Adrian Peterson: Why Can't We End Up '14-2' or '12-4?'
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Simply said, the Lions don't look anything like playoff contenders through the first two weeks of the NFL season.
Not only are they 0-2.
They're also a very bad-looking 0-2.
They've been outscored, 63-21, by their first two opponents -- the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers -- in their last five quarters of play.
It's led to this Sunday's game with the Arizona Cardinals being basically a must-win game.
Detroit veteran running back Adrian Peterson referred to it as such and expressed that there's still a long season ahead of him and his teammates during a video conference with Detroit media Thursday.
"You know, there's 14 more games out there. So, who to say we won't go 14-2? Who to say we won't go 12-4? So, you know, there's a lot of football left. And the only things we can focus on right now is correcting the things we did bad in those games. You know, eliminating those mistakes and becoming a better team overall. And that's been the focus this week, getting ready and preparing for Arizona," Peterson said.
Detroit Lions running back Adrian Peterson
© Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
The missed block
Stafford's lone interception last week came at a time when the Packers were starting to steal momentum back.
Green Bay running back Aaron Jones had just rushed for a 75-yard touchdown to kick off the second half and to extend the Packers' lead to 24-14.
Then, on the Lions' second offensive possession of the half, Detroit franchise passer Matthew Stafford threw a pick-six that ultimately took the remaining wind out of him and his teammates' "sails."
The Packers never looked back, and went on to score 11 more points. Meanwhile, Stafford & Co. scored just one second-half touchdown.
On that back-breaking pick, Peterson missed a block, which led to University of Michigan product and Green Bay outside linebacker Rashan Gary having a clean path to Stafford.
While the Lions' job, as a team, is to erase everything about the loss from their memory banks, Peterson surely hasn't forgotten about the crucial mistake he made on the Stafford interception.
"It definitely contributed to the interception, especially (after) watching the film and seeing him be under duress," Peterson commented. "I made that bad decision come quicker. But, yeah, you want to get that guy down."
Peterson added, "He (Gary) kind of just went inside and made an athletic play. You know, those guys get paid on the other side of the ball as well. And on that snap, he won and was able to apply pressure on our quarterback sooner than he expected."
Stopping Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray
It is no secret Detroit's primary objective on defense will be to limit what second-year quarterback Kyler Murray can accomplish for the Cardinals offense.
Peterson has offered advice to his teammates on what he thinks they need to do when the opportunity presents itself to tackle Murray.
"Just watching the film on him. He's dangerous with his arms, those legs man. He is so sweet, so explosive, so quick. He's that type of guy that you have to take your shot. If you break -- if you stop your feet, you're in trouble. So I've been telling guys, 'Hey, listen, don't stop your feet. Take your shot.' Whenever you got them out there, you're in pursuit. Just take your shot, man. That's going to be your best chance to make a play, because if you stop your feet, it's done."
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