3 winners (and four obvious losers) for Lions in Week 2 loss to Buccaneers
Loser: Terrion Arnold
Arnold picked up two pass interference penalties in Week 1, and he picked up another early on Sunday. He added a dumb facemask penalty later in the game, and he allowed a catch on all three targets in his coverage (according to PFF, including the coverage breakdown on Chris Godwin's touchdown, however that could have been "credited" to multiple people's mistakes and a miscommunication in general).
Some ups and downs are to be expected for a rookie cornerback. Arnold in particular has to adjust to how defensive backs are officiated in the NFL, right or wrong, but not have that remove the aggressiveness that made him a first-round pick.
Loser: Jared Goff
Goff threw two interceptions against the Buccaneers. While the first one should have been negated by a pass interference penalty committed on Jameson Williams, he was fortunate to not have three or four interceptions and the second interception was totally on him.
Overall, Goff was simply off the mark all the way around on Sunday. One shining example, among several that can be found, is here courtesy of Lions and NFL analyst Russell Brown.
There's no reason to why Goff is throwing this off his back foot or putting the ball into the ground. You're in the red zone &gotta let your playmakers make plays. He's got to trust that Gibbs can beat one defender with Sewell lead blocking in space. Should be a TD. #OnePride pic.twitter.com/sxAQq70J1A
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) September 16, 2024
Goff's last pass on Sunday, which fell short of an open Tom Kennedy and well short of the end zone when a touchdown was necessary, was the perfect symbol of the day he had. Just not quite right, for whatever the reason(s). Better days are surely ahead, and they truly have to be, but Goff is the most obvious loser from the Lions' Week 2 loss.
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