Running backs get top marks - Jamesstreeteatery

GLENDALE, Arizona – Dave Birkett evaluates the Detroit Lions’ performance after their 20-13 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at State Farm Stadium.

quarterback

Jared Goff didn’t play the same game statistically as he did last week in the loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he was much better overall. Goff made one mistake throwing an interception in the third quarter when he didn’t see linebacker Dennis Gardeck drop into coverage, but otherwise he threw just four incomplete passes (one when he completed a pass to Jahmyr Gibbs when no one was free). Goff threw for 198 yards and made big plays with his arm and feet. With two minutes left, he threw a pass on third-and-11 to Amon-Ra St. Brown that all but tied the game, and a few plays later he ran 8 yards on a bootleg to secure the win. The Lions didn’t ask much of Goff on Sunday, and maybe that should be the case with this offense. But whenever they asked him to make a play, he obliged. Grade: A-minus

Running backs

SHAWN WINDSOR: In a combative and perhaps even ugly victory against the Cardinals, the Detroit Lions find their way back to themselves

The Lions reestablished their offensive identity on Sunday, allowing Gibbs and David Montgomery 39 carries behind their strong offensive line. Montgomery had six carries for 39 yards on a tone-setting opening drive and finished the day with 106 yards. He ran with power even when there was no gap, such as when Penei Sewell and Kevin Zeitler miscommunicated up front and he broke a tackle to return to the line of scrimmage. Gibbs (16 carries, 83 yards) had a huge 14-yard run on a third-and-12 that set up a Lions touchdown late in the first half, and Montgomery (23 carries) made a rushed play on a screen when he changed the pass line for Goff after an Arizona defender scented the play. Both backs will find holes they missed when watching the film, but they sent a strong message to the Cardinals early that lasted throughout the game. Class: A

Receivers/Tight Ends

Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright saw a lot of action Sunday as the Lions relied on their two tight ends. LaPorta (two catches, 36 yards) was in and out of action because of an ankle injury and was in so much pain that he declined to speak with a reporter after the game. Wright (four catches, 34 yards) didn’t break a route on the Lions’ first drive of the second half as Goff expected, but played a key blocking role on the Lions’ big rushing day. St. Brown (seven catches, 74 yards) caught a 5-yard touchdown while Cardinals cornerback Starling Thomas was on his back and changed his route enough to gain man coverage on the Lions’ hook-and-ladder touchdown to Gibbs. Jameson Williams (one catch, 9 yards) had a quiet day against the Cardinals’ two-deep shell defense. Grade: B

Offensive line

Like Montgomery and Gibbs, the Lions’ offensive line put in a convincing performance after the offense relied a little too much on finesse last week. It wasn’t all perfect. Taylor Decker allowed a sack on Mack Wilson, Graham Glasgow took a costly false start penalty on third-and-1, Frank Ragnow missed a stunt that allowed the Cardinals a sack on a three-man pressure, and Sewell botched a block on the Lions’ botched fourth-and-1 attempt. But the line was overpowering early on, giving the Lions enough of a lead to play from the front the entire game. Ragnow and Zeitler created a nice cutback lane on Montgomery’s 11-yard run on the first play, and the line pushed Montgomery several yards on a few runs when he appeared to be held up. Grade: B-plus

Defensive line

JARED RAMSEY: Lions defense one of the best units in the NFL after the Arizona Cardinals shut down

Kyler Murray has a unique ability to keep plays alive and avoid pressure, and he did that at times Sunday. But the Lions held Arizona’s high-scoring offense to a season-low 13 points by staying disciplined in their running routes and shutting down the traditional run. Murray managed 45 yards on five mostly designed runs, while the Lions limited James Conner to 17 yards on the run game while losing a ton of front-four defenders to injuries. Aidan Hutchinson (six tackles) had a sack for the third straight game and another pressure from left end that forced Murray to go into the pocket when Levi Onwuzurike hit the Cardinals quarterback as he threw an incomplete pass on a third-and-2. Marcus Davenport (hand to face) and Josh Paschal (roughing) took costly penalties that gave the Cardinals first downs, and the Lions didn’t apply much pressure (four QB hits). But they made the Cardinals one-dimensional in the second half. Degree: A minus

Linebackers

Leading tackler Alex Anzalone missed Sunday’s game with a concussion and Derrick Barnes left the field in the first half with a knee injury, leaving Jack Campbell and Malcolm Rodriguez to play most of the snaps at linebacker. Neither made many tackles or made any spectacular plays, but they were active enough to limit Arizona’s running backs to 2.5 yards per carry. Jalen Reeves-Maybin took a sloppy late hit penalty that helped Arizona get into field goal range late in the first half, and Ben Niemann got a few snaps at strongside linebacker after Barnes’ injury. Murray’s first completion came at a weak spot in the zone between Campbell and Rodriguez. Grade: B

Defensive Backs

I thought the Lions’ secondary had its best game of the season on Sunday. Brian Branch made nine tackles, the most on the team, had two pass breakups and drew a holding penalty on a blitz while playing a big supporting role against the run. Carlton Davis III stopped Murray on a quarterback keeper short of the posts on fourth-and-one in the third quarter. And Kerby Joseph had an interception, another pass breakup on fourth down and stopped Murray on a scramble one yard short of a first down in an overall impressive performance. The secondary still has a lot of catching up to do. Marvin Harrison Jr. beat Davis and Branch on an over route for his touchdown and Terrion Arnold got his third pass interference penalty in as many games, but the coverage was tough and the unit delivered a handful of big plays. Grade: A-minus

Special teams

The Lions controlled field position the entire second half after Jack Fox threw a 61-yard punt on the Lions’ first possession of the third quarter that Khalil Dorsey sacked at the 2-yard line. Fox continues to be a weapon as a punter, returning 45.4 yards on five punts on Sunday and dropping four inside the 20-yard line. Jake Bates missed an extra point on the Lions’ second touchdown, but Arnold did a good job as a jammer on Kalif Raymond’s 17-yard punt return and the Cardinals didn’t return a punt all day. Grade: B-plus

Coaching

Dan Campbell and his coordinators developed a winning plan on Sunday that involved leaning on the running on offense and challenging Murray to beat them with his arm. It was an obvious challenge given the importance of the game, but Campbell still deserves credit for throwing the flag when the referees first ruled Murray had scored on fourth-and-1 in the third quarter. Campbell said he was told Montgomery was short on third-and-1 that preceded the Lions’ failed fourth attempt, although in hindsight that play may have been worth challenging too. Ben Johnson had a great play and design for the hook-and-ladder that led to a touchdown, and the Lions still haven’t lost two games in a row since October 2022. Grade: A-minus

Dave Birkett is the author of the new book “Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline.” Pre-order now from Reedy Press.

Contact him at [email protected]Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett.