 23-7 halftime lead.
Lions' lack of aggression at end of first half bites them
Goff threw his third interception of the first half on a deep heave on the final play. If the Lions simply get a first down on their previous drive, they could have run the clock out if they wanted to concede to just not having it offensively in their first 30 minutes.
They not only seemed to have no interest in trying to score on that second-to-last drive of the first half, but they didn't appear willing to try to do much of anything. Run, run, pass is awfully predictable/overly conservative, if nothing else.
As expected, the social media reaction to that drive before the Texans drove for a decisive touchdown conveyed the confusion.
What is Ben Johnson doing? Lions will punt
— Mike Payton (@AtoZ_Payton) November 11, 2024
Really don’t understand what the Lions are doing here before the half
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) November 11, 2024
Doesn't look like the Lions are interested in trying to add points before halftime. Unusually conservative here
— Nolan Bianchi (@nolanbianchi) November 11, 2024
Were the Lions even trying to score on that drive?
— Jeff Riger (@riger1984) November 11, 2024
Third 3 and out this game.
Have they even had 3, 3 and outs all season?
Lions head coach Dan Campbell is uniquely aggressive in many situations. Maybe he told offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to stand down a little on the second-to-last drive of the half, and Gibbs just couldn't break one of the first two runs.
In any case, the conservative play-calling bit the Lions at the end of the first half. Time will tell how costly it is.
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