David Blough, Detroit Lions (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
After a strong start, the Detroit Lions collapsed in the second half against the Colts as they lost their preseason finale by a score of 27-17.
After starting slow in the first two games in the preseason, Detroit flipped the script and started off really strong. However, the team seemed to run out of gas on both sides of the ball.
The good news is now the Lions have two weeks to reset and recharge before their season-opener against the San Francisco 49ers.
Offense- 2/5 Stars
After an ugly first drive that ended with a Tim Boyle fumble, the offense started to heat up with a couple of long touchdown drives (one led by Boyle the other led by David Blough).
However, the Colts’ defense adapted and almost completely shut down the Lions in the second half. As Detroit was only able to muster a Zane Gonzalez field goal after a Colts turnover.
Each other quarterback turned the ball over, both of which led to Indianapolis field goals. One was the aforementioned fumble by Boyle and the other was an interception on a truly awful pass from David Blough.
Overall it was a pretty mediocre game for Anthony Lynn’s offense, albeit with next to no starters.
Best offensive player: Jermar Jefferson
Coming into this game the competition for the third running back spot was seemingly wide open. After this game, I think it is safe to pencil Jefferson in now. He was always the favorite to land the role, but a real solid performance solidified his case.
While Jefferson wasn’t spectacular, aside from an incredible hurdle, he did everything he needed to. He ran the ball well, showcasing the one-cut ability that made him stand out in training camp. He also did a good job of keeping his legs moving and fighting through contact to pick up extra yards.
If the backs ahead of him are healthy he shouldn’t see the field much, but he looks to be a good insurance policy for the Detroit backfield.
Worst offensive player: Breshad Perriman
There’s not much to say, Perriman was firmly on the roster bubble and he managed one catch for six yards while adding two drops. That is not how you make an NFL roster.
Perriman brings impressive speed and size to the receiver room, but he hasn’t been able to showcase it so far, and now his spot on this team is up in the air.