Free Press sports writer Dave Birkett grades the Detroit Lions in their 28-25 loss to the Buffalo Bills at Ford Field on Thursday:
Free Press sports writer Dave Birkett grades the Detroit Lions in their 28-25 loss to the Buffalo Bills at Ford Field on Thursday:
Jared Goff played one of his best games of the season Thursday, completing 23 of 37 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns, but he missed a key fourth-and-1 throw late on a play that was similar to one he failed to make against the Miami Dolphins. Goff laced a touchdown pass to DJ Chark early in the fourth quarter and stood strong in the pocket against regular pressure from the middle of the Bills defensive line. He did not see a wide-open Amon-Ra St. Brown on an incomplete pass in the red zone late in the first half and nearly threw a reckless pick in the fourth quarter after spinning out of a sack. Ultimately, though, quarterbacks are paid to make winning plays at the end of games and Goff failed to do that when given the chance for the second time in a month. Grade: B
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The Lions failed to top 100 yards rushing for the second time in three games, but that was little fault of the running backs. Jamaal Williams (66 yards) was his usual workhorse self. He had 18 carries, scored his 13th rushing touchdown of the season and played well despite losing a fumble when he spun into traffic in the first quarter. D’Andre Swift (19 yards, five carries) doesn’t always show the urgency he needs to get up field and he short-armed two passes Thursday that put him at risk of big hits, but he did show a glimpse of power when he lowered his shoulder to try and run through Jordan Poyer on a play near the goal line. Justin Jackson made a nice catch on a 15-yard screen pass that was just outside his body frame, and he broke two tackles on his 11-yard run on an inside handoff on the final play of the third quarter. Grade: B
The Lions are a different offense when Amon-Ra St. Brown is healthy and playing like he did Thursday. St. Brown had nine catches for 122 yards and a touchdown and was offensive coordinator Ben Johnson’s go-to in every key situation. St. Brown ran a nice route to convert a third-and-8 on the Lions’ first quarter touchdown drive, had a 7-yard gain on a fourth-and-1 jet sweep on the Lions’ final possession and had a key block on Swift’s two-point conversion run. The Lions didn’t have much success getting Chark the ball early, despite their concerted effort, though Chark did make a nice catch in traffic on his fourth-quarter TD.
