The Lions went into Arizona with a plan: slow down the game and limit the possessions for the explosive Cardinals offense. And while it wasn’t foolproof, coach Matt Patricia’s plan worked well for Detroit.
Detroit’s defense limited the Cardinals to just 63 offensive snaps, well below their per-game average and target. The defense played its part, but Patricia noted the Lions offense played a deliberate part in the process too. The coach talked about using RB Adrian Peterson and the run game more than usual to limit Arizona’s possessions.
“I think it really was important for us to try to do the best we could to control the game,” Patricia said after the game. “They’re so explosive on offense, and they’re dynamic with their quarterback (Kyler Murray) and the skill players they have. I thought our offense did a great job of just slowing everything down and trying to really come through when we needed them.”
The plan definitely worked. The Cardinals tried to speed up the tempo but it didn’t stick. Detroit’s sluggish snapping was intentional:
#Cardinals had a season-high 53% no-huddle rate (their avg was 42%) and essentially the same situation-neutral pass rate (57% – 58%) as the #Lions …but DET averaged six more seconds per snap.
It helped them hold ARZ to 63 plays – 12.5 fewer than their prior average.
— Pat Thorman (@Pat_Thorman) September 28, 2020
The Lions ran 62 offensive plays, one fewer than Arizona. But the Lions won the time of possession battle by a 32:50 to 27:10 margin. That was a huge factor in why the Lions escaped Arizona with the win.