It read like a script out of Hollywood. A winless Detroit Lions team travels to “Tinseltown” and emerges victorious against a Super Bowl favorite in the L.A. Rams, the same organization that employs the Lions’ former franchise passer in Matthew Stafford.
Yet, this feel-good Lions movie wasn’t meant to be on Sunday, and it failed to receive the “green light” to enter production.
It certainly had nothing to do with a lack of trying, though.
Dan Campbell and his team pulled out all the stops in order to produce what would have been a Disney-esque film, with all the elements of a David beating Goliath story.
There was the perfectly-executed onside kick after the Lions went up 7-0 early in the first quarter, which was followed by a beautifully-designed fake punt on the possession that came after the kick was successfully recovered.
On the fake punt, which came on a fourth-and-7 play at the 50-yard line, Detroit punter Jack Fox, who played quarterback in high school, took the snap and delivered a perfect pass to cornerback Bobby Price for the first down.
It led to a 37-yard field goal from Austin Seibert, which put the Lions ahead, 10-0, with 7:28 to play in the first quarter.
Detroit special teams coordinator Dave Fipp wasn’t done dialing up the trick plays just yet, either.
The next one came with 10:02 to play in the third quarter. It was fourth-and-8 from the Lions’ own 35-yard line, which prompted the punting unit, led by Fox, to enter the field.
However, instead of Fox taking the snap, Fipp had safety C.J. Moore receive the direct snap. It once again caught the Rams off guard defensively, and led to a gain of 28 yards for Moore.
It brought the ball to Los Angeles’ 37-yard line, and put Detroit in prime position to at least get a field goal out of the drive.
However, such would not be the case, due to an issue that has consistently plagued the Lions throughout the course of the 2021 campaign: A lack of execution inside the red zone.
Detroit advanced the ball all the way down to the Rams’ 18-yard line, but came away with no points on the drive after two straight D’Andre Swift runs went for zero yards — first on third-and-1 and then on fourth-and-1.
And, on the fourth-and-1 play, Campbell erroneously decided to go no huddle. It was far from necessary, especially when you consider he could’ve opted for a gimme field goal that would’ve put the Lions ahead, 19-17, at that point.
Sure, Detroit ended up getting a field goal on its next possession anyways, but it was still an opportunity to get points inside the red zone that went by the wayside due to Campbell’s over-aggressiveness.
True to form, in the fourth quarter, the Lions went on to squander another opportunity inside the red zone.
Detroit had strung together a long drive, which consisted of Campbell’s squad uncharacteristically going 4-for-4 on third-down conversion attempts.
The Lions were seemingly going to finally put their red-zone woes behind them and score what would’ve been the game-winning touchdown to put a bow on their Hollywood tale.
However, the protagonist for the Lions in this story — i.e. Jared Goff — failed to be a strong enough lead character Sunday, and it cost Campbell’s team dearly.
“We still need to win regardless of our plan,” Goff said, following his team’s seventh consecutive loss. “And, that’s what we’re focused on right now. Unfortunately, we’re 0-7, and we need to make something happen here and get on the board. At the same time, though, playing like we did today and having so much positivity happen is good to see. But, it’s still not enough.”
Goff added, “We’re a lot better than our record shows. Ultimately, in this league, that doesn’t matter.”
Goff’s turnover proneness reemerged, and on second-and-10 from the Rams’ 12-yard line, he threw an errant pass — targeted for T.J. Hockenson in the end zone — into a crowd of Los Angeles defenders that was intercepted by Rams star cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
Goff had the chance to be a hero in the Motor City for at least the night, if he would’ve led Detroit on a game-winning drive that would’ve provided the Lions with their first victory on the season.
It would’ve been good enough to make a Disney movie.
Yet, the Hollywood ending wasn’t meant to be on this day, as Goliath — Stafford and the Rams — reigned supreme and David — Goff and the Lions — remained winless.
This article was produced by the staff at Sports Illustrated/All Lions. For more, visit si.com/nfl/lions.
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