Before we debate if it’s sustainable, we have to figure out exactly what’s happening. Theo Riddick catches a slant from Matt Stafford and rolls into the end zone.
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Eagles fans weren’t happy with their team’s self-destruction. And because Philadelphia is in full meltdown under Chip Kelly, it’s advisable to draw conclusions carefully.
“Forty-five points put up on you back-to-back, that’s disgusting”, nose tackle Bennie Logan said. Sanchez did exactly what his team needed him to do, but it was not enough for them to get a win.
Stafford was 27 of 38 for 337 yards and a 137.8 quarterback rating. Caldwell isn’t outright saying it, but he also doesn’t believe in coincidences.
The Lions will start practicing on Sunday in preparation to play the Packers at Ford Field next Thursday night.
Thursday’s game was another reminder of the quarterback Stafford can be at times. “Football is a bit simpler than that“. This is a team so in freefall that it is virtually impossible for one side of the ball to point fingers at the other. After an efficient scoring drive that began late in the first quarter, the Eagles couldn’t get anything going again until garbage time.
It’s too early to throw any parity parties – you know, with National Football League so balanced, any team can climb back into contention.
After the Lions punted on their first drive, they did whatever they wanted on offense.
But any hope for the future, and for Caldwell’s job status, rests on the quarterback.
Things have gone sour since then, however, as Kelly was given complete control of the personnel department, making a number of big moves this past offseason in an effort to take the team from good to great.
Joique Bell ran for a score in the fourth quarter and Ameer Abdullah rushed for 63 yards in the win for the Lions, who won three games in a row to improve to 4-7 and stay in contention in the NFC North. He’s in the shotgun formation more under Cooter, and the playcalling has been more creative. He added another in the second quarter, and finished the game with 3-1/2 sacks and a forced fumble. The Eagles offense had the ball for 2 minutes, 16 seconds.
Stafford threw a strike to Johnson and the Lions went to the half leading 24-7. “I have confidence in those players”, Kelly said. Deer? Squirrel? Turkey? Thanks, Jim Bob.
“He’s young in this job but he’s not afraid”, Stafford said. OTs LaAdrian Waddle and Corey Robinson were among the inactives for Detroit….
Out of the backfield, Riddick caught five passes for 62 yards. And hey, does this sounds familiar?
Kelly said he was committed to seeing the season through after a loss he said ranks “right at the top” of his all-time list of disappointments.
“I will never doubt Chip Kelly, and I will never doubt these coaches”, Kelce said.
In the game, the Lions (4-7) utterly demolished the Eagles (4-7), 45-14. How high can they climb? While he’s had four games of double-digit scoring outputs, he’s also had six weeks in which he’s recorded fewer than five fantasy points.
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Afterward, Ansah said he had an emotional moment on the sideline with defensive line coach Kris Kocurek. “Record be damned, he was just, hey, this is gonna work”. They have lost nine of 14 games since then. “We communicated well today”. The Lions have won the last three. In fact, you know it’s a bad sign when you get excited about a rookie wide receiver taking his helmet off and squaring up to a defender.because it’s the only show of fire that the entire team showed. So it was nice, it starts with those guys up front.
