It was an intense and costly two days for the Detroit Lions practicing against the New York Giants. But amid all the scuffles, some positive themes emerged.
Perhaps more than Thursday's preseason game, the Lions were looking forward to this week because it allowed them a chance to sharpen their skills against an actual opponent. A spirited Giants' team brought them a fight each day, literally and figuratively.
Offensive tackle Penei Sewell thinks the Lions gained a competitive edge in going up against such an opponent.
"I think the competitive edge aspect to it (is an advantage). It's another team and it's not your own logo you're going against, so there's that competitive edge to want to win and to win against a different opponent and a different logo."
Preseason games have largely been rendered meaningless, aside from the chance for players down the depth chart to distinguish themselves. The fact that Lions starters and backups got a chance to sharpen their focus early in camp against other similar players will help their preparation.
Sewell was far from the only player who believes that the Lions benefitted from what took place this week in New Jersey.
Amon-Ra St. Brown: Detroit Lions 'needed' tough practices against New York Giants
While many might be obsessing about the physicality of the Lions-Giants joint practices or who won various reps, the theme from the players remains how important the work ended up being.
Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, unsurprisingly, thinks the Lions needed all that comes from going against another team.
"It was good work. Finally fun going up against someone else, but it was good work. Pretty physical two days, but we needed it. Little hot. Adrenaline is kind of high, so feel like your heart rate is going a little faster, you get tired a little quicker, but it was good work."
No matter what happened on the field, good, bad or ugly, the Lions seem to have used the joint practices against the Giants to fine tune their focus. Which is how those kind of sessions can present value, and why head coach Dan Campbell values them so much.