Sometimes a game is so emotional, so action-packed, you need to watch it a second time to figure out just what the hell happened. The debut installment of “Second Watch Observations” focuses on the Lions vs. Cardinals Week 1 fracas.

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Lions vs. Cardinals: Week 1

There is a lot to unpack from the Week 1 tie between the Lions and Cardinals. Let’s go in order of importance by addressing the elephant in the room…

Those gas station sideline hats

“Can I get $20 on pump seven, two bingo scratchy tickets, and the official sideline hat of the Detroit Lions, please?” Gross. The white-on-white hat Derrell Bevell was sporting was even worse. Nice start.

For real though, coaching mistakes

• Matt Prater has made 75% of field goals from 50+ yards in his career and holds the NFL record for most consecutive field goals made over 55 yards (7). Yet he isn’t allowed to attempt a 58-yard field goal in the first quarter. I’m not a rocket scientist, but I like the risk/reward in this situation.
• The distribution of the carries between Kerryon Johnson (16) and C.J. Anderson (11) is already starting to resemble the Johnson/LeGarrett Blount splits from early last season. I don’t like it. Not one bit. Anderson is a fine player and a massive upgrade over Blount. I just have a bad feeling we will be seeing plenty more 3rd and 1 stuffs with the ball in Anderson’s hands instead of Johnson’s this season. Why?
• Matt Patricia accepted an illegal formation penalty on Arizona early in the 4th quarter, on a play where Kyler Murray slid short of the first down. Declining said the penalty would have probably led to a Cardinals punt (4th and 1 from their own 35). Instead, he opted for 3rd and 14, which the Cardinals converted, because of course they did.
• And then there’s the “trust me” timeout by Darrell Bevell. We all know what happened there. There’s only one question to be asked: “Do you trust me?”

T.J. Hockenson = Stud

This game was a tie (even though it was the most loss-y tie of all time), so there must have been some positives. Let me tell you, it is an absolute pleasure to watch T.J. Hockenson catch a football. As a Detroit Lions fan, I have no idea what a catch is. But I think I’m starting to learn by watching Hockenson. This guy is smooth. I feel like all the cares in the world melt away when the ball gets near this man. A record-setting rookie performance gives Hockenson top billing in the positives section.

Stafford = Almost Stud

I can’t shake the memory of that last-second almost interception. I want to, I really do, because Stafford was an absolute beast in this game. The passing stats speak for themselves, and we’ve already covered Hockenson. I will say this, I can’t remember a game in which Stafford used his mobility better than this one. Stafford was sacked three times, but it could have been much more given the turd Taylor Decker laid in this game (more on him later). Aside from two fumbles (one lost) that came from blind-side hits, Stafford consistently evaded pressure and kept plays alive with his legs. He even tacked on 3 carries for 22 yards, which is typically about half a season worth of production from him.

Bonus props go to Stafford for his performance on the coin toss. He smartly called heads, which gives you a 50% chance to win. It didn’t work out this time, but it was undoubtedly the right decision based on the odds. He even pointed to his head while calling it just to avoid any potential confusion. 

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Linebackers = Secret Studs

The Lions got pressure on Kyler Murray all game, including five sacks. You would think Trey Flowers and that highly touted defensive line were the beneficiaries of those sacks, given the money and resources used to acquire the talent-loaded group. But no, all five sacks were credited to linebackers, including three for Devon Kennard. The broadcasters were calling a linebacker’s name on seemingly every defensive play. Jaylen Reeves-Maybin getting beat on a deep touchdown pass to David Johnson is about the only glaring mistake I saw from this group. Pleasant surprise.

We have to finish this article with the negative since that is how the Lions finished this game. Time to point some fingers!

Biggest Bum Runner-up: Jamal Agnew

Biggest bum was a tight race between two players, and Agnew could easily take this award. This guy is simply a different player from his 2017 Pro Bowl campaign, which is a fast-fading memory. His inability to cleanly field a kick was reported throughout camp and lingered into the preseason. It took all of one regular-season game for this issue to have a game-altering effect on the Lions final score.

Agnew’s muffed punt led to the Cardinals getting on the board in an otherwise abysmal first-half. He was also routinely brought down by the first defender on the kicks he fielded cleanly. He even blindly spun into the only defender in the area on one first-half punt return. The amount of potential field position Agnew cost his team on Sunday was staggering. This is reckless speculation, but it seems as if his ball security issues are mentally impacting his return ability when he does field the ball cleanly, given how much focus is required on the front end. Until he fixes these issues, he cannot be trusted with return duties. 

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Biggest Bum: Taylor Decker

Tie goes to the Buckeye (Go Blue). It simply isn’t fair for this man to ruin my Saturdays from 2012-2015, and now he’s making my Sundays worse too. Decker repeatedly allowed blind-side pressure on Matthew Stafford, which led to Stafford’s two fumbles (one lost). Tack on four penalties (one was declined) – two of which came in the 4th quarter – and he takes my Week 1 biggest bum award. 

Most of Decker’s mistakes are quantifiable. You can count the sacks allowed, pressures, penalties, etc. These speak for themselves. Do you know what doesn’t show up in the stat sheet? When your quarterback gets blasted and fumbles the ball, on your watch, and you don’t show effort to get back into the play. Decker lightly jogged, and that’s putting it kindly, after Chandler Jones on Stafford’s first fumble. On Stafford’s second fumble, also Decker’s responsibility, he pouted in frustration and walked away instead of joining the pile for the fumble recovery. The effort and body language leave much to be desired. That stupid “O” on his triceps is even harder to look at after a game like that. 

I deserve better than this.

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