55°Light Rain
1:00 PM ET, November 9, 2014
Ford Field, Detroit, MI
Ford Field, Detroit, MI
Top Performers
Passing: M. Stafford (DET) - 280 YDS, 2 TD, 1 INTRushing: J. Bell (DET) - 10 CAR, 44 YDS
Receiving: C. Johnson (DET) - 7 REC, 113 YDS, 1 TD
Associated Press
Surging Lions Win In Johnson's Return
Then again, nothing has come easy for the Detroit Lions lately. Yet they keep on winning.
Stafford's 11-yard touchdown pass to Theo Riddick with 29 seconds remaining lifted the Lions to a 20-16 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. It was Detroit's fourth straight victory, and the past three have been by a combined six points, all with fourth-quarter comebacks.
More from ESPN.com
Matthew
Stafford no longer is a risk in late-game situations with the outcome
on the line as the Lions' quarterback is establishing a reputation for
coming through in the clutch, Michael Rothstein writes. Story
The
Miami offense is holding the team back in big games -- and members of
the Dolphins' offense are the first to admit it, James Walker writes. StoryCalvin Johnson had seven catches for 113 yards and a touchdown in his first game back from an ankle injury, and the Lions (7-2) remained atop the NFC North. Detroit equaled its best record since 1954, when the Lions won eight of their first nine games. They have started 7-2 only four times since, according to STATS, most recently in 1993 when they finished 10-6.
The Dolphins (5-4) scored a touchdown in the third quarter after they blocked a Detroit field goal attempt and returned it deep into Lions territory. Miami's Ryan Tannehill threw for 215 yards, but it was Stafford who made the final big play, snapping a pass to a sliding Riddick in the back left corner of the end zone.
The Dolphins lost in the final minute for the second time in a month. Green Bay scored a touchdown with 3 seconds left to beat them.
"We weren't thinking about the Packers game. We were thinking about this game. We didn't win, so it didn't go the way we wanted it to," cornerback Brent Grimes said. "Matt Stafford, their receivers made plays. I take my hat off to them."
Miami cornerback Cortland Finnegan went down with an ankle injury, and the Dolphins also lost offensive lineman Branden Albert to a right knee injury.
Miami took a 16-13 lead with 4:19 remaining on a 20-yard field goal by Caleb Sturgis. It was the second time the Dolphins settled for three points near the Detroit goal line. The Lions had to punt, but they forced Miami to do the same, and Stafford still had 3:13 left when Detroit took over on its 26.
Stafford completed his first five passes of the drive. On third down from the Miami 27 Stafford found Golden Tate for a completion ruled a first down and upheld on video review, bringing the Lions even closer to the end zone.
Finally, on third down from the 11, Stafford threw to Riddick, the 5-foot-9 running back who slipped behind Reshad Jones in the end zone.
"We've been in that situation so many times," said Johnson, who played for the first time since Oct. 5. "We have a core group of guys that have been on the team over the last four years. We've been in those situations time in, time out where we come back and win."
Detroit squandered an early 10-0 lead and fell behind after yet another kicking mishap. Ahead 10-6 in the third quarter, Matt Prater's 42-yard attempt was blocked by Earl Mitchell. Dion Jordan's 58-yard return put the ball at the Detroit 3. Tannehill threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Mike Wallace.
It was the second blocked field goal of the season for Miami, which has also blocked two punts.
Prater made a 50-yard kick early in the fourth quarter, but the Lions are still only 11 of 22 on field goals this season. They won their previous game over Atlanta on Prater's last-second kick in London -- but that came after a miss was negated by a delay of game on Detroit.
The Lions outgained Miami 121-1 in building their early lead. Then the game quickly turned into the type of low-scoring struggle expected between the top-ranked defense in each conference. Detroit's early touchdown came when Stafford found Johnson deep over the middle in single coverage. With a 7-inch height advantage over Grimes, Johnson hauled in the pass in for a 49-yard score while Grimes tumbled to the ground behind him.
Detroit had a great chance to add to the lead in the second quarter after James Ihedigbo intercepted Tannehill and returned it deep into Miami territory. But a facemask penalty pushed the ball back to the Miami 31, and on the next play, Stafford threw toward Johnson. Grimes made a spectacular interception, reaching up with his right hand and pulling the ball in as he fell backward into the end zone.
NOTES: Detroit ran two fake punts in the first half. Punter Sam Martin completed passes on both, but only one was long enough for a first down. ... Detroit OL Larry Warford hurt his left knee early in the game.
Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press
Photo Wire
DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 09: Calvin Johnson #81 and Joique Bell #35 of the Detroit Lