The Detroit Lions continued their winning ways on Sunday, defending their home field while defeating the Carolina Panthers 42-24. Detroit entered the contest a bit shorthanded, missing key players on both sides of the ball. The Lions took an early lead and never looked back, and here we’ll take a look at some key takeaways from today’s victory.
Takeaways from the Shorthanded Lions’ Defeat of the Panthers
No Amon-Ra St. Brown, No Problem
As mentioned above, the Lions were without a few key players on offense and defense, one of those being wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. The Detroit offense didn’t skip a beat without their Pro Bowl receiver and got contributions from a number of different players.
Eight players caught a pass from quarterback Jared Goff, most notably Josh Reynolds and Sam LaPorta who combined for over 100 yards receiving and three touchdowns. The Lions were also without rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs, but in addition to David Montgomery‘s big day, Craig Reynolds provided 52 yards on the ground and scored his first career touchdown in the final quarter. Detroit looked sharp and put up their season-high in points in the process.
Jerry Jacobs Impresses Again
Defensive back Jerry Jacobs continued his impressive play in Sunday’s win, picking off the opposing quarterback for the third time in two weeks. Free agent signing Emmanuel Moseley made his season debut but left the game after injuring his right knee in the first quarter and didn’t return. Detroit may have no choice but to start Jacobs moving forward, but regardless, he’s earned it. After struggling against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2, Jacobs has turned his play around and continues to come up big for Detroit’s banged-up secondary.
Jameson Williams Quiet In Return
The Lions welcomed back second-year receiver Jameson Williams after he had his suspension lifted by the NFL earlier in the week. Head coach Dan Campbell warned that they’d slowly bring him along, which was evident on Sunday; Williams played 47% of the snaps and had two catches for two yards on three targets. It’s no secret that the Lions lack a vertical deep threat, and there will be plenty of chances for Williams to prove that he can be just that for one of the most high-powered offenses in football. As the season progresses, Williams’ workload will continue to increase as he becomes more acclimated. For now, though, Lions fans will have to remain patient.
Taylor Decker Plays In 100th Career Game
Sunday’s win was the 100th career game for Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker. Decker, who was selected with the 16th pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, is the longest-tenured player on a Detroit team that is now 4-1 through the first five weeks of the season. Now 30, Decker is in the fourth year of a five-year deal he signed with Detroit back in 2020 which made him one of the highest-paid tackles in football at the time.
Amidst the numerous front-office shakeups over the years, Decker has been the one constant in the Lions organization, surviving multiple coaching changes and playing through injuries while also performing as one of the best tackles in the NFL. Decker has long praised the Detroit community for their continued loyalty and support, and in his eighth season, he and his teammates have their best chance to deliver big for a fanbase that’s longed for a winner.
It was another impressive win for a Detroit team that has strung together three straight victories and is off to their best start since the 2011 season when they finished 11-5 and made the postseason. Next up for the Lions is a matchup against the 3-1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road before continuing their road trip to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 7.
Main Image: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
