Let’s take a closer look Detroit Lions Week 14 snapshots begin with the 34-31 victory over the Green Bay Packers on “Thursday Night Football.” With the defense inconsistent due to injuries, the Lions had to strengthen their offense to maintain control of the game. As a result, they ran 30 more offensive plays than the Packers (80 to 50) and had the ball for 36 minutes.

Here’s how things turned out.

attack

Quarterbacks

Jared Goff: 80 (100%)
Hendon Hooker: 0 (0%)

Goff distributed the ball in this game and finished the game with a remarkable statistic, completing five or more receptions to six (!) pass catchers. An insane relationship that has never existed in the history of the NFL.

Running backs

Jahmyr Gibbs: 45 (56%)
David Montgomery: 36 (45%)
Craig Reynolds: 1 (1%) – 16 (57%)
Sione Vaki: 0 (0%) – 21 special teams snaps (75%)

Gibbs, who broke the 1,000-yard rushing mark this season, again managed the slim majority of snaps, but with the game on the line, it was still Montgomery who grabbed the rock. The backfield combination of these two continues to be sensational.

Reynolds and Vaki were the Lions’ primary kick returners in this game, although neither had the opportunity to attempt a return.

Tight ends

Sam LaPorta: 72 (90%)
Brock Wright: 49 (61%) – 12 (43%)
Shane Zylstra: 16 (20%) – 16 (57%)

LaPorta looks like his old self again and the Lions had plans to bring in their tight ends. Wright and Zylstra’s usage increased greatly in this game, and all three tight ends were on the field when David Montgomery scored the final fourth down conversion that set up the game-winning field goal.

Wide receiver

Amon-Ra St. Brown: 68 (85%)
Jameson Williams: 55 (69%)
Tim Patrick: 53 (66%)
Allen Robinson: 5 (6%)
Maurice Alexander: 0 (0%) – 3 (11%)

Due to the increased tight end usage, the Lions decided to rely primarily on their top three receivers and use Robinson primarily in blocking situations. Tim Patrick was the hero that day, catching two touchdowns, his first touchdown in the last 1,082 days, after two season-ending injuries in 2022 and 2023.

Offensive line

Penei Sewell: 80 (100%) – 6 (21%)
Graham Glasgow: 80 (100%) – 6 (21%)
Dan Skipper: 80 (100%) – 6 (21%)
Frank Ragnow: 80 (100%)
Kevin Zeitler: 77 (96%) – 6 (21%)
Christian Mahogany: 3 (4%) – 6 (21%)
Michael Niese: 0 (0%) – 6 (21%)
Colby Sorsdal: 0 (0%) – 0 (0%)
Taylor Decker: INJURED – INACTIVE
Kayode Awosika: INACTIVE
Giovanni Manu: INACTIVE

When Zeitler was forced out of the game for a series, Mahogany was tasked with replacing him at guard. Mahogany is a natural right back, so he was the logical replacement, but it appears that the rookie has overtaken Kayode Awosika on the depth chart, and it’s also entirely possible that he has also overtaken Michael Niese, who may just be a replacement for the Team acts center.

defense

EDGE

Al-Quadin Muhammad: 37 (74%) – 5 (18%)
Jonah Williams: 25 (50%) – 5 (18%)
Za’Darius Smith: 21 (42%) – 1 (4%)
Mitchell Agude: 9 (18%) – 13 (46%)
Levi Onwuzurike: INJURED – INACTIVE
Josh Paschal: INJURED – INACTIVE

Seeing Jonah Williams pass Za’Darius Smith was a little surprising, but it’s worth noting that some of Williams’ numbers were inflated because he was stepping inside to cover for injuries. Of Williams’ 25 snaps, 19 were at the rim (mostly on the 4i and 5 technique) and the remaining six were inside.

Despite the fewer snaps, Smith tied for the team lead with three pressures – Muhammad did the same – and also recorded the team’s only sack.

DT

Pat O’Connor: 41 (82%) – 18 (64%)
Brodric Martin: 23 (46%)
Myles Adams: 19 (38%)
Alim McNeill: 17 (34%) – 1 (4%)
DJ Reader: INJURED – INACTIVE

With McNeill reported for a concussion, the Lions had to adapt on the fly. That meant O’Connor moved away from the nose tackle position (15 snaps) to make room for Martin (17 snaps at nose tackle), while also kicking Adams inside – a difficult task after he had prepared to play the 4i/5T role at a short week. Adams ended up seeing nine snaps at the rim and 10 snaps inside.

Linebackers

Jack Campbell: 50 (100%) – 3 (11%)
Trevor Nowaske: 32 (64%) – 20 (71%)
Ezekiel Turner: 17 (34%) – 22 (79%)
Kwon Alexander: 17 (34%)
David Long: 16 (32%) – 12 (43%)
Ben Niemann: 1 (2%) – 21 (75%)

The Lions had to get a little creative with their linebackers this week (and will likely have to for at least another week). Campbell played at MIKE, Nowaske continued at SAM (mainly rushing the passer, but he also had a few reps off the ball) and then used a three-man rotation at WILL. Alexander got the technical start, Long recovered a crucial fumble and Turner made the game-changing open-field tackle on Jordan Love to give them a field goal on the Packers’ final drive.

Cornerbacks

Carlton Davis: 50 (100%) – 1 (4%)
Terrion Arnold: 50 (100%) – 1 (4%)
Amik Robertson: 17 (34%) – 2 (7%)
Khalil Dorsey: 0 (0%) – 21 (75%)
Kindle Vildor: 0 (0%) – 15 (54%)
Emmanuel Moseley: INACTIVE

Many are wondering why Moseley was a healthy scratch in this game, and the snap counts show why. On defense, the Lions used only three cornerbacks and preferred using Dorsey and Vildor over Moseley on special teams.

Security

Kerby Joseph: 50 (100%) – 6 (21%)
Brian Branch: 45 (90%) – 1 (4%)
Jamal Adams: 8 (16%)
Brandon Joseph: 5 (10%) – 8 (29%)

The Lions needed Brandon Joseph to replace Branch in five snaps when the star suffered cramps and needed some time on the sideline. Adams got his first opportunity to see the field in a Lions uniform and was primarily used as a pass rusher and nickel corner against tight ends. Of his eight snaps, he spent seven in the slot playing matchup football.

Special teams

Jake Bates: 12 (43%)
Jack Fox: 8 (29%)
Hogan Hatten: 8 (29%

This trio came through in the clutch… again!