Detroit Lions (2-1) – Atlanta Falcons (2-1): 20-6
More ground game, more offense for the Falcons? Effective in defense but blocked on the ground, Atlanta had to rely on Desmond Ridder (21/38, 201 yards) once Detroit began to escape. Except that the quarterback failed to make the difference. Poorly protected and imprecise, he did not worry the Lions defense.
Detroit didn’t even play a very serious game, with 10 penalties and a lost ball. The efficiency in the red zone wasn’t amazing either, with only one touchdown on four passes in the final 20 yards.
But against these Falcons, a solid Jared Goff (22/33, 243 yards, 1 TD, 1 int) was enough.
Patient Lions
Faced with a very solid Atlanta defense, we had to be patient. Stopped on their first offensive, Jared Goff and his teammates followed up with a field goal, a touchdown from Sam LaPorta (8 rec, 84 yards, 1 TD) and another kick to reach the break with the advantage 13 to 3 Amon-Ra St. Brown (9 rec, 102 yards) is the engine of the attack, while rookie Jahmyr Gibbs (17 carries, 80 balls) finally has balls.
Opposite, it’s nothingness, or almost. Apart from a series completed at the foot, Bijan Robinson (10 races, 33 yards) does not advance. So the whole attack is blocked.
However, the Falcons defense is doing everything to maintain hope. After the break, the Lions were limited to three punts in a row before an interception by Jessie Bates on Goff.
The problem is that Desmond Ridder accumulates assists… but not wins. At the start of the last quarter, Jared Goff finally found the fault on the ground, to score the KO touchdown on a 17-yard run (3-20).
Atlanta isn’t even taking a risk…
Trailing by 17 points with a little less than 10 minutes to play, the Falcons responded with an offensive… lasting more than five minutes… With a fourth attempt 6 yards from the end zone, they even decided to kick a field goal (6 -20).
After forcing a new punt, Ridder ended his game with a new sack, accompanied by a fumble. Curtain.
