In the second game of the Darell Bevell era for the Detroit Lions, the team was not able to pull off a win as they had in Chicago the week before.
This time around, the Lions struggled to stop the now 10-3 Green Bay Packers from possessing the football and taking control of the entire game.
There’s plenty of players who struggled throughout but don’t let the loss take away from a few players who did manage to put on good performances.
Stud: T.J. Hockenson
Hockenson has become Stafford’s safety net this season. He opened up the game with a one-yard reception for a touchdown and later contributed a few first downs for Detroit. He would end the day with a team leading six catches for 43 yards and a score.
Dud: Oday Aboushi
Aboushi was getting bullied by Green Bay defensive lineman Dean Lowry, who easily shoved the eight-year veteran offensive guard to the ground to get a sack on Matthew Stafford.
Tack on his second-quarter false start, and it’s safe to say that Aboushi was the weak link of the offensive line unit in this game.
Stud: Mohamed Sanu
The veteran wide receiver was brought up from the practice squad three weeks ago and has been a capable replacement for Kenny Golladay.
On the Lions’ first offensive drive, Sanu hauled in two receptions for 37 yards, helping the team move quickly down the field for a T.J. Hockenson score.
Dud: Duron Harmon
Harmon, who has been Detroit’s best safety this season, certainly didn’t look the part against Green Bay.
On the Packers’ first touchdown of the game, Harmon whiffed on a tackle and failed to bring down Davante Adams. He later whiffed on another pass to Adams on Green Bay’s following drive.
Stud: “Dagger Time”
The mantra that was toted prior to the season beginning has finally made its way to the gridiron.
The concept of “dagger time” is that the Lions needed to play more aggressively in critical times of the game, something they prepared for in two-minute and red-zone drills at practice. Once they took the field in week one, “dagger time” was nowhere to be found.
With Bevell now calling the shots in Detroit, the team on both offense and defense has put on much stronger performances. The best example of this was the defense forcing a punt near the end of the first half to give the Lions back the ball with hopes of taking the lead. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to capitalize, but it’s clear that “dagger time” is working under Bevell and his coaching style.
Dud: The pass rush
Zero sacks. One quarterback hit.
The Lions desperately need Everson Griffen and Trey Flowers back on the active roster.
Stud: Jamal Agnew
Agnew’s 75-yard kick return was his best of the season and gave the Lions the chance to come back late in the fourth quarter. The offense wasn’t able to capitalize on it, but Agnew did his job and did it well. The gadget player also had one rush for 11 yards and one reception for four yards.
Dud: Jahlani Tavai
Tavai just isn’t the same player that we saw last season.
Playing from the inside linebacker position, Tavai looked very lethargic in coverage. This was most clear on the Robert Tonyan touchdown in the fourth quarter, where Tavai was in a jog a few steps behind the former Lions tight end.
On what felt like just about every big play that Green Bay made, Tavai always seemed to be there. Unfortunately, just not in a way that helped Detroit.
Jahlani Tavai is always on the end of plays. Not like, *ending* plays but like the play ends and there’s Tavai.
— ty (@Finchty) December 13, 2020
Dud: Matt Nelson
The former college defensive lineman had a fairly good day overall, but two bad reps are all anyone will remember. Nelson allowed a sack from Rashan Gary in the first half, and then committed a holding penalty that negated a late-game rushing touchdown from Chase Daniel.