Maybe you can credit the Detroit Lions for holding the New England Patriots to 34 points, but then again Detroit never looked competitive throughout Sunday’s contest. The Patriots ran out to a 24-6 lead at halftime, then both teams made a few cursory motions in the second half and eventually the game ended, 34-9.
Lions vs. Patriots final score: 3 things we learned from another routine New England win
The Lions are utterly dysfunctional, or the Patriots are freaky good ... or both.
Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
The Patriots made plays in every facet of the game. Tom Brady threw two touchdowns. Three players had at lest 78 yards receiving. LeGarrette Blount needed just 12 carries to hit 78 yards rushing with a score. Danny Amendola had an 81-yard kickoff return to set up a touchdown in the first half, and Julian Edelman seemingly had a jaw-dropping punt return for a touchdown that was called back on a penalty.
Perhaps most distressingly for Detroit, New England shut down Matthew Stafford and Co. on offense. The Lions managed 336 total yards, and couldn’t make big plays when they needed them. Receivers dropped passes. Calvin Johnson was held in check. Teammates were not in sync with each other. In a symbol of the day for Detroit, Stafford slid just short of the first down marker on a fourth down in the fourth quarter:
The play ended the most promising drive of the second half for Detroit. The Lions had driven 53 yards to make their way to the Pats’ 25-yard line. They had converted another fourth down earlier just to keep the drive alive. It was essentially Detroit’s last gasp, and it wasn’t enough.
Three things:
1) The Lions’ DL was the only thing that wasn’t broken
The Lions' defensive line is fun to watch. The unit didn't record a sack, but it harassed Tom Brady early and neutered the Patriots' running game outside of Blount busting loose late. If there was a play to be made, for the most part Ndamukong Suh, Ziggy Ansah and Co. made it. The same couldn't be said for anyone else.
The secondary routinely left passing targets wide open, Matt Stafford misfired and receivers dropped passes. Calvin Johnson was held to four catches for 58 yards on 10 targets. Even if he was double covered, it's not like anyone else was getting open, or was capable of making a big play. Stafford threw a bomb to a reasonably well-covered Corey Fuller in the first half, and Fuller let the ball fall right through his hands:
The Lions have now been held without a touchdown in two straight games. It was an ugly day for a Lions team presented with the opportunity to make a statement, but maybe we shouldn’t be too hard on Detroit because ...
2) The Patriots are playing at another level
By now, you should have a some idea that an offense comprised of Tom Brady and passing options up the wazoo is a pretty good unit. Lets talk about the defense. The Lions managed 335 total yards on the day. On crucial downs, they stoned Detroit, who went 5-for-17 on third down conversions and were held without a touchdown on their only two possessions inside New England’s 20-yard line
The Lions’ offense may not be playing well, but it is still a talent-loaded unit. The Patriots also held the Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts to 21 and 20 points, respectively, just before Sunday. New England is clicking at every level. If it can carry its current momentum to the playoffs, it has to be considered a favorite to win the AFC.
3) New coach, new years, same story in Detroit
The Lions have a history of starting strong and falling apart since the turn of the century. They were poised to win the NFC North after a 6-3 start last season, then went 1-6 the rest of the way. A 6-2 start in 2007 resulted in a 7-9 season. They were pedestrian after a 5-0 start during their only playoff season in 1999, going 5-6 through their final 11 games of the 2011 season.
We don’t know they fate of the Lions yet. Their two straight losses have come against perhaps the two best teams in football -- the Cardinals and the Patriots. Still, Sunday’s loss feels like a bad flashback to bad seasons past. Detroit only needs to be competent with an easy schedule down the stretch. They looked dysfunctional against New England, however, so forgive Lions fans if they felt the early pangs of panic setting in.
★★★
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