DETROIT — With most of the starters watching from the sidelines, the Detroit Lions won their preseason opener 21-16 over the N.Y. Giants on Friday night before an exceptionally boisterous preseason crowd at Ford Field.
The teams held a pair of joint practices at the Lions’ facility earlier in the week, giving many veterans plenty of reps against an opponent. Coach Dan Campbell’s plan was to give younger players more gametime reps.
“I felt like those young guys came out, I didn’t think it was too big for them. They made plays and the vets who were out there for us did a good job too,’’ Campbell said. “It always feels good to win. We’ve got a lot to clean up, but it’s a good first start.’’
Detroit quarterback Nate Sudfeld, who will battle for the No. 2 spot with Teddy Bridgewater, started and played until there were 23 seconds left in the third quarter.
His first snap was an attempted pass to wide receiver Jameson Williams that was intercepted. Campbell said Nate was getting hit as he threw. Sudfeld’s other interception was also on a pass to Williams, but Campbell said that one was on both of them.
Williams, who only played in the last six games last year, is under much scrutiny. He’s a first-round pick (2022) with speed to spare, but he hasn’t been able to show much on the football field at least yet.
“I told him this, I’m not worried. I didn’t go into this game saying Jameson needs to have 10 catches and 180 yards. That was not what I wanted,’’ Campbell said. “I just wanted him to get lined up, urgency, route definition, detail, finish. I thought for the most part he did that.’’
Williams, who started and played until late in the third quarter, was targeted seven times and had two catches for 18 yards. While it won’t be found in the stats, he made a nice block on a 32-yard play by tight end James Mitchell.
Sudfeld completed 15 of 28 passes for 194 yards, settling down a bit after that first pick.
Early in the third quarter he completed a 2-point conversion on a pass to Williams (who made a one-handed catch) after a 95-yard punt return for a touchdown by Maurice Alexander.
“That was an outstanding return, I thought that was a long kick, he fielded it and I thought we blocked well and the rest was up to him,’’ Campbell said. “He broke a couple of tackles, kept going, he got some blocks downfield. I think what was awesome is what we preach all the time, that’s not even our first unit, but it showed the development of guys.’’
Adrian Martinez came in at quarterback with 23 seconds left in the third and led an 11-play drive that ended with a quarterback keeper for one yard and a touchdown that proved to be the game-winner.
Campbell said the young quarterback was composed, efficient and unfazed. He will likely get fewer reps next week against Jacksonville because Teddy Bridgewater, who signed Thursday and didn’t play Friday, will be in the mix.
Rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs, a first-round pick, looked like he belonged with six runs for 19 yards and an 18-yard catch in his limited time in the first half. It wasn’t a surprise, it’s what he has been showing at training camp.
The Lions backup defense held the Giants to just 215 net yards, with 81 of those on the ground.
Defensive ends Julian and Romeo Okwara combined for four sacks, with Julian getting three of them.
“It was nice to see the two brothers go in there and crush the can. That was good,’’ Campbell said. “I thought for the most part we had pressure all day.’’
Nine defensive players had tackles for losses.
Rookie linebacker Jack Campbell did not start, but had four tackles and one pass defense.
“Obviously it always feels good to win, I thought the guys came out, we just wanted to cut it loose and play, keep it plain and simple,’’ coach Campbell said. “They knew what we were facing because we faced them for two days now.’’
On Wednesday and Thursday, the Lions will host joint practices with the Jacksonville Jaguars and then face them in a preseason game at 1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 19, at Ford Field.
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