Lions Week 8 Grades Offense and Defense

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Dan Campbell drew similarities from his teams latest performance to "The Bad News Bears," a film about a little league baseball team comprised of misfits. Similarities and connections aside, Campbells got blasted by the Philadelphia Eagles, 44-6, Sunday. Both sides of the ball were dominated, a rough showing that the head coach took ownership for. Thats on me, man, Campbell said. You dont play that bad unle s your head coach did not have you ready to go, so I did not. Thats very evident. Here are the positional grades for the Lions following the lo s.Quarterbacks: FOnce again, starter Jared Goff didnt play well enough for his team to have a chance to win. The first-year Lions QB is not dealing with an ideal cast of playmakers, Mark Bavaro Jersey but must be better than he was Sunday. Unfortunately, performances like this have been the norm. He caught a lot of flack for a fourth-down incompletion that was deemed a throwaway. He clarified the play as a bad throw. Goff certainly didnt get any help, however, as he was under dure s all afternoon. Running backs: FWithout Jamaal Williams, Detroit was forced to lean on youngsters Godwin Igwebuike and Jermar Jefferson behind DAndre Swift. Both were among the offenses best contributors, with Igwebuike averaging 31.5 yards per return and notching 58 yards of offense and Jefferson scoring the team's only touchdown.Swift, meanwhile, had arguably his worst showing of the season. He rushed for just 47 yards on 12 carries and fumbled, which was recovered and returned by former Lions defensive back Darius Slay for a touchdown. Wide receivers/tight ends: FTight end T.J. Hockenson quietly had a good day, Lorenzo Carter Jersey catching 10 pa ses for 89 yards. The rest of the pa s catchers were not as succe sful. Rookie Amon-Ra St. Brown was the only wideout to catch a pa s. Sure, the Lions receiving corps is made up of inexperienced, young players. There will be games like this where they struggle with separation. Kalif Raymond, who has been the Lions best receiving option in recent weeks, was one of three receivers to go without a catch despite having a target. Offensive line: F Detroits offensive line didnt do its quarterback any favors. Matt Nelson was beaten twice in the first quarter by Philadelphias Josh Sweat for sacks, starting a day that would see the unit suffer. Evan Brown was penalized for holding on a third B.J. Goodson Jersey down, negating a completion. Scroll to ContinueJonah Jackson was also beaten for a sack. The unit allowed six total sacks, two of which resulted in fumbles. The offense averaged just 3.2 yards per play. Defensive line: FDetroit was beaten handedly in the trenches on both sides of the ball, though the defense may have gotten it worse. The Eagles dominated on offense, running the ball all over the Lions. In total, Philadelphia ama sed 236 yards and four touchdowns on 46 rushing attempts. The Lions struggled to get pre sure on quarterback Jalen Hurts and did not get a single sack. Philadelphia caused many a problem with its zone-run scheme, as Detroit didn't have the nece sary playmakers to keep them in check. Linebackers: FThe defensive line wasn't the only group which played a part in the teams struggles. The linebackers also had a rough day. Alex Anzalone was among those who struggled, getting beaten on a long pa s from Hurts to tight end Dallas Goedert and committing a hands-to-the-face penalty in the third quarter.A bright spot for this unit was seven-tackle games from rookie Derrick Barnes and Austin Bryant. Campbell also Golden Tate III Jersey praised the effort of Jalen Reeves-Maybin, who finished with four stops. Secondary: DThe defensive backs dodge an "F" because they didnt have a busy day. Between Hurts and backup Gardner Minshew, the Eagles threw just 16 times for 114 yards. It still was a rough day for the unit, playing without starting nickel corner A.J. Parker. Detroit substituted Will Harris for Parker. Harris was beaten by Quez Watkins for an early completion. Amani Oruwariye was called for defensive holding on one of the only pa ses his way. Special teams: CJack Fox was impre sive again, dropping two punts inside the Eagles 20-yard line and averaging 46.7 yards per punt. Igwebuike also played well, averaging 31.5 yards per return and setting up the Lions only score with a 41-yard run back. Austin Seibert mi sed his only field-goal attempt, from 47 yards out. The mi s was his first since Week 1. On the special teams defensive unit, Julian Okwara gave the Eagles a first down with a penalty on a field-goal attempt. Coaching: F Campbell said this lo s falls on him, and hes right. The Lions had no answers or adjustments for the Eagles running game. Philadelphia knew what looks it would see and took advantage, not leaving anything to chance. The offense was just as bad, as Campbell and offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn couldnt get anything going. There were clock-management and play-calling i sues throughout, including a sequence at the end of the first Jabrill Peppers Jersey half that ended with Goff taking a sack.