Lions Lowdown

 

ALLEN PARK — If  Matthew Stafford is sacked twice in the final two games, it will tie his career record for being taken down.

Not exactly what GM Bob Quinn was thinking when he made the offensive line a priority last spring by signing veterans Rick Wagner and T.J. Lang.

Injuries happen and certainly the Lions’ offensive line has had more than its share in the first 15 weeks.

It’s difficult to keep track of who is where to start each game and then, typically, it’s not the same group that is on the field when the game wraps.

(Photo courtesy of Detroit Lions)

Graham Glasgow has been the only lineman to start all 14 games so far and he’s moved from left guard to center in two games.

Joe Dahl got his first significant playing time this season on Sunday, starting for Glasgow at left guard. He just came off injured reserve last week.

“Joe did some good things out there, and he hung in there pretty well,’’ coach Jim Caldwell said.

Center Travis Swanson (concussion) and right tackle Rick Wagner (ankle) were out and it’s too early to know if they will return on Sunday at Cincinnati.

“I’ve got to give credit to Ron Prince who does a great job with them. I mean, we’ve had more guys in and out on our line than probably as much as anyone I would assume,’’ Caldwell said on Monday. “But what he does and what the rest of our guys do, they just face the challenge. They prepare extremely hard. Even though a guy may not have gotten a whole lot of playing time previously, we treat him as if he’s supposed to play well and supposed to handle whoever he faces like a guy like (Akiem) Hicks, who’s as good as they come up front last week. But I think it’s attitude, determination in terms of their preparation, and the fight of the young men who’s plays for us. So, I think all of those things play a part in it.”

The line is not responsible for all of the sacks, but the blame falls on their shoulders for plenty of them.

Stafford was sacked a career-high 45 times in 2014 and will match that mark with two more sacks.

Only Indianapolis Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett has been sacked more often — he’s gone down 49 times.

Only Tom Brady (4,163 yards) and Ben Roethlisberger (4,025) have passed for more yards than Stafford (3,920). Brady had been sacked 31 times, it’s only 21 for Roethlisberger.

In Sunday’s 20-10 win over the Bears, the LIons’ offensive line featured the ninth configuration of starters in 14 games with left tackle Taylor Decker, Dahl at left guard, Glasgow at center, right guard T.J. Lang and right tackle Corey Robinson.

The line also of course opens up gaps for the run game which has been another issue with the Lions this year.

Caldwell admitted that depending who is starting on the offensive line, they may adjust the play-calling.

“There’s certain things you do that you may not – I think what you have to try to do is try to make certain that you know thyself and then make adjustments accordingly, which we do,’’ Caldwell said. “I mean, that’s at a number of different spots. When you’re up front, there’s some guys that pull better than other guys, so how many times you pull a guy that depends upon how well he does his job. Now, it’s something that you’re always trying to improve upon, but we still try to make certain that we’re judicious and try to be prudent in selection of plays with certain individuals.”

The Bengals defense has sacked opponents 38 times which is tied for seventh most in the NFL. It will be another test for the Lions offensive line whoever it is that may play on Sunday.

DETROIT — In the last three games, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford has completed 85 of 106 passes for an 81.8 completion percentage.

That’s astronomical.

And Stafford offered a Stafford-like answer on his accomplishment.

“I’m throwing it, they’re catching it,’’ Stafford said.

Perhaps there is a little more to it.

“Matthew has been on a tear lately, playing well, he’s been playing well for a while. He hangs in there, delivers the ball. he’s got some receivers making plays for him,’’ coach Jim Caldwell said. “That catch by Marvin Jones and a couple of the guys making some things happen for him.’’

Jones was on the receiving end of a beauty of a Stafford pass that flew 58 yards.

Stafford was 25 of 33 for 237 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Saturday’s 20-10 win over the Chicago Bears.

(Photo courtesy of Detroit Lions)

Five thoughts from Stafford following the game:

1. The quarterback said trust is the key to the offense. “I mean, I think that’s the key to success on offense, is having trust in each other. You know, I put a couple up to Kenny (Golladay) today, he made a great catch on one. He got called for OPI (offensive pass interference), but great play. And then the one to Marv was an exceptional play,’’ Stafford said. He completed passes to eight guys.

2. The Lions ran the ball for 77 yards in the first half, then just 14 in the second half. Still a decent effort for the Lions whose run game ranks at the bottom of the NFL charts.

“I think we plan to go out there and try and run it every game, you know? And our guys up front were doing a good job of moving them, our backs were finding some seams and just getting that extra yard. You know, we didn’t have any – I don’t think we had any big, big runs today, but guys were getting four (yards) on first down and, you know, getting seven there on second down, whatever it was,’’ Stafford said. “We did a nice job being efficient running the ball. Our guys did a good job. Like I said, getting hats on hats, letting our backs fall forward, all that is a positive for us.”

3. Tight end Eric Ebron, who has been playing well since the bye week, had another good game with five catches for 33 yards including an 8-yard  touchdown pass in the third quarter.

“The first one i overshot. I wish I had that one back, check at the line, I got a good check to him. I just missed it,’’ Stafford said. “Frustrated at that one and wanted to come back to him and give him a chance. I think you slide a piece of paper under his feet and he went up and got it.’’

4. Stafford was sacked four times in part because the offensive line was banged up and patched up. Center Travis Swanson and right tackle Rick Wagner were out. Right guard T.J. Land went out in the first half.

“Yeah, I mean, that’s a tough (defensive) front, too. I mean, those guys are big and physical on the inside. They make it tough to run the ball, they’re good pass rushers, too,’’ Stafford said. “So our guys did a great job, you know, hung together, hung tough, communicated well and we got the win.”

5. After four interceptions in the past four games, Stafford was able to protect the ball against the Bears. “It’s a tough balance. You know, I mean, there’s going to be times where there are going to be throws that I wish I had back and there’s going to be other times where I make great plays,’’ Stafford said. “So, you know, I think it’s just trying to be as calculated as you can with those chances that you’re going to take and understanding the game situation as much as possible helps.”

DETROIT — The Detroit Lions’ defense had one big job on Saturday — stop Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard.

Mission accomplished.

That is one big reason the Lions were able to defeat the Chicago Bears, 20-10 at Ford Field.

“We came out there and punched them in the face, that was what was different. We out-physicalled them, out-hit them, that’s what we preached to our defense, that’s what we went out there and did,’’ said cornerback Darius Slay who had two interceptions.

The Lions are now 8-6 with playoff hopes still alive. Slim hope, but hope just the same.

(Photo courtesy of Detroit Lions)

Detroit beat the Bears 27-24 on Nov. 19 at Soldier Field. While Chicago has won just four games (4-10) they had topped the Steelers, Panthers and Ravens — teams that had beaten the Lions.

Five reasons the Lions won on Saturday:

1. Again, stopping Howard and the run game. In their previous meeting the Bears ran for 222 yards 125 by Howard. He had 10 carries for 37 yards on Saturday. Slight difference. “I just think we did what we were supposed to do, nothing more than that,’’ coach Jim Caldwell said. The defense saw it as a challenge and they met it this time.

2. The defense played possibly their most complete game this season. Slay intercepted Mitchell Trubisky twice and safety Quandre Diggs had one interception (his second in two games). “Watching film, I saw it, I jumped it. Either it was going to be incomplete pass or complete pass to me. I just made a play on it. If he would have tried to jump and catch it I would have smacked him right out of bounds,’’ said Slay describing his first interception.

The Lions’ defense held the Bears to 43 net rushing yards.

3. It wasn’t Matthew Stafford’s best game ever, but he was as good as he’s been this season. His 58-yard pass to Marvin Jones on third-and-18 in the first half was a thing of beauty. Jones went up to make the catch, but not many quarterbacks could deliver a ball like that.

“The one to Marv was an exceptional play, third and extra long they pick it right there and the guy falls down that’s a real good net punt, I think,’’ Stafford said. “So (I’m) willing to take those chances. I feel we needed a spark at that time in the game. It was a big one that helped us get in the end zone.’’

Stafford and Jones (three catches, 85 yards) have developed quite the connection.

“He’s really good body control guy, he’s made some big plays. I’m not afraid to give him chances,’’ Stafford said. “I think the further you get down the field the more uncomfortable the guys on defense get and the more advantage you have as an offense.’’

That 58-yard pass led to a touchdown pass to T.J. Jones in the second quarter to give the Lions a 13-0 lead. Stafford, who was sacked four times, finished 25 of 33 for 237 yards, two touchdowns and a 115.3 rating.

4. The Lions running game was effective. (I haven’t typed that sentence in a while.) Theo Riddick led the way with eight carries for 49 yards before he left the game with a wrist injury. Tion Green had 10 for 35 yards. Ameer Abdullah returned after missing two games with a neck injury. He wasn’t used often but had one carry for 8 yards and also three catches for 13 yards. Cue the speculation on who is the No. 1 running back. Caldwell said it will change each game depending on the opponent.

“We ran the ball relatively well, 91 yards, but you know that’s kind of where we want to be. You want to out-rush your opponent and you want to be somewhere in that 100-yard area. We didn’t quite get over the threshold, but I thought upfront with our line the guys hung in there, guys going in and out, they found a way to pass protect well enough and find some seams to run the ball so that was key,’’ Caldwell said.

5.  Jim Bob Cooter, the offensive coordinator, gets his share of the blame often but he called a solid game. The Lions did not run on each and every first down. He let Stafford loose a few times. The Bears defense was ranked 11th overall, allowing 325.5 yards per game so it’s not like the offense didn’t have to work hard. The Lions were six of 12 on third downs and looked to have a rhythm which is something we haven’t always seen this season. You can’t define it with stats, but you know it when you see it.