Team Grades: Lions Start Off Hot Then Fade Out In Loss To Chargers
By Danny Cox
When the game started, the Detroit Lions came out and looked as if they were going to run away with it. Actually, early on, they were running away with it when they were up 21-3. All of a sudden, they gave up 30 straight points before scoring one more garbage-time touchdown, but it was too little and too late.
It's hard to understand, but the Lions looked like two completely different teams from one half to the next and the invisibility of wide receiver Calvin Johnson didn't help.
Offense: C
In the first half, the offense would easily get a high B+ or even almost jump into the A range of grades. They had some short fields though and didn't have to do a whole lot on two drives, but their opening drive was an 80-yard beauty. From that point on, Matthew Stafford and the Lions could do nothing.
Stafford then threw two interceptions. The running game couldn't get going at all and only amassed 69 total yards. Calvin Johnson caught just two passes for 39 yards and was only targeted four times. It went from great to awful in a matter of minutes.
Defense: D+
The defense also went from great to awful in no time as the Chargers were being stopped at every single turn. All of a sudden, Danny Woodhead scored a touchdown on a nine-yard run and the comeback was on for San Diego. Except for an interception by Darius Slate right before halftime, the Lions had nothing go right on defense from halfway in the second quarter until the end of the game.
Special Teams: B-
Ameer Abdullah looked good on kickoff returns and even had a nice 48-yard return. Golden Tate had two decent punt returns. Matt Prater hit all four of his extra points, which are much longer this year per the rule change. Sam Martin had a low yards-per-punt average, but did get three inside the Chargers' 20.
Coaching: C-
Lions head coach Jim Caldwell called a great game for the first half, but then just watched his team seem to almost totally disappear. It's not entirely certain what happened, but the Lions collapse came and went with very little running game and a defense that came up close to 500 yards of total offense. A number of things need to change and fast.
Danny Cox knows a little something about the NFL, whether it means letting you know what penalty will come from the flag just thrown on the field or quickly spouting off who the Chicago Bears drafted in the first round of the 1987 draft (Jim Harbaugh). He plans on bringing you the best news, previews, recaps, and anything else that may come along with the exciting world of the National Football League. Danny is a freelance writer covering all things NFL. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
