Despite the final score (16-14), Detroit Lions fans have every reason to believe in their team. Thursday night’s perfoemance was b0th a blueprint and a testament.
What separates championship organizations from the rest is how their starters set the tone, and how everyone lives up to it. Detroit’s backups didn’t wake a rep. The Lions’ backup quarterback, Josh Dobbs, looked shifty, alive, and in command. He moved away from pressure, picked up first downs with his legs, and even operated an unfamiliar offense convincingly.
Fans got a taste of the “biting the kneecaps off the opposition” mentality that’s turned this organization into the NFC’s top franchise.
Converted receiver Jackson Meeks pulled in a big-time 20-yard grab that had broadcasters raving. Rookie DJ Ivey was flying around delivering clutch tackles. Jake Bates also contributed by calmly drilling a 52-yard field goal to close the first half.
Tarik Black scores (photo courtesy Spectrum News)
Don’t let the final score fool you; this defense was flying to the ball all game. DJ Ivey flashed with the PBU, forcing a turnover on downs. Cedric Johnson made the offense’s backfield home. Chris Jenkins showed awesome dance moves after stuffing the run; virally owning that moment. It doesn’t matter if it’s the regular season or pre-season; these guys bring it. It’s hard not to love that.
With the game hanging in the balance, it was Detroit’s offense answering the call. Anthony Cook fought for yards after the catch in a clutch play, cutting a ten-point deficit to a two-point game with hope. This is no team that mails it in when everything’s on the line. Detroit is a team built to fight until the fat lady sings.
What should impress fans most is that, down two possessions with time running out, Detroit didn’t fold. They created opportunities, put pressure on Cincinnati’s offense, and made the Bengals sweat for everything.
That is no broken team. That’s a team that competes for sixty minutes, starters or scrubs. This game’s final possession didn’t go Detroit’s way, but the effort was undeniable. This is a great succession roster that’s exactly what fans want to see.
No coach circles a preseason game on the calendar, but if you’re Dan Campbell, you walk away feeling more confident in team depth. Detroit doesn’t take a night off, not even in preseason. That’s GRIT!
We saw quarterback depth behind Jared Goff, a defensive front creating chaos, a lights-out special teams unit, and a GRIT mentality alive and well even when the starters are on the sideline.
Detroit built a playoff-caliber roster on this identity last season. Pre-season football is a footnote. Do not be shocked if this Lions team is right back in the mix of the NFC race.
