Hop in your time machine and go back to the NFL draft. The Detroit Lions went RB, LB, and TE with their first three picks, positions that most consider low value, especially for where the Lions selected them. Lions GM Brad Holmes was widely criticized for selecting players who did not meet the “positional value” criteria, but he did not care what anyone thought and stuck to his guns. Well, with the first game in the books, he is having the last laugh.
The Lions pulled off some might consider the impossible by beating the Kansas City Chiefs, spoiling their Super Bowl celebration, with a 21-20 victory. Now, it wasn’t the cleanest game, and you can bet everyone in that locker room can tell you that, but the grit and resiliency foundation this team is built on showed up, especially after a couple of miscues early on.
It was going to be interesting to see how the Lions would deploy their rookies, considering this is their first NFL action and doesn’t get much bigger than under the big lights on national television. For the most part, they were able to handle their own and contribute to the first upset of the season.
HC Dan Campbell wasn’t quick to give praise during his post-game interview, saying he needs to look at the tape first, but from a quick glance, their impact was noticeable, saying they helped us win today.
I’m sure anyone watching the game could see each one of the rookies provided a strong presence when they made it on the field.
David Montgomery saw the majority of reps on running back in this one. Still, it was very noticeable how much of a difference-maker Jahymr Gibbs will be for the Lions offense. He is a force to be reckoned with between his speed and toughness. He has burst and speed, making him a threat anytime he touches the ball. The second and third efforts were evident, making four or five gains into first down runs. Surely, as the season goes on, the rookie RB will see more reps.
Sam LaPorta was showing off the do-it-all TE skills everyone has seen through training camp. He was making crucial catches at the right time, but what was more impressive was his blocking. He made a key block for David Montgomery’s touchdown, giving the Lions enough for victory.
Jack Campbell has some spurts that showed why the Lions took him in the first round. You shouldn’t expect him to be perfect in this matchup, but he had a nice pass break-up and, from initial looks, had a good coverage performance. He gives the Lions a nice rotation of LBs that will only improve as the season progresses.
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We may never know how Brain Branch fell to the second round, but his playmaking skills were on full blast against the Chiefs. It seemed like wherever the ball was, Branch was either there or not far behind to make a play. There were a few plays where I think if the receiver made the catch, he was about to get lit up by Branch. He provided the necessary spark that helped give the Lions some momentum with the pick-six. When he went down, he gave everyone a scare, but it was cramping, and he returned later. Branch is built differently and elevates this Lions defense.
.@NFL, meet @brianbb_1 #DETvsKC | 🎥 NBC pic.twitter.com/6L7m6SZSrF
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 8, 2023
Campbell was very happy with all of the rookie’s performances and mentioned they will only improve as the season progresses. Well, if they are already playing like this in game one, the sky is the limit for every single one of these guys. The core the Lions build with these young playmakers will keep the Lions relevant for years to come.