Regardless of 5 interceptions from quarterback Jared Goff, the Detroit Lions overcame a 16-point halftime deficit to knock off the Houston Texans 26-23 on “Sunday Evening Soccer.”
Listed below are 5 takeaways from Sunday’s nightcap.
Lions escape, win seventh-straight with walk-off subject aim
On an evening the Lions didn’t play nicely, they discovered a strategy to come out on prime courtesy of two Jake Bates subject targets within the remaining 5 minutes.
Whereas Bates’ 58-yarder tied the sport at 23, he received the sport for Detroit with a walk-off 52-yard subject aim as time expired.
If the remainder of the league was not already on discover, the Lions are going to be a tough out, particularly if they’ll overcome a five-interception recreation. Whereas their win was ugly, the Lions are nonetheless atop the NFC and look to be critical contenders going ahead if they’ll play clear soccer.
Jared Goff has brutal recreation in win
Sunday evening didn’t go nice for Goff. It began on the Lions opening drive when Goff was picked off by Jimmie Ward.
Goff’s fourth interception got here within the third quarter when Kamari Lassiter recorded his second interception of the evening.
Coming into the sport, Goff had 4 video games wherein he accomplished at the least 80% of his throws, together with a 100% completion efficiency (18-18) towards the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 30.
With solely 4 interceptions all season previous to Sunday evening’s recreation, it’s protected to say this was not one in all Goff’s higher outings.
Texans want WR Nico Collins again in the event that they need to contend
Regardless of main by as many as 16 factors on the half, the Texans left rather a lot on the desk. Whereas quarterback C.J. Stroud’s numbers have been extra respectable than his completion proportion towards the Packers (47.6) and Jets (36.7), he was nonetheless intercepted twice.
A kind of picks got here within the third quarter because the Texans have been driving. Houston appeared to have a landing till Carlton Davis got here down with the tip zone interception.
Whereas it seemed like there could also be an opportunity of Collins (hamstring) returning to the sphere for the primary time since Oct. 6, Collins was dominated inactive shortly earlier than Sunday’s recreation.
In his restricted begins, Collins leads the crew in receiving yards (567) and is tied for the crew lead in landing catches (three). If the Texans need to be contenders, getting Collins again as quickly as potential is a should.
Each groups mix for seven interceptions
You learn that proper. Every crew mixed for seven interceptions within the recreation, with Goff throwing 5 and Stroud with two. According to Professional Soccer Reference, essentially the most interceptions ever thrown in an NFL recreation is Jim Hardy’s eight from 1950.
Whereas neither quarterback reached that mark, each had terrible nights throwing the ball. Goff’s 5 interceptions on Sunday have been greater than he had thrown your entire season coming into the sport. Regardless that Stroud has not been environment friendly throwing the ball, he had solely thrown 4 interceptions all season, making each QB’s efficiency uncharacteristic.
John Metchie III steps up, information first NFL TD
With the Texans depleted on the large receiver place, Metchie’s efficiency on Sunday evening was a welcome sight. Coming into the sport with simply 4 catches for 36 yards, Metchie had 5 catches for 74 yards and his first profession NFL TD.
That is an incredible story contemplating Metchie missed his complete rookie season on account of his leukemia analysis in 2022.
On an evening of turnovers and sloppy play, Metchie’s efficiency was a brilliant spot not just for the crew, however for himself after a tough previous couple of years.
With a lot inconsistency from the Texans, Metchie may proceed to be one in all Stroud’s prime targets because the season progresses, particularly if he performs like he did on Sunday evening.