Tag: NFL Week 4

Jared Goff’s perfect night honored in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Jared Goff’s perfect night against the Seahawks honored in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

There’s a little bit more Detroit Lions representation in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, thanks to a perfect night from quarterback Jared Goff.

When the Lions quarterback completed all 18 of his pass attempts in the Week 4 win over the Seattle Seahawks, Goff set the NFL record for the most pass attempts without an incompletion in a game. The Pro Football Hall of Fame took note.

Goff’s jersey from the perfect night is now enshrined on display at the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. The Hall regularly adds new exhibits from significant accomplishments during a season, and Goff’s record-setting night certainly qualifies.

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Breaking down the best throws from Jared Goff’s historic performance on Monday Night

Breaking down the best throws from Jared Goff’s historic performance on Monday Night Football vs. Seahawks

On Monday Night, it was a historic performance for Lions quarterback Jared Goff. He went 18-for-18 for 292 yards and two touchdowns. For Goff, he set the record for the most passing attempts without an incompletion in a single game in NFL history.

His performance helped the Lions score 6 touchdowns and improve to a 3-1 record as they enter their bye week. It’s a much needed bye week for the Lions as they’re injured on both sides of the football and need to get healthy with key games against the Cowboys, Vikings, Packers and Texans coming up. For now, let’s break down some of the best throws from Goff on Monday Night!

One of the best throws of the night for Jared Goff happened later in the game to wide receiver Tim Patrick. Looking at the play above, the Lions come out with their ’11’ personnel (one running back and one tight end). Prior to the snap, Goff shifted from shotgun to under center.

Once the ball is snapped, Goff gives a slight fake to the running back and then looks downfield. Initially, it looks like he’s going to throw the ball to Amon-Ra St. Brown on the spot route underneath but he changes it up and throws the dig route.

The Lions love throwing to those dig routes and it’s well ran by Tim Patrick. Building that rapport between Goff and Patrick has taken time but it’s starting to turn into a good connection between the two. Seeing more of this as the season continues should bode well for the success of the offense.

The last play I want to discuss is how Jared Goff improved from week 3 to week 4 when targeting Jameson Williams. Much of that is because he’s starting to anticipate Williams on crossing routes over the field.

Against the Cardinals, Goff had missed Williams a few times or didn’t anticipate him at all. However, that changed on Monday Night against the Seahawks.

Looking at the play above, Goff operates off play-action and before Williams even breaks over the middle of the field, the ball is already out of the hand of Goff. It’s a great anticipation throw that leads to Williams running it all the way in for a 70-yard touchdown. This type of play can happen weekly for the Lions if Goff continues to anticipate these types of throws.

Overall, it’s been two strong performances in a row for Jared Goff. After a questionable performance against the Buccaneers, he’s starting to look like the quarterback we all love to watch and chant for on a weekly basis. He’s far from perfect and isn’t the most athletic quarterback in the NFL but on Monday Night, he was perfect.

NFL power poll: How the teams rank after the first 4 games

NFL power poll: How the teams rank after the first 4 games

The first four weeks of the NFL season aren’t exactly the quarter pole anymore, not with all teams playing 17 games instead of 16. However, this is the last time until December that all teams will have played the same amount of games at the end of a week of action.

With the Lions among the teams heading onto a bye in Week 5, let’s see how all the NFL teams stack up after the first four weeks of football. They’re divided into tiers, and within the individual tiers there is very little differentiation from the top to the bottom.

Top tier

1. Chiefs 4-0

2. Lions 3-1

3. Buccaneers 3-1

4. Vikings 4-0

5. Steelers 3-1

6. Texans 3-1

Next in line

7. Bills 3-1

8. 49ers 2-2

9. Seahawks 3-1

10. Commanders 3-1

11. Falcons 2-2

Mobile in either direction

12. Saints 2-2

13. Packers 2-2

14. Ravens 2-2

15. Eagles 2-2

16. Jets 2-2

17. Cowboys 2-2

Still battling

18. Colts 2-2

19. Chargers 2-2

20. Broncos 2-2

21. Bears 2-2

22. Raiders 2-2

One-win club

23. Cardinals 1-3

24. Bengals 1-3

25. Rams 1-3

26. Giants 1-3

27. Titans 1-3

28. Patriots 1-3

29. Browns 1-3

Bottom 3

30. Dolphins 1-3

31. Panthers 1-3

32. Jaguars 0-4

NFL Next Gen Stats: Falcons defense had a season-high pressure rate vs. Saints

NFL Next Gen Stats found the Falcons defense had a season-high pressure rate against the Saints, even though Derek Carr had his fastest windup to throw this year:

