Lions' Week 15 Studs and Duds
There’s an adage in the NFL that any team can win on any given Sunday.
The Detroit Lions proved just how true that statement is, taking the Arizona Cardinals to the woodshed in a 30-12 pummeling Sunday. The win is Dan Campbell’s second as the team’s head coach.
The Lions improve to 2-11-1 on the year, which currently moves them out of the first overall draft choice for the 2022 NFL Draft. There are still three games remaining on the schedule, though.
Here are the studs and duds from the performance.
STUD: Jared Goff, QB
The star of the show was Goff, who turned in his best performance as a Lion in the team’s victory. He finished the afternoon 21-for-26 for 216 yards and three touchdowns, playing turnover-free football while extending drives with timely throws.
He set the tone with a 15-play, 63-yard drive that ended with a field goal. After the defense stopped the Cardinals, it was an eight-play possession that ended with a 37-yard pass from Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown.
The biggest drive was the last one of the first half. Leading 10-0, Detroit elected to go for it on fourth-and-1 from Arizona’s 28-yard line. Goff hit St. Brown on a screen for six yards, then Josh Reynolds for a 22-yard score on the next play to send Detroit into the locker room up 17.
He added a late touchdown pass to Jason Cabinda that was set up by an Amani Oruwariye interception.
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DUD: Halapoulivaati Vaitai, OG
Vaitai struggled at points Sunday. He was pushed around in certain pass-protection situations, as Goff was hurried on occasions. Chandler Jones and Rashard Lawrence took turns beating him off the ball.
Lawrence tossed him aside twice on run plays, knocking running back Craig Reynolds for losses on both occasions. He was also beaten on the touchdown pass from Goff to Josh Reynolds, only saved by Goff’s quick release.
Vaitai is entering a crucial stretch in his season, with his role for next season on the line. What he does will have a say in where he is heading into 2022.
STUD: Craig Reynolds, RB
Playing in his second game as a Lion, Reynolds showed why he belongs on the active roster. The Kutztown University product showed a knack for finding the open holes, as he notched career-high marks in both carries and rushing yards.
He finished with 23 carries for 112 yards. He was explosive at points, breaking off a 27-yard run on the team’s opening drive. What kept him going, however, was his consistency. Reynolds charged forward each time he touched the ball, becoming a reliable presence in the backfield.
Without Jamaal Williams and D’Andre Swift, Reynolds has played his way into a roster spot at the very least. This Lions team seems to have uncovered a gem that will be coveted in the offseason by teams in need of a ball-carrier.
DUD: Godwin Igwebuike, RB
While Reynolds shined, Igwebuike found his way into the spotlight in a bad way. For the second straight game, he lost a fumble on the team’s first drive of the second half.
The defense bailed him out with an interception, but it wasn’t a great look for a player that could be playing for a roster spot in 2022. He finished with just two carries for zero yards, as Campbell continued to feed Reynolds down the stretch.
Igwebuike still handles kick return duties, but had only one return for 17 yards. He needs strong performances to finish the season, if he wants to be a Lion next season.
STUD: Charles Harris, EDGE
Speaking of players playing for contracts, Harris proved just how valuable he can be, with a monstrous performance Sunday. He led the team in tackles with 12, and flew around the field.
He was credited with 1.5 sacks, chasing down Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray throughout the afternoon. Harris landed two quarterback hits, and finished with three tackles for loss. He also tackled Rondale Moore for loss on Arizona’s first possession, to force a punt and set the tone for the defense.
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DUD: Brock Wright, TE
Without T.J. Hockenson for the remainder of the season, the Lions are forced to see what they have in players like Wright. Though he had been serviceable in previous games, Wright was a non-factor in Sunday’s win. He had just one target, and didn’t have a catch.
In addition, Wright set the team back with a false start on a fourth-and-1 in the second quarter. Had he not jumped early, the Lions would’ve converted the first down on a drive that ultimately ended with a punt.
