Kevin Patra’s takeaways:
-
Lions pour it on with big plays in trouncing Titans. Big returns. Big runs. Big turnovers forced. Dan Campbell’s club blasted off, putting up a 50-burger before the third quarter even ended. Detroit’s first four touchdowns came on drives of two plays, one play, three plays and four plays, respectively. Jahmyr Gibbs rocketed for an untouched 70-yard TD. The Lions generated three significant returns (more on that later). And the defense forced four turnovers. The domination was so overwhelming that the Lions didn’t need much from MVP candidate Jared Goff , who completed 12 of 15 passes for a measly 85 yards and three touchdowns while taking four sacks before sitting out the final 12 minutes of the contest. Detroit ended the blowout with 61 net passing yards, a crazy anomaly in the Year of Our Lord, 2024. In a potential trap game sandwiched between NFC North battles in Minnesota and Green Bay, Campbell’s club moonwalked over the trap door. The sign of a great team is clicking on all three phases and trouncing a lesser opponent.
-
Titans continue to make backbreaking mistakes. Mason Rudolph and the offense moved the ball early, but turnovers, awful special teams and a trove of miscues on defense sunk Brian Callahan’s club. Early in the second quarter, Rudolph hit Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for a touchdown to make it 14-14. Detroit then blitzed Tennessee for 38 consecutive points. Whenever the Titans seem to figure out one issue, another hole springs a gushing leak. The offense moved the ball, outgaining Detroit, 417-225, but the defense made mental mistakes, leaving several Lions wide open in the red zone, the special teams was atrocious and the turnovers piled up. Calvin Ridley finally showed up, earning 143 yards on 10 catches, but it was all for naught. Given Sunday’s performance, Tennessee will likely continue to be sellers heading toward the trade deadline.
-
Lions’ return game shines. Detroit put the “dynamic” in the return phase. Khalil Dorsey blasted off for a 72-yard kickoff return. Kalif Raymond then took a punt return 64 yards. Those sprints set up short-field TDs. Early in the third quarter, Raymond finished the deal, weaving for a 90-yard punt return touchdown. The Lions generated 262 return yards on six total returns, with Raymond earning 190 of those. The unit’s +196 return yards over expected is the most in a game since at least 2018 (previous high, +160), per Next Gen Stats. Toss in kicker Jake Bates netting a career-long 51-yard field goal, and it was a banner day for the Lions special teams unit.
Next Gen Stats Insight for Titans-Lions (via NFL Pro): Jahmyr Gibbs reached a top speed of 22.03 mph on his 70-yard TD run, the second-fastest speed by a ball carrier this season (behind only Brian Thomas Jr. in Week 5, 22.15).
NFL Research: Amon-Ra St. Brown is the first Lions player with a receiving TD in five consecutive games in a season since Calvin Johnson in 2011.