Everyone knew the New Orleans Saints offensive line was going to be at a disadvantage against the Atlanta Falcons. They were working without two injured starters in Erik McCoy and Cesar Ruiz, and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak tried to coach around those absences by speeding up Derek Carr’s windup. It worked, for a time, but ultimately the backups blocking for him fell apart.

Here’s what Week 4’s newsletter from NFL Next Gen Stats and Zebra Technologies had to say about the game:

“The Falcons defense generated a season-high 28.9% pressure rate despite Derek Carr averaging just 2.39 seconds to throw. Entering Sunday, the Falcons generated pressure on only 20.0% of dropbacks, the lowest rate in the NFL.”

Carr averaged 2.64 seconds to throw in Week 3, 2.81 seconds in Week 2, and 2.83 seconds in Week 1. So he was taking the snap, dropping back, reading the field and winding up to throw almost half a second faster in Week 4 than in the season opener. No wonder he wasn’t able to get off his first or second read very often.

Everyone’s hands are dirty here. Carr needs to both make better decisions with the ball and throw better passes, even if he’s facing more pressure than usual. That’s why he’s paid the big bucks. At the same time his offensive line needs to do a better job keeping him clean, even if guys like Shane Lemieux and Landon Young are normally spectators on gameday, not starters. And inexperienced starters like Trevor Penning must keep improving, too. The unit did some things well as a whole on Sunday. Connecting those positive moments and sustaining success is going to be their challenge moving forward.

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Watch: Lions surge out to 14-0 lead on Monday Night Football

Watch: Lions surge out to 14-0 lead on Monday Night Football

The Detroit Lions broke out their brand new black uniforms and blue helmets on Monday Night Football. They rewarded the Ford Field faithful with an offensive outburst in the new uniforms.

The Lions raced out to a 14-0 lead on the Seattle Seahawks thanks to some ground and pound and a huge play from the defense.

First up, the Detroit offense capped off a successful drive with a David Montgomery touchdown plunge on 3rd and goal:

Then a big play from the Lions defense set up the second score. Jack Campbell extricated the ball from Seahawks WR DK Metcalf, with cornerback Carlton Davis scooping it up and returning into the red zone. This time it was Jahmyr Gibbs breaking the end zone and pushing the Lions lead to 14-0, with Jake Bates nailing the extra point.

It’s not rocket-science, Ravens HB Derrick Henry is just unstoppable

It’s not rocket-science, a heavy dosage of run with HB Derrick Henry gives the Baltimore Ravens the best chance of win games.

Baltimore Ravens’ Derrick Henry is and should remain the primary weapon in offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s attack.

The Buffalo Bills are probably still having traumatic flashbacks from Henry, who finished week 4 with 199 rushing yards. Henry’s dominance allows tight-ends Isaiah Likely, Mark Andrews, and wide receiver Zay Flowers to thrive in the play-action pass game.

Henry has always been difficult to stop, but now he has a reputable reserve in Justice Hill to back him, and the best quarterback he’s ever played with in the NFL is Lamar Jackson. The endless weaponry with the  Ravens’ offensive personnel makes Henry even more dangerous.

It’s not rocket science. The Ravens’ use of 22 personnel and a heavy dosage of runs with Henry gives them the best chance of winning games.

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The Saints are talented, but they aren’t a good team yet

There’s talent on the Saints’ roster, but the way they’re losing games proves they aren’t a good team yet. They aren’t greater than the sum of their parts:

We were riding high after the first two weeks, but last-minute losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons have proven one thing: The New Orleans Saints are not a good team. Until proven otherwise, they are a talented but average team.

Chris Olave is a good player whose route-running allows him to create separation with regularity. Alvin Kamara has gained over 100 yards from scrimmage every week this season. Rashid Shaheed is an elite deep threat.

Defensively, Demario Davis is still one of the best linebackers in the league. Tyrann Mathieu’s nose for the ball hasn’t faded. Marshon Lattimore is still lockdown on the perimeter.

Talent is not the question, but talent doesn’t make you good. The Saints aren’t completing games. Better put, they are losing games in ways a good team shouldn’t.

Jordan Howden loses all spatial awareness and ran into Lattimore, setting up the Eagles’ game-winning score. This turned what should have been a short gain into 65 yards. Paulson Adebo grabbed a Falcons receiver after getting away with a shove past five yards downfield, putting Atlanta inn scoring position.

It’s irresponsible to boil down an entire 60-minute NFL game to one play, but close games are decided by a handful of moments. The Saints have been on the wrong side of those moments at the wrong times.

That time isn’t reserved for the final two minutes. Shaheed dropped a punt he had no business trying to field early in the Falcons game. The Saints can’t be called a good team until these type of mistakes are eradicated, and that goes back to coaching.

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Lions vs. Seahawks: Last-minute thoughts and final score prediction

Lions vs. Seahawks: Last-minute thoughts and final score prediction for the Week 4 matchup on Monday Night Football

It’s a beautiful morning as dawn just begins to creep up and the steam from my coffee wakes the body. The light from my laptop is brighter than the slowly rising sun as I write this. It’s Lions football day, as odd as that still seems.

For years, the Lions didn’t get primetime attention. As someone who typically goes to bed around 9:30, that suited me fine. Now that the team is successful and, dare I say, high-profile, it’s a fun new adjustment to earning these nontraditional starting times.

Here’s what’s rattling around my Lions brain about tonight’s Monday Night Football showdown with the unbeaten Seattle Seahawks as I enjoy the morning coffee.

Why I think the Lions will win

The matchup of the Lions rushing offense against the Seahawks dilapidated defensive front should be one Detroit can exploit. Even with Frank Ragnow out, and that definitely hurts the Lions’ run offense, the combination of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs should still find some room to run. Montgomery especially should be effective because of his ability to power through the first contact; Seattle’s linebackers and safeties are solid, but they’re not the types who can slow down what Montgomery offers in the B-gaps and certainly not with top DTs Byron Murphy and Leonard Williams out.

Aidan Hutchinson should be able to continue his Defensive Player of the Year front-runner status and impact the Seattle offense. Charles Cross is a good left tackle, but the Seahawks will start Stone Forsythe at right tackle and old friend Laken Tomlinson at left guard. Those are both prime attack points for Hutchinson, and DL coach Terrell Williams has shown he can vary alignments to get No. 97 in favorable matchups. This could be a big night for Levi Onwuzurike and his power-based game on the outside, too. Seattle has been vulnerable to the “heavy” EDGEs who can reset the line against the run.

The ability to win on both sides of the ball on first downs should set up the Lions to capitalize on third downs. Detroit has been very good on third downs on offense (45.2%–4th in the league) and defense (25.8%–3rd). About the only area the Seahawks offense has struggled is on third downs (36.8%–19th) and that’s because they’re not great at running the ball on first downs (3.6 yards per attempt–23rd). As long as LBs Jack Campbell and Alex Anzalone remain sharp against the run, the Lions defense can set up some third-and-longs that give the pass rush some chances to create big plays.

What worries me about the Seahawks

This is a good football team. I know, I know–they’ve played a cakewalk schedule. They’ve also feasted on that schedule, which is exactly what a good team does in playing inferior opponents.

Lesser Seattle teams than this edition have given the Lions fits lately, including last year. They play their own way and tend to dictate how the game flow goes, and that’s been a problem for this Lions coaching staff. These are the exact types of games where Detroit OC Ben Johnson gets away from basics and tries to prove things he doesn’t need to. They’re the types where Lions DC Aaron Glenn winds up being too reactive and doesn’t stick to his guns in man coverage and creative pass rushes. Geno Smith has a way of doing that to opposing teams.

I worry very much that the Lions will miss safety Brian Branch in this one. Seattle has three dangerous wide receivers, and Smith has proven he plays no favorites in getting the ball where it needs to go. Likely Branch replacement Brandon Joseph has struggled with tackling going back to college, and now he gets his primetime baptism with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett?! Suboptimal, to say the least.

Back to the recent success Seattle has had against the Lions for a minute…

I’m a believer that those sorts of things build upon themselves. Success begets success. Smith specifically is a very difficult matchup for the Lions because he’s a lot like Goff–smart, precise, flexible of mind and target–but he’s also capable of running a little if that door opens. He’s got tremendous confidence in his teammates and their ability to overcome challenges and win, and they’ve done it before in Detroit.

Final score prediction

I expect a tightly played, back-and-forth game between two teams that look like they could meet again in late January. The Lions will win if they’re better in the red zone and avoid giving up big plays. Alas, I just don’t feel it playing out that way.

Seahawks 23, Lions 21

Two key questions for the Lions heading into the Seahawks game

Two key questions for the Lions heading into the Seahawks game

How will the Lions interior offensive line perform without Frank Ragnow?

Frank Ragnow, the 2023 2nd-team All-Pro center, strained his left pec last game and is out for Monday night. It’s not expected to be a long-term issue but even a short-term loss to one of the NFL’s best centers is a big deal.

While it was not officially announced who will be starting at center, Jared Goff’s words suggest that Graham Glasgow will be moving from LG to C. This means two of the three spots along the interior line will be different.

The likely candidates to fill in at LG are Kayode Awosika, a 4th-year player who has started six games in his career, including last year’s conference championship, and Michael Niese, a 2nd-year player with no starts.

For a team that has struggled a bit with interior offensive line pass protection even when all starters were healthy, the performance with backups will be key. Can the interior offensive line protect Goff and open up holes in the running game?

What may help balance out the loss of Ragnow is that the Seahawks will be missing four impact players along the front seven – Leonard Williams DE, Byron Murphy DT, Boye Mafe LB, and Uchenna Nwosu LB.

Can the Lions pass defense compensate for the unexpected loss of Brian Branch?

After a stellar rookie year at nickel CB, Branch has made an excellent transition to the safety position this year being one of the NFL leaders in pass breakups. He suffered a concussion last game but passed through the 5-step concussion protocol and was ready to play. However, a surprise illness on Sunday gave Branch a “doubtful” designation which almost guarantees he will miss the Seahawks game.

Brandon Joseph, an undrafted 2nd-year player who has only appeared in five NFL games logging a total of five defensive snaps, figures to take Branch’s place. How he performs in his first extended action will be something to watch. The next man up after Brandon Joseph is Loren Strickland, an undrafted rookie who has yet to play a defensive snap.

Geno Smith and the talented Seahawks WR group of DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba will certainly test the fledgling backup Lions safety. Last year against the Lions, Smith went 32/41 for 328 yards and 2 TD’s. Can the Lions limit the Seahawks passing game this year?

In the Lions favor, the Seahawks will be playing their 3rd-string RT Stone Forsythe after George Fant was placed on IR earlier in the week. Fant was filling in for original starter Abe Lucas who has been on the PUP list all year.

If Aidan Hutchinson and the Lions pass rush can take advantage with quick pressures on Geno Smith, that will go a long ways in compensating for the loss of Branch.

Instant analysis of Patriots’ 30-13 Week 4 road loss to 49ers

The Patriots dropped their third straight loss on Sunday

Another ugly offensive showing ended with the New England Patriots tasting defeat for a third consecutive week. This time, the loss came at the hands of a desperate San Francisco 49ers team reeling from back-to-back losses.

There was no question who the more talented football team was on paper entering the game. To make matters worse, the Patriots caught the 49ers on a week when they were getting healthier on offense.

Tight end George Kittle and wide receiver Deebo Samuel both returned and made an impact on the game.

The patchwork offensive line for the Patriots was overwhelmed from the start. That led to quarterback Jacoby Brissett being under constant pressure and struggling to push the ball downfield. By the end of the game, the 49ers defense had racked up five sacks and 11 quarterback hits.

Turnovers were also a major issue for the Patriots. Brissett threw a pick-six and fumbled the ball three teams, with one being recovered by the 49ers. There’s no hope for the Patriots when they constantly turn the ball over.

Meanwhile, the defense held its ground before finally breaking down the stretch. 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy dropped back and delivered multiple deep passing plays that went for big yards against the Patriots’ defense.

Quite frankly, the unit is battered with injuries, and it looked tired from the offense constantly failing to sustain drives and only mustering 216 total yards in the game.

David Andrews, Kyle Dugger and Caedan Wallace were all injured in the game and ruled out. That could be something to keep an eye on heading into the Week 5 home game next Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.

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