The Detroit Lions dismantled the Chicago Bears in Week 2, 52-12, leveling their season record to 1-1.
With the game in hand, the Lions turned to their backups for the final offensive series, with Allen running three clock-draining snaps.
Reynolds ran the ball on all three of his offensive snaps as the Lions worked to get to the end of the game.
Wingo brings passing juice to the Lions’ interior, something that has been missing while Alim McNeill is recovering from an ACL tear.
Branch missed one expected snap due to cramping and then exited with the starters, making way for Thomas to get his first defensive snaps since arriving in Detroit.
With a 52-12 victory over the Chicago Bears in Week 2, the Detroit Lions tied the season at one. Let’s examine the Lions’ snap counts in more detail to see what we can learn about their personnel usage that might have contributed to this quick turnaround in performance.
Quarterbacks:.
Jared Goff: 95 percent, 56 snaps.
Allen Kyle: 3 (5 percent).
Goff had a near-perfect passer rating (156.0) and completed 23 of 28 passing attempts for 334 yards and five touchdowns in his impressive Ford Field debut this season. For the final offensive series, the Lions relied on their backups, with Allen running three clock-draining snaps.
Running backs:.
33 (56 percent) for Jahmyr Gibbs.
23 (39 percent) for David Montgomery.
Craig Reynolds: 3 (5 percent) — 19 (59 percent) special teams snaps.
The range for Jacob Saylors is 0 percent to 19 percent.
Sione Vaki: Due to injury, inactive.
Gibbs is still in the lead in the running back splits, though not as much as in Week 1. Games probably have a part in that, but there’s also the “Montgomery getting opportunities against his old team” element to take into account. The Lions tried to win the game, and Reynolds ran the ball on all three of his offensive snaps.
In addition to not seeing any offensive snaps or kickoff returns, Saylors made one of the day’s best special teams plays, helping to ensure that the Bears’ opening kickoff went out of bounds and providing the Lions offense with excellent starting field position. After five plays, the Lions had a 7-0 lead.
Wide receivers:.
Jameson Williams: 88 percent, or 52.
Amon-Ra Street. Brown: 85 percent (50) minus 3 percent (3).
Kalif Raymond: 5 (16 percent) — 32 (54 percent).
17 (29 percent) — 8 (25 percent) Isaac TeSlaa.
Dominic Lovett: 3 (5 percent).
TeSlaa’s snaps went from three to seventeen after he was fully recovered from his illness that had limited him in Week 1. Naturally, these snaps came from Raymond’s pool. Amon-Ra St. was set up by TeSlaa’s second catch of the season, another one-handed masterwork, despite his heavy blocking duties. Brown scored the first of his three touchdowns that day. Both St. Both Williams and Brown had at least one touchdown and over 100 yards of receiving.
The tight ends.
Sam LaPorta: 1 (3 percent) — 50 (85%).
31 (53 percent) — 16 (50 percent) Brock Wright.
Shane Zylstra’s score ranges from 0 percent to 3 percent.
Though their splits were predictable, LaPorta and Wright each caught three passes for 26 and 28 yards, respectively. Zylstra was carried to the field after suffering an injury during special teams early in the game, and he was seen wearing a walking boot in the locker room. On Monday, hopefully, we’ll receive an update on his condition.
Offensive line:.
Mahogany Christian: 59 (100 percent) — 9 (28 percent).
Tate Ratledge: 9 (28 percent) — 59 (perfect score).
9 (28 percent) — 56 (95 percent) is Penei Sewell.
95 percent, or 56, is Taylor Decker.
56 (95 percent) for Graham Glasgow.
Kayode Awosika: 4 (7 percent) to 9 (28 percent).
From 3 (5 percent) to 9 (28 percent) is Giovanni Manu.
3 (5 percent) to 9 (28 percent) is Kingsley Eguakun.
With their starting five appearing assured and focused, the Lions’ offensive line found its rhythm again against the Bears. They allowed their running backs to gain an average of 3 points and 55 yards before contact on the ground, which was the best in the NFL during Week 2, and they also prevented sacks during the passing game.
They only had eight offensive linemen dressed for the game, so when it came time to pull the starters, two starters had to play with the reserves, and the two young guards took on extra responsibilities. Awosika took over at right tackle, Eguakun manned the pivot, and Manu played his first offensive snaps of his NFL career at left tackle.
defensive end.
