Detroit Lions' Monday Morning Quarterback: A Good Start in Tampa Bay

The Game

The Lions started the 2011 season on the right foot by beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 27-20. 

The final score was not indicative of how dominant the Lions were in this game, but a combination of some early mistakes and conservative play-calling in the second half kept the score closer than it needed to be.

At the end of the day, it had to be confusing for Lions fans to watch their team trying to run out the clock for once.

The Good

Matthew Stafford

Stafford followed up a great preseason with an overall solid performance. The pick-six he threw early in the game, I believe, was a product of being too excited to play. In fact, several of his early throws were off the mark, but once he settled in and just played football, he was unstoppable. 

Stephen Tulloch 

Tulloch, easily the best offseason acquisition by the Lions, showed what a good MLB can do for a defense. Simply put, he was all over the field. He finished the day with a sack, a tackle for loss and two quarterback hits.

Calvin Johnson

Two touchdowns, an onside kick recovery and he even played a little defensive back—Johnson can simply do it all. 

His second touchdown of the day, when he jumped into the heavens to bring down a beautiful throw from Stafford, is something we should see every time the Lions are inside the 5-yard line.

Chris Houston

I thought Houston had an outstanding game. He was matched up against Mike Williams for most of the day and he nearly shut him out. He gave up one long reception (18 yards), but came back to intercept a pass in the end zone on the same drive.

The Defense

No defensive unit stood out as really dominant in this game. While that may sound like a bad thing, the reality is that it means the defensive unit as a whole played well. 

At one point, the Lions held a 324-54 edge in yardage. The defense did not give up a touchdown until late in the fourth quarter. Had the Lions not switched to a prevent defense, I believe they would not have given up any touchdowns.

The Bad

The Run Game

Early on in the game the Lions were effective in running the ball, but were using counters and other misdirection plays. Once the Buccaneers figured out what the Lions were doing, they were able to stop it.

It was especially disappointing in the fourth quarter, with the Lions trying to run out the clock. They couldn’t get much done on the ground.

The Prevent Defense

I just don’t get it.  The Lions almost blew this game because they started playing two deep safeties early in the fourth.

I know the thought process behind it—to prevent big plays—but when you are dominating an offense as the Lions defense was doing, why switch? 

Dropped Touchdown

It is tough enough to score in the NFL without giving away touchdowns, but that is exactly what Brandon Pettigrew did.

Matthew Stafford threaded a perfect pass to Pettigrew in the first half, but he simply dropped it. Pettigrew has had drop issues throughout his career and it has to be frustrating to the Lions, because he has good hands. 

The Ugly

Stupid Penalties

If I were Jim Schwartz, Stephen Peterman and Gosder Cherilus would both be doing a lot of running this week. What these guys are thinking when they hit someone a good three to five seconds after the whistle is something I will never understand.

Had the Lions lost this game, it would have been all on Cherilus. It wasn’t the 15 yards he cost the Lions, it was the extra 40 seconds he single-handedly gave the Buccaneers offense to work with.

If any good came out of the two penalties, it's that the Lions showed they finally have enough talent to overcome mental lapses by individual players.

My Prediction for This Game

I thought the Lions were going to lose this game. I felt the Bucs and Lions were similar teams and the home-field advantage would give the Bucs the edge.

I guess I forgot what it was like to have Stafford at the helm.

Misleading Stat of the Day: The Early Score

At one point the Lions were trailing, 10-3, but had outgained the Buccaneers, 147-1. A long kickoff return and Stafford’s pick-six contributed to the deficit.

Play of the Day: The first Calvin Johnson Touchdown

Facing a 4th-and-2 at the Bucs 36-yard line, the Lions went for it all and were able to score a touchdown. I love gutsy football and that is exactly that the Lions showed on this play—guts.

Quote of the Day

Coach Jim Schwartz: “We can play a lot better.” 

It sounds like coach speak, but the Lions can play a lot better. This game should have been a blowout and instead it came down to the wire.

Random Thoughts

So, who still thinks Josh Freeman or Mark Sanchez are better than Stafford?

Throw Sam Bradford on that list as well.

When will the Lions have a dominant run game?

Where was Titus Young?

I know it was his number in college, but it was weird seeing Brandon Pettigrew wearing No. 87.

Even though the Panthers lost, Cam Newton was a lot better than I thought he would be.

  

Overall Impression

For the first time in a long time, the Lions beat up on another team. Even in their blowout of the St. Louis Rams last year, it didn’t feel like the Lions were physically dominating.

The team's speed on defense is really starting to show. It seemed like the Lions had 20 men on the field at all times. Every time a tackle was to be made, there were at least two or three guys trying to make it.

Next Week

It is the home opener against the Kansas City Chiefs next week. You can bet the Chiefs will be in a foul mood after getting spanked by the Buffalo Bills, 41-7.