Gutsy call: Head coach Dan Campbell made the fearless decision to try and convert a 4th & 1 rather than kick the go-ahead field goal with 43 seconds left in a tie game Thursday night. He trusted his offense and didn't want to give the ball back to Green Bay.
Had the Lions kicked the field goal, the Packers would have gotten the ball back with just under 40 seconds on the clock and a chance to tie the game. He believed his players would get the one yard and never wavered. It's why these players love playing for him so much and why they would run through a brick wall for him.
Snap counts: Detroit needed contributions from some of the new players they signed on defense this week right away Thursday. Those newly signed veterans stepped up and contributed.
Defensive lineman Jonah Williams played half the snaps on defense (25). Myles Adams played 38 percent (19), linebacker Kwon Alexander played 34 percent (17) and Jamal Adams got in for 16 reps. Really nice job by defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn coming up with a plan that could integrate those players into the scheme having been in the building just four days before strapping up.
Tim Patrick: What a great signing the veteran wide receiver has turned out to be. He had done just about everything for this Lions team since signing right before the start of the regular season except find the end zone. He did that twice Thursday, catching six passes for 43 yards. He's big (6-5), strong, has terrific hands, is a great route runner, and has become someone quarterback Jared Goff trusts. He's completely solidified Detroit's receiver room.
Spreading it around: Talk about a team with weapons. Goff is the first quarterback in NFL history to complete at least five passes to six different players in a single game: Patrick (6), running back Jahmyr Gibbs (6), wide receiver Jameson Williams (5), tight end Sam LaPorta (5), wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (5) and running back David Montgomery (5).
Fail safe: It wasn't a huge day on the ground for the Lion's offense (111 yards) but they topped 100 rushing yards for the 13th straight game to start a season for the first time since 1976.
Holding their breath: Maybe the best play Goff made all day was the last handoff of the game on 4th & 1 at the Packers' 21-yard line. The Ford Field crowd let out a collective gasp when Goff stumbled after getting his foot stepped on by guard Graham Glasgow before the handoff. Goff was still able to get the ball into the stomach of Montgomery.
"Yeah, real athletic to fall down on a routine handoff," Goff joked after the game. "But I'm glad we made it happen."
Blitz pickup: Kudos to Montgomery and Gibbs for their blocking in the pass game and their ability to pick up blitzing Packers defenders. They were credited with six pickups combined with no sacks or quarterback hits allowed, per Pro Football Focus statistics. It's something assistant head coach and running backs coach Scottie Montgomery puts a lot of emphasis on and Montgomery and Gibbs stepped up big time in that regard Thursday.
Offensively, the two produced a touchdown in the same game for the 11th time this season. Best running back duo in the NFL. No question about it.
Secondary effort: The Lions gave up a couple big plays in the passing game and safety Brian Branch & cornerback Terrion Arnold had pass interference penalties, but Green Bay finished the game with just four players catching passes, and quarterback Jordan Love was 12-of-20 passing for 206 yards as the Lions allowed just one third-down conversion all contest. Solid effort.
