Credit: Mike Mulholland/Getty Images
The Detroit Lions stunned the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, winning 30-12.
The win is Detroit’s second of the season. It also moves them out of the first overall pick with a 2-11-2 record, as the Jacksonville Jaguars dropped to 2-12 with a loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday.
Despite all the injuries and illnesses, the Lions continue to battle. Dan Campbell’s team dominated a sure-fire playoff team, and it was easily the best the team has looked all year.
The Lions controlled the clock, and played excellent football on both offense and defense. It was a complete effort.
Detroit Lions Week 15 Report Card: A shocking win
Offense-4/5 Stars
For a majority of the game, Detroit did whatever they wanted to offensively. And it started right from the first drive.
The Lions opened the game with a 15-play, 72-yard drive that ended with a field goal. The drive took nearly nine minutes off the clock.
After that, Detroit started to pile on the points. Jared Goff threw first half touchdowns to Amon-Ra St. Brown and Josh Reynolds to give the Lions a 17-0 lead at halftime.
In the second half the offense slowed. But the Lions still scored 30 points for the second time all season, and the first time since Week 1’s rally got them there.
The run game was prominent again on Sunday. Craig Reynolds led the way with another strong performance, as he had 112 yards on 26 carries.
However, it would be unfair to not mention how good Goff was in this game. He only threw for 216 yards, but he threw three touchdowns and completed over 80 percent of his passes (21-for-26).
Consistency has been a bit of an anathema to Goff for most of the season, but like the rest of the team this was easily his most complete effort. Considering how good he has been against the Cardinals in his career, maybe Goff’s showing shouldn’t have been as surprising.
The offense played a really solid game from start to finish, and there’s nothing really to complain about (aside from one player which we will get into in a moment).
Best offensive player: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown
The Lions’ rookie receiver has turned into the team’s most reliable pass catcher. He now has double-digit targets in three straight games, with a touchdown in two of them.
St. Brown caught his second-career touchdown pass to open up the second quarter.
It’s clear that the coaching staff has emphasized getting St. Brown the ball. He is repaying the faith they have in him by providing a sure-handed option for Goff to turn to.
Worst offensive player: RB Godwin Igwebuike
For some reason in the last two weeks, ball security has become a major issue for Igwebuike.
He only got two carries in this game, and still managed to turn the ball over. At the time of Sunday’s fumble, it appeared as if that could be the start of a comeback attempt by the Cardinals.
Luckily for Igwebuike, Detroit immediately forced a turnover of their own to recapture the momentum. But that does not excuse Igwebuike’s mistake.
He could be the odd-man out if D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams get healthy soon. No matter what Reynolds has leap-frogged Igwebuike on the depth chart.