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same age Brand new Lions babies, the Detroit Lions won a playoff game!
This week’s movers are:
Out of stock: CJ Gardner-Johnson, S
statistics: 7 tackles
Despite all the hype surrounding Ceedy Deuce’s return, he was a dud against the Rams. Gardner-Johnson looked like he was a step behind where he should be all day. On the play where Puka Nacua scored a 50-yard touchdown to Cam Sutton, No. 2 was nowhere to be found with over-the-top help until Nacua got about 40 yards downfield. When Gardner Johnson showed up, he completely missed the tackle and Nacua ran for a touchdown. But that wasn’t all. On the next drive, a holding penalty was tagged giving the Rams a first down.
To Gardner-Johnson’s credit, he had a great PBU against Cooper Kupp in the fourth quarter, giving the Rams a field goal. But on this day, he didn’t insist on breaking through the safety rotation, which he didn’t want.
Stock Neutral: Jahmil Gibbs, RB
statistics: 8 rushes, 25 yards, 1 TD, 4 receptions, 43 yards
Gibbs started the game red hot, taking hits on every hole and tearing through the Rams defense. His first six touches of the day resulted in 31 rushing yards (including an 11-yard touchdown run) and 43 receiving yards.
But around the two-minute warning, Gibbs hit a wall. Newcomers began running east and west rather than north and south. He had just 4 total net yards on his remaining five carries at the end of the third quarter. But the biggest mistake was Gibbs flying wide during the two-minute warning in the first half. This left 40 seconds extra before the Rams finally got the ball back. Fortunately, it didn’t come back to hurt the Lions, who got off to a hot start before dropping Gibbs in the final stages.
Stock up on: Michael Badgley, K
statistics: 1/1 FG, 3/3 PAT
Badgley’s story this season has been incredible. After doing everything the team asked of him in 2022, the Lions released him in favor of ex-Reilly Patterson in a trade. But the grass wasn’t greener, and it became clear early in the season that the Lions didn’t trust Patterson to play.
Around mid-season, Badgley was returned to the Lions’ practice squad. We eventually learn that he won a five-week mid-season kicking contest that ended with Patterson and Lyons falling out.
Now, on the Detroit Lions’ biggest stage in decades, Badgley left no doubt as he trotted out for a 54-yard field goal, the Lions’ longest of the season. What a story of salvation for the badgers.
Stock up: Jared Goff, QB
statistics: 22/27, 277 yards, 1TD
Goff also came to play on the biggest stage of the season. He and the Lions’ offense got off to a hot start, with Goff completing all of his passes on the first touchdown drive. Goff played one of the most complete games from start to finish Sunday night, connecting with all kinds of receivers. He started with a few shots on his fellow former Ram Josh Reynolds, pivoted to baiting Jahmil Gibbs, got Bionic’s Sam LaPorta involved, and, of course, eventually Amon. = I turned my attention to La St. Brown.
His most memorable play was a 3rd-and-15 to St. Brown that went well beyond his stick on the sideline. I focused on Goff all season and said he couldn’t make that pitch, but on the biggest stage he proved me wrong.
Of course, it would be remiss of me not to mention Goff’s outrageous pass attempt that resulted in a fumble. But when you take that into account, it was as close to a perfect game as Goff could get.
update: Dan Campbell agrees.
Oh, he had to let himself go and stick it to the coach who ended Sean McVay’s season. It was a great night for Goff.
Stock Neutral: Cam Sutton, CB
statistics: 2 tackles, 1 pass defense
In my Week 16 stock report, I wrote about the Detroit Lions cornerback’s circle of life.
The Detroit Lions have a clear role when it comes to cornerback. It goes like this: (1) comes in with low expectations -> (2) performs above expectations against WR2/WR3 -> (3) inserts him as CB1 due to injury or lack of CB1 -> ( 4) Flaming -> Go back to step 1.
Sutton has been firmly entrenched in Step 4 in recent weeks, and it showed on Sunday. In a game against the Vikings in December, Sutton suffered several flat feet. The same thing happened again Sunday when Puka Nacua ran right by Sutton on his way to a 50-yard touchdown. The second half of the season was a long one for Sutton, and it became painfully clear that he was not the answer at CB1.
Sutton got away with a controversial no-PI call to stop Los Angeles’ offense on the Rams’ final drive and give the ball back to Detroit to seal the deal. Also he’s a week away which means Cam will be riding his roller coaster in Sutton again.
Stock: Penei Sewell, Otto
Just days after being named first-team All-Pro, Penei Sewell earned his keep. It was the rematch we had been hoping for since Sewell faced Aaron Donald in his rookie year, and it did not disappoint. On the Lions’ first drive of the game, Sewell led the Lions’ offensive line to deftly handle the Rams defense and head for a strong touchdown. The Lions offense never looked back for the rest of the game. It wasn’t anything new for Sewell, but it was a reminder of why he was nominated for All-Pro in his biggest moment.
quick hit
stock up
Jake McQuade, Louisiana: McQuaid, like Badgley, was released by the team, but returned midseason and has held his spot ever since. He is also a former Ram player who was able to pull off a very meaningful win against his former team.
Josh Reynolds, WR: The list of former Rams goes on and could go on all night. But Reynolds was particularly good tonight, playing in one of his signature games as Goff’s favorite target from the start.
out of stock
Kirby Joseph, S: Joseph’s biggest play Sunday night was getting a personal foul penalty for pulling a Rams player off the pile. It was a painstaking play that could not have happened in such a big game. He also missed a tackle midway through the fourth, giving Puka Nacua another 15 yards or so after the catch.
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