Big play Jamo: Jameson Williams has caught a touchdown pass in three straight games, matching the longest streak of his career after recording a 40-yarder in the second quarter of Sunday's 16-9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Williams now has 17 career scrimmage touchdowns (15 receiving, two rushing) with his average touchdown covering 38.1 yards.
Off night: Jared Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown has been one of the most consistent connections in the NFL over the last four seasons. St. Brown came into Sunday with at least five receptions in eight consecutive games and 57 career games since entering the NFL in 2021, but that connection was off against the Eagles. Goff threw to St. Brown 12 times and completed only two of those for 42 yards.
Racking up the tackles: Linebacker Jack Campbell registered a career-high 15 tackles (seven solo) and a tackle for loss. He's just the fifth player in Lions history to accumulate 90 tackles through the first 10 games of a season since at least 1987, joining DeAndre Levy (2014), Ernie Sims (2007) and Chris Spielman (1995, 1994).
Third-down troubles: Converting consistently on third down continues to be an issue for Detroit's offense as they started Sunday 0-for-5 on third down before recording their first third-down conversion in the third quarter. Detroit entered the game 21st in the NFL on third down converting just 37.5 percent of the time. They were 3-for-13 (23.1 percent) Sunday night and 0-for-5 on fourth down.
DT package: There's the NASCAR package along Detroit's defensive line where they put four edge rushers in the game with Aidan Hutchinson and Al-Quadin Muhammad kicking inside. What do the Lions call the package they put into the game on a 3rd & 1 play midway through the first quarter with Alim McNeil, Tyleik Williams, DJ Reader and Roy Lopez upfront? Whatever it's called, it worked. The Eagles' offensive line got zero push on the play and linebacker Trevor Nowaske was able to knife in and tackle Saquon Barkley for a 1-yard loss to force a punt. It speaks to the versatility Detroit has along the interior of their defensive front.
Batted passes: Speaking of defensive tackles, Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter were disruptive Sunday as the two combined to get a hand on five of Goff's passes at the line of scrimmage. Davis had three passes defended and Carter had two.
Missing LaPorta: Lions head coach Dan Campbell said after the game they are hoping to get Pro Bowl tight end Sam LaPorta back at some point this season but he wasn't quite sure if that would be a possibility. LaPorta will at least miss Detroit's next three games on Reserve/Injured. His production was missed Sunday, especially on third down. Campbell said they are taking it week-to-week with LaPorta.
Another sack for Hutchinson: Hutchinson recorded three tackles, one quarterback hit and a half sack against the Eagles. Since quarterback hits became an official statistic in 2006, he joins Micah Parsons as the only NFL players to produce at least 15 quarterback hits, 7.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss in each of a player's first four seasons.
Stopping the tush push: Detroit's defense can put some beef in the center of their defensive front, and those big guys play with good leverage too. They were able to stuff a critical fourth-down tush push late in the fourth quarter to keep Detroit's hopes of a comeback alive.
"They know how to grow roots and anchor in there and that's where it always is going to start," Campbell said after the game. "So, I thought the guys handled it well, did a great job, and it really, it paid dividends today. It gave us a chance."
