The Detroit Lions are back on track, plain and simple. Sunday afternoon saw them notch their most complete win of the season against the Arizona Cardinals, a convincing victory that had the offense looking sharp, even with a few unexpected bumps along the way.
Goff’s Unblemished Record and Backfield Dominance
Man, Jared Goff is playing some seriously clean football. He wasn’t necessarily “electric” against the Cardinals, but he was mistake-free, and that’s exactly what you need. Goff tossed for 271 yards, hit a season-high 9.0 yards per attempt, and threw for three passing touchdowns. Oh, and he even snuck in a rushing touchdown for good measure. Here’s the wild part: he still hasn’t turned the ball over this season! We’re talking 13 total touchdowns without a single miscue through five games. Head Coach Dan Campbell isn’t holding back on his praise either, saying Goff “is just Goff. He’s as good as they come. I’ve just been so impressed with the way he’s played these five games here. I thought he’s just gotten better every year, and here we are five in, and he’s even better than last year. He’s the real deal.” What more do you need to hear?
Then you look at the running backs, and Jahmyr Gibbs is an absolute beast. He was phenomenal out there, forcing 10 missed tackles against the Cardinals, according to NextGenStats. Honestly, it felt like more. Nobody was getting that dude down on the first attempt. His 93 yards after contact was second-most of any running back in Week 5, and his +2.0 rushing yards over expected per rush was the sixth-best mark of the week. But it wasn’t just the flashy runs. Gibbs, along with Sione Vaki, were incredible in pass protection. Think about those long-developing plays: they just don’t happen without rock-solid blocking up front. That’s how you unlock the big plays.
LaPorta’s Clutch Plays and Unsung Blocking Hero
When the offense looked like it was hitting a wall, who stepped up? Sam LaPorta, that’s who. This guy is clutch. He pulled the Lions out of a rut with an insane fourth-down catch that literally kept their first touchdown drive alive. Then, on the very next drive, they were behind the sticks on a third-and-11, and LaPorta just willed it into a fourth-and-1 with his individual effort. The dude finished the game catching all five of his targets for 88 yards and a score. A perfect day. Seriously, what a game. We also gotta give a shoutout to Brock Wright. It was quietly one of his best games as a blocker, and the PFF grades back it up: 79.5 in pass blocking, 57.1 in run blocking. That’s the kind of unsung hero stuff that really makes an offense click.
Wideouts With Room To Grow (Even in a Dominant Win)
Now, here’s where things get a little weird. For such a dominant day on offense, the wide receivers collectively only hauled in eight passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns. Jameson Williams absolutely made his two catches count, both of them going for touchdowns, which is hugely impactful. But it was a surprisingly down game for Amon-Ra St. Brown. You rarely see this from him, but he had at least one drop and, wait for it, fumbled the ball twice. That’s just not like him, and it’s definitely something to clean up, even after such a comprehensive team win.
So, the Lions got the W and proved they can put together a complete game. Goff is playing lights out, the run game is physical, and LaPorta is a game-changer. Cleaning up those receiver fumbles is a definite must-do, but man, the way this team is hitting its stride early in the season is something to keep an eye on. This convincing victory means they’re definitely finding their form, and that’s a scary thought for the rest of the league.
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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