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Sep 14, 2020 at 11:26 AM
Tim Twentyman & Mike OHara
Detroitlions.com Writers
Three safeties: The Lions used a heavy
three-safety package in Sunday's 27-23 loss to Bears. Duron Harmon played 100
percent of the defensive snaps (65), with Tracy Walker playing 83 percent (54)
and Will Harris 80 percent (52). Some of that could be attributed to Detroit
losing two of their top three corners in the game, but the coaching staff has
talked about how they liked the talent and depth at that position heading into
the season. – Tim
Twentyman
Up front – defense: Having one sack wasn't
the only stat where the Lions were deficient up front against the Bears. A lack
of penetration in the run game allowed the Bears' backs to cut back for extra
yards. That was evident in their average of 5.3 yards per carry, with 28
carries for 149 yards. –
Mike O'Hara
Up front – offense: The Lions' offensive
line passed its first test, with rookie Jonah Jackson starting at right guard
and backup Tyrell Crosby in at right tackle. The Lions rushed for 138 yards on
29 carries, with an average of 4.8 yards per carry. – Mike O'Hara
Shorter passing game: Lions
quarterback Matthew Stafford averaged 7.1 air yards
per completion against the Bears, according to Next Gen Stats, which was his
lowest with Darrell Bevell as his offensive coordinator, and over a full yard
below his average of last year (8.3). Chicago's defense made sure they kept
everything in front of them as best they could. Stafford missed deep threat
wide receiver Kenny Golladay (hamstring), too. – Tim Twentyman
AP, AD: In the first game of his 14th
season, running back Adrian Peterson looked like he could
have played as his nickname indicates – All Day. He had 93 yards rushing, an
average of 6.6 yards per carry and three receptions for 21 yards. The obvious
question is how long he can maintain that production. Who's going to bet
against him? – Mike
O'Hara
Rookie playing time: Lions rookie wide
receiver Quintez Cephus played 79 percent of
Detroit's offensive snaps against the Bears. Among rookie receivers, only
Dallas' CeeDee Lamb played more (84 percent) through Sunday's slate of games. A
big reason for that was the absence of Golladay, but Cephus has been trending
up, and he showed some good things, along with some rookie moments. He was
targeted 10 times, more than any other Lions receiver, and caught three passes
for 43 yards. – Tim
Twentyman
Quiet Zone: It was too quiet at
Ford Field Sunday. There has to be a way to pump up the volume for the next
home game vs. the Saints. –
Mike O'Hara
Picking up where he left
off: Defensive end Trey Flowers was Detroit's top defender the
second half of last season, and he picked up right where he left off. Flowers
was graded as Detroit's top defensive player vs. the Bears, per Pro Football
Focus, finishing with four tackles, three quarterback hurries, a sack and a
forced fumble.
His sack was the only one
recorded by the defense. He was one of just three Lions players with more than
one quarterback pressure (Romeo Okwara, 4 & Julian Okwara, 2) on the day. – Tim Twentyman
