Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Jalen Carter Position: DT School: Georgia Class: Junior Height: 6-3 Weight: 310 Background Former 5
This past Sunday the Detroit Lions set out to prove that their week 1 rushing performance in a hard fought defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles was no fluke. They managed to gash the Washington Commanders for (191) yards on just (24) attempts, that’s an average of (8.0) yards including a (58) yard run from Amon-Ra St.Brown. Star RB D’Andre Swift, who was hampered by an ankle issue throughout the week managed to chip in with 2 huge plays including a (50) yard run and a (22) yard TD reception despite being on a noted snap count.
The Commanders on the other hand had major issues offensively just getting their run game ignited for a couple of drives. RB Antonio Gibson never was allowed to get started from the first drive. The Lions defensive front 7 played their best on Sunday holding Gibson to just (28) yards on (14) Carries. The lack of overall touches were primarily due to the 22-0 deficit Detroit placed them in early. Washington had a dreadful 1st half offensively with only (56) total yards on (27) plays run, and giving the Lions short fields leading to big plays.
Rookie Aidan Hutchinson bounced back from a rough first career game with a performance that showed exactly why he was taken 2nd Overall. The edge rusher racked up (3) sacks, (8) pressures, and (6) tackles for a defense that held the Commanders scoreless in the first half, and rendered their downfield attack obsolete for the majority of the game outside of 3 plays. QB Carson Wentz was under duress all game, against a Lions pass rush that were given the opportunity to pin back their ears and go hunt, due to Washington’s inability to generate any threat on the ground; not to mention Safeties Deshon Elliot, and Tracy Walker were sniffing around the line of scrimmage routinely.
Amon-Ra St.Brown and QB Jared Goff did most of the heavy lifting on the offensive side of the ball for the most part by starting and closing the show. St.Brown was a thorn in the Commanders side to the result of (9) catches for (116) yards and (2) tds on just (12) targets. He and Jared Goff have had an excellent connection since day 1 so it’s no surprise that Amon-Ra set an NFL record recording (8+) catches, and a TD in (6) straight games. It wasn’t completely clean nor pretty but when the bell needed to be answered Goff and the passing game came through. The Commanders were able to make a second half run that would eventually reach a 29-21 score with 7:08 remaining in the 4th, until Goff found St. Brown on a quick out for a 12 yard TD pass with 7:00 minutes on the clock pushing Detroit ahead 36-21 after the extra point and applying more pressure to the Commanders offense. They would score another td later but it wasn’t enough as the Lions would stage off the late rally and defeat the Commanders to improve their record to (1-1) on the short season.
Inside the Numbers
Commanders
Lions
Jalen Carter Position: DT School: Georgia Class: Junior Height: 6-3 Weight: 310 Background Former 5
This past Sunday the Detroit Lions set out to prove that their week 1 rushing
Tanner McKee Position: QB School : Stanford Class : Junior Height : 6-6 Weight :
Christian Gonzalez School: Oregon (Via Colorado Transfer) Conference: Pac-12 Position: CB Class: Junior Home State:
Jalen Carter Position: DT School: Georgia Class: Junior Height: 6-3 Weight: 310 Background Former 5