The Detroit Lions might have walked away with a 17-13 victory over the Washington Commanders in their preseason Game 2, but man, did they make us sweat through that first quarter! Everyone’s buzzing about their offense this year, but it was the Lions’ defense that truly put on a show, shutting down Washington to a meager six points and only 35 rushing yards all game long.
From “What?!” to “WHOA!” – Dobbs’ Unhinged First Quarter
Hold up, though. That final score doesn’t tell the whole story of how wild things got early. The Commanders won the toss and deferred, giving the Lions the ball first, but it was an absolute nightmare to kick things off. On just the second play from scrimmage, Josh Dobbs, bless his heart, held onto that ball way too long. BOOM! Blitzing Amik Robertson came out of nowhere, crushed him like a tin can, and ripped the ball right out for a strip sack! Less than a minute in, and the Commanders scoop it up in the end zone for a touchdown. Seven-nil, just like that. Are you kidding me?
And if you thought that was bad, the second drive didn’t get much better. Dobbs makes another critical mistake, failing to find anyone open, scrambling to his right, and then trying a pass across his body. Intercepted! Commanders safety Quan Martin snagged it for Detroit’s second turnover on as many drives. Two turnovers in two drives! What a nightmare start.
But then, the defense, even without their stars like Aidan Hutchinson and Jack Campbell, stepped up HUGE. Devin White brought pressure, forcing an incomplete pass on first down. Then D.J. Wonnum came through with a sack on second down, pushing Washington way back. The Commanders ended up running a draw play on third-and-20. They clamped down hard, forcing a quick three-and-out, and finally, the Lions got the ball back deep in their own zone.
And then, just when you thought it couldn’t get any crazier, Dobbs settled in! He threads a tight pass to Cedrick Wilson for a 17-yard gain on third-and-5. (Sidebar: tough break for Cedrick Wilson, he got hurt on that drive and didn’t return.) Then, on third-and-3 at midfield, Dobbs tucks it, keeps it himself, and takes it to the HOUSE for a 50-yard touchdown run! Shoutout to Tay Martin for the perimeter block and Tyler Conklin for the interior work. Seven-seven tie! Talk about a redemption arc in one quarter!
The Ground Game Grinded, Stars Sat, And Detroit Pulled It Off
While Dobbs gave us whiplash, the Lions opted to sit most of their big-name stars, including Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Penei Sewell. But who really showed up and grinded it out? Their running backs! The group combined for a solid 30 carries, totaling 113 yards and punching in a touchdown. They just kept pounding the rock, and it paid off.
In the end, after that roller-coaster first quarter, the Lions secured that 17-13 victory. The defense proved they’re no joke, even with some big names on the sidelines, holding Sam Hartman and the Commanders to just six points and 35 rushing yards. And while Dobbs gave us whiplash, he also showed he’s got a big play in him. This is preseason football, right? You want to see who steps up, who can make plays, and who’s ready when the lights get brighter. And Detroit definitely gave us some answers.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pride of Detroit.
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