5 biggest takeaways from Detroit Lions Week 3 win over the Atlanta Falcons

5. Offensive line depth is still a thing

It's true that not many teams can survive being without two offensive line starters without having a noticeable drop-off. With Taylor Decker (ankle) was out a second straight game, and Halapoulivaati Vaitai (knee) is likely out fairly well beyond Sunday's game. Matt Nelson (Penei Sewell replaced Decker at left tackle again) left the game with a knee injury, so the Lions were down to Dan Skipper (signed back to the practice squad last week, and elevated to the active roster for Sunday), then rookie Colby Sorsdal at right tackle when Skipper left injured.

Sewell has struggled (if only by his standards) in two games at left tackle filling in for Decker. Nelson, when he's healthy, is barely roster-worthy, let alone anywhere close to being starter-worthy. Graham Glasgow is a capable replacement for Vaitai, but the moving parts set in motion by Decker's absence thins the Lions' line depth to a degree that cannot stand if he misses any more time.

Hopefully Decker is back for Thursday night against the Green Bay Packers. Otherwise the Lions' offensive line will have a highly attackable weakness, and Packers' edge rusher Rashan Gary will be in line to wreck the game against an overmatched right tackle-whoever it is.

4. Sam LaPorta is not your typical rookie tight end

The history of rookie tight ends, with a fantasy football tilt, is not great. But LaPorta became the best tight end on the Lions' roster the minute he was drafted, and to this point he has been everything it was hoped he'd be. His blocking has been up and down, as could be expected, but he now owns the NFL record for receptions by a tight end in the first three games of a career (18).

LaPorta's connection with Jared Goff has been instant, with the early results to back it up. The Lions' quarterback was asked (h/t to MLive) when he knew the rookie tight end could be special.

"The first day when he was at OTAs (is when I knew),” Goff said. “He’s a stud. He’s a stud. Has a great feel for the game. Has great hands, obviously. Has good speed. Blocks well when we ask him to block. But I know for me personally, he does a great job in the rep progression. I think the most exciting part about him, and I’m sure he’d say this, is he’s not even playing as well as he really could.”