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    • The Detroit Lions risked everything by leaving Jared Goff in the game against the Titans
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    The Detroit Lions risked everything by leaving Jared Goff in the game against the Titans

    Kathleen William Posted on

    Free Press columnist Carlos Monarrez addresses the tough questions following the Detroit Lions' 52-14 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday at Ford Field.

    Was Jared Goff left in the game for too long in this bankruptcy?

    Yes. The Lions quarterback, by far the most irreplaceable player on the team, left the game 1:13 into the third quarter, just before Jake Bates hit a 51-yard field goal to push the lead to 38 points. I asked coach Dan Campbell just a few days ago how he decides to take his foot off the gas when a breakdown occurs; He said it was part emotion, part fear of a comeback. I get that, but the Lions dominated the Titans in all three phases, and Goff should have come out with 6:17 left in the third quarter after the Lions had a five-touchdown lead. He had been sacked hard in the series before (his fourth sack of the game) and the game was well under control so he didn't have to come back. The Lions have too much on their plate – especially with next week's big showdown in Green Bay – to not protect their most important player, especially when they can sub him in whenever needed.

    JEFF SEIDEL: The Detroit Lions' lack of a pass rush is a major detriment to great performance

    How strange was the beginning of this game?

    If I told you at halftime that a team had 9 net passing yards, was outgained in passing yards (285-133), and had no defensive rating, I'm sure you would assume the team was losing. Instead, the Lions defeated the Titans 35-14. This happened mainly because the Lions played good complementary football. Coming off two interceptions in the first two quarters, Tennessee's defense had no answer to the Lions' running game and Ben Johnson's play-calling – particularly in the red zone, where they were 4-on-4. Even special teams got involved after Kalif Raymond returned a punt 64 yards to the Titans' 22 yards midway through the second quarter. Despite the strange statistical polarity, the Lions appeared to be in control early in the second quarter when they took a 28-14 lead on Jared Goff's 1-yard pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown.

    How good is this rushing attack?

    HISTORY LESSON: The Detroit Lions open the season 6-1 for the first time since 1956

    At one point in the game, the video boards showed a fan in the stands wearing a “Sonic and Knuckles” T-shirt with pictures of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. And that's what the Lions currently have in their running back duo: a shifty speed dealer and a punishing slugger. And both are putting up video game numbers in a powerful attack that is once again coming through. It's the shock-and-awe tandem — or is it the “sock-and-awe” tandem we've been waiting for after getting so close to Jamaal Williams and D'Andre Swift. Gibbs had a breakout and finally broke a big one, getting away from left tackle untouched for a 70-yard score in the first quarter. It's a sight to behold every week and an important part of the offense that will serve the Lions well on their playoff journey.

    Contact Carlos Monarrez: [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @cmonarrez.

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    Kathleen William
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