Aidan Hutchinson: 84 percent, or 57.
Muhammad Al-Quadin: 36 (53 percent) — 9 (28 percent).
Marcus Davenport: 3 (9%) — 23 (34%).
Pat O’Connor: 21 (31 percent) to 24 (75 percent).
Wheat Tyrus: Not in use.
For the second consecutive week, Hutchinson, Davenport, and O’Connor all saw their snaps on the edge. O’Connor played at the 4i, while the starters saw traditional defensive end reps. Given that Davenport had left the field due to two different injuries and Hutchinson seemed to be overcoming some discomfort, Muhammad was asked to cover the gaps on the edge. Muhammad only saw two snaps inside this week because he needs to practice more outside.
defensive tackle.
Mekhi Wingo: 54%, or 37.
Roy Lopez: 3 (9 percent) — 31 (46 percent).
— 2 (6 percent) — 25 (37 percent) Tyleik Williams.
24 (35 percent) DJ Readers.
Tyler Lacy: Not working.
Chris Smith: Not involved.
From Week 1 to Week 2, the opportunities for the interior defensive line completely changed. After leading the interior in snaps in Week 1, Reader’s snaps were drastically reduced (less than half of the percentage from the previous week), and he checked it at a moderate pace to be as effective as possible. Williams’ snap count dropped from 35 to 24, but it wasn’t due to his poor output. Williams took advantage of his chances and was perhaps the main player in both of the Lions’ fourth-down stops, thwarting a passing attempt by Williams and submarining a quarterback sneak attempt by Caleb Williams. While Wingo went from being inactive in Week 1 to leading the interior defensive line in opportunities in Week 2, Lopez saw an increase in snaps from 17 to 31 as he gave Reader some extra time. While Alim McNeill is healing from an ACL tear, Wingo provides the Lions’ interior with passing juice, which has been lacking. Wingo is not likely to start, but he should anticipate seeing some snaps in the future.
Linebacker:.
Jack Campbell: 4 (12 percent) — 60 (88 percent).
Alex Anzalone: 60 (88 percent) — 1 (3 percent).
53 (78 percent) — 16 (50 percent) is Derrick Barnes’ score.
19 (59 percent) — 9 (13 percent) for Zach Cunningham.
Stuard Grant: 6 (9 percent) — 23 (72 percent).
0 percent to 19 percent is Monty Rice’s score.
Due to an injury, Trevor Nowaske is not active.
In comparison to the league average, the Lions continue to use three linebackers at a rapid pace. Their base off-ball linebackers are Campbell and Anzalone, and defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard uses Barnes as a chess piece that can be used in many different ways. After the starting lineup was substituted late in the game, Cunningham and Stuard were given reps.
Cornerback:.
Arnold, Terrion: 60 (88 percent) — 1 (3 percent).
D. J. . Reed: 88 percent, or 60.
34 (50 percent) for Amik Robertson.
8 (12 percent) to 16 (50 percent) for Khalil Dorsey.
Ya-Sin Rock: 8 (12 percent) — 11 (34%).
The Lions used five defensive backs on the field for half of their defensive snaps in Week 2 after using little nickel against the Packers in Week 1. This was because the team looked to Robertson to give them a lot more snaps. Ya-Sin and Dorsey were given outside reps after the starters were substituted.
Safety:.
59 (87 percent) — 4 (12 percent) for Brian Branch.
48 (71 percent) — 2 (6 percent) Kerby Joseph.
20 (29 percent) — 8 (25 percent) for Avonte Maddox.
Daniel Thomas: 9 out of 13 to 18 out of 56.
Thomas Harper: Not in use.
In order to relieve some of the pressure on Joseph, who started the game with a knee injury, Maddox moved from his reserve nickel role to a reserve safety role after not seeing any reps in week 1. Thomas got his first defensive snaps since moving to Detroit after Branch left with the starters after missing one anticipated snap due to cramping.
experts:.
18 (56 percent) for Jake Bates.
12 (38 percent) for Jack Fox.
38 percent, or 12 Hogan Hatten.
In addition to Bates missing a 55-yard field goal and putting a kickoff outside the landing zone, the Lions’ special teams appeared to have improved from the previous week.
