I think the answer to this question is #97. They had to double (and more at times) team him all night, if they had not, he would have had 7 sacks himself. We haven’t had an elite level talent at edge…ever, unless you think maybe Bubba Baker was but definitely not Patrick Swilling.
My definition of elite is, you can line up and beat any team, playing any style. We’ve had moments where we have played elite. We’ve had moments we’ve beaten elite teams, by forcing them to play our game. This matchup, we had to do something we don’t normally do and that has been our nightmare. How to stop a running QB who can also throw. That’s been a killer for us for years, primarily because AG “I don’t believe in a spy”.
First, major credit for the Lions for bringing in Cunningham and using both his knowledge and experience, as well as his skillset, to test the defense. Guess what? He was killing them. They couldn’t contain him. Then, they made changes. They adjusted. They learned from mistakes and learned what Lamar is looking for on the field and how to take it away. Then, they went out and executed the plan. It wasn’t perfect all night but the offense did their part to score, and the defense got better against Lamar as the night went on.
There is a reason Lamar Jackson absolutely dominates the NFC. We are not used to playing unicorns like that. The AFC has Mahomes, Lamar, Allen. They all play each other, and my buddy says the reason why those teams can contain each other is because to play against those elite talents, you have to have experience and know how to contain them. Last night, we proved we learned how to contain them.
Before last night, I thought the Lions would lose to Lamar. Lose to Allen. Lose to Hurts coming up. Now? We have proven can beat anyone, anywhere AND any style. That’s what I mean when I say we are officially elite.
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1996-2001 Robert Porcher called with 68 sacks and 3 Pro Bowls. He’d like to have a word.
Amen. Porcher was an absolute beast. Him and Scroggins together were too much for a lot of teams.
I really don’t want to damper the good feelings, but it was posted in the gameday thread too. For a long time, Hutch was losing battles to even single TE’s. However, he turned it on towards the end of that game. I am hoping he is still getting his conditioning and game shape back but as of right now, AQM was the real straw that stirred the drink at DE last night. Hutch was complimenting him.
I didn’t think the Lions would win that game either. I thought it would be a game very similar to the Lions/Cowboys game from 2023 with the Lions having a chance to win but the Ravens ultimately pulling through because of the home field. Hat’s off to Dan and the boys for pulling it off. That said, for me the thing that makes this team elite is the fact that Dan has instilled a very aggressive culture where they don’t take what you give them…they take what they want. Jimmy Johnson’s Cowboys were that way and that is a very good reason why I rooted for that team (well my dear sweet mother is a hook 'em horn Texas girl). But looking at this Lions team, because I admirer how they are, indeed, a take what they want style team is the number one reason why I have never had a melt-down about any results this team has produced. Disappointing losses, sure, but I just have such faith and confidence in this team and its leaders (Holmes & Dan) that I simply just let things play out. But I do know and understand this…you will see games like yesterday, you will see games like week one at Green Bay…but lord do I NOT WANT TO SEE games like last year’s playoff game against Washington. I probably will, but please not this season!
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AQM is in the top 5 in sacks after 3 games. No one saw that coming.
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Yeah, I considered him, and he was a very good edge, a pro bowler, but “elite”? I don’t think so. Did they need to game plan around him? Did they double and triple team him? I don’t think so. I loved Porcher, he was a fantastic teammate and really good edge but nowhere near Hutch.
Really does show how every rating system misses things.
Lamar mosdef had his moments, plenty of them. And, IMO, he’s the most fearsome offensive player in the league. Every time the Lions swarmed him, for every split second that they did NOT get him down - and there were many - my heart crawled further up my throat. Dude is scary-AF!
But the also missed some KEY throws, took bad sacks, should have been picked at least once, and much of the fan talk and pundit talk is about how the Lions bottled him up. And, for ALL that, he had a 148 QB rating.
That is Lamar. He is an elite talent. He is going to get his. That throw to Andrews for the TD? Indefensible.
That game had the ebb and flow you expect from two great teams. Both of them had their moments that they were playing their game and making the other team look bad. That’s exactly what elite football looks like. In the second half, once we got the lead and then Hutch got the punchout, the Lions started closing down like a boa constrictor. The more the Ravens struggled, the tighter the squeeze became until it was all over.
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Our leadership knew it could happen
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The Eagles look beatable.
They’re nowhere near as dominant looking as they were last year.
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Super enjoyable game last night. It reminded me of that on-another-planet feeling we experienced in the first half of that NFC Championship game in SF, where we were doing whatever we wanted to do on offense. Impressively, Sheppard made key adjustments and Lamar couldn’t get untracked in the 2nd half. Their defensive front was worn out after those two 98 and 95 yd drives. So we just kept leaning on them. So demoralizing to the entire team when your opponent is running it right at you and you can’t stop it.
Some observations:
- Branch holds onto that easy interception and the score is probably a lot more lopsided.
- Terrion struggled badly in the first half.
- Kerby was silent.
- The LB’s played perhaps their best game of the MCDC reign- especially Captain Jack.
- AQM has been a revelation. If he can continue to bend the edge, and collapse the pocket, then once Alim is back and Tyleik develops a little, we should be putting serious and consistent heat on opposing QBs.
- Tremendously impressed with Tate Ratledge last night. He and Penei are road grading massive holes on that right side.
- Loved John Morton’s WR option pitch for the Gibbs TD. Loved his 4th and 2 heavy run-look pass play to ARSB to seal it.
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I’m a bit more with you on this. Two weeks ago the sky was falling. Now we’re world champs. 
But the only thing that matters is that you’re healthy and peaking come Dec/Jan and playing your best football.
We looked really damn good last night. But I’m for taking it one game at a time. Hoping we don’t get any injuries. Making sure we don’t get too far ahead of ourselves until we are in the SB. I’m pretty sure DC and ARSB would agree with that path!
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Amen! 
This isn’t real money @Jman oh, 6-1 now I get it.
One game at a time, nothing is a given, just keep putting in the work and the rest will fall in place. Its game 3 lot of football left to play. Elite will be the last guy standing.
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The entire schedule looks less daunting to me than it did coming into the season.
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Were something to be reckoned with when we have health, that’s for sure.
Indeed. When we walk into the toughest place to win on the road over the past 5 years, and manhandle one of the NFL’s top teams with a 2-time MVP Hall of Famer under center, everything looks a lot more hopeful.
On a separate note, I’ll feel a lot better about sustaining the IOL domination we witnessed last night if we can get Frazier healthy and repping in practice so he’s ready to step in if there are any niggles to manage. Between LG, C, and RG we are bound to have to sub in a guy for a game or two. Would like that to be Frazier.
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