JACKSONVILLE, Fla.– When DAndre Swift dropped the game-winning goal pass in the Detroit Lions Week 1 loss to the Chicago Bears, the novice running back swore up and down to everyone who d listen that it would not signify things to come in his NFL profession.
On Sunday, playing his very first professional game in an arena in which he had so much college success, Swift made great on his words.
Swift ran for 116 lawns and two touchdowns on 14 brings and the Lions got their best protective effort of the season to thump the Jacksonville Jaguars, 34-16, at TIAA Bank Stadium.
” The thing I like about him is simply absolutely nothing really fazes him,” Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford stated. “He made a mistake like that and simply keeps it moving and knows hes going to make excellent plays later in the video game.
For customers: Lions grades: Handing out As like candy after blowout of Jaguars
Swift, a second-round choice in Aprils draft, saw his most substantial workload of the season Sunday in the Lions first video game out of the bye.
He broke a broke a 54-yard operate on his very first play from scrimmage, logged the majority of his career-high 14 carries while playing behind a makeshift offending line and assisted the Lions develop what– lastly– was an insurmountable double-digit lead when he scored on a leaping 1-yard run early in the 2nd quarter.
The Lions, who had actually lost six straight games in which they held double-digit leads, including all three defeats this year, played with a rotating cast of linemen Sunday after starting right tackle Tyrell Crosby and right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai left in the very first half with dehydration.
Shawn Windsor: Lions win over terrible Jaguars suggests absolutely nothing.
Carlos Monarrez: Yes, Matt Patricia is worthy of credit for Lions H-U-G-E victory.
Matt Nelson, a converted protective lineman who played exclusively as a sixth offending lineman in the first 4 video games, completed Sunday at ideal take on and assisted the Lions rack up a season-high 180 backyards rushing.
” Just give credit to our guys,” Lions coach Matt Patricia stated. They overlooked everything and went out and played aggressive.
Patricia, in specific, and the Lions as a whole, have come under intense analysis this year for their consistent losing and repeated on-field battles.
They wasted leads of 17, 11 and 14 points in losses to the Bears, Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints, and Patricia got in Sundays video game with many thinking he risked losing his task with another loss.
Sundays win, against among the worst teams in the NFL– the Jaguars (1-5) have given up at least 30 points in 5 straight video games– wont relieve that pressure, but it a minimum of offers the Lions something to develop on as they embark on a winnable stretch of video games now through Thanksgiving.
The Lions (2-3) play the lowly Atlanta Falcons next week, and face just one group with a winning record before December. The Falcons (1-5) beat the Minnesota Vikings, 40-23, on Sunday for their first win of the year.
” We certainly see the equation (for winning), when we put four quarters together, even though we can be a lot better,” defensive end Trey Flowers said. We understand we got to go back to the drawing board in practice, put the focus on all the little things that we did throughout the week that resulted in this win.
” A lot of individuals most likely challenge us, but its still tough to win in the NFL. That is an NFL team and they got a great deal of excellent ability guys, particularly on offense and on defense. Its hard to win and this win is a win.”.
The Lions dominated play from the start Sunday, requiring a three-and-out on Jacksonvilles very first possession and following with a 10-play touchdown drive.
Swift, who went 3-0 at TIAA Bank Stadium against Florida during his Georgia career, added his very first touchdown of the day on the next series, and the Lions led comfortably, 24-3, when Stafford threw his first career goal pass versus the Jaguars– the only challenger he had failed to throw a TD against in his first 11 NFL seasons– midway through the third quarter.
Stafford finished 19-of-31 passing for 223 lawns, Swift included a 6-yard touchdown run in the 4th quarter, and Kenny Golladay had four catches for 105 lawns. Swift and Golladay became the very first Lions colleagues to top 100 yards receiving and rushing in the same game given that 2013.
Defensively, the Lions required 2 Gardner Minshew turnovers– a fumble and an interception– and held the Jaguars (1-5) to a season-low 44 lawns rushing.
” It wasnt necessarily a declaration,” Lions safety Duron Harmon said. “We just knew we might play better and we just required to find a way to play much better and I think we did that.
Contact Dave Birkett at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett..
” The thing I like about him is simply nothing actually fazes him,” Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford stated. “He made a mistake like that and just keeps it moving and knows hes going to make fantastic plays later on in the game.” Just give credit to our guys,” Lions coach Matt Patricia stated.” It wasnt necessarily a declaration,” Lions security Duron Harmon stated. “We simply understood we could play better and we simply required to find a method to play much better and I believe we did that.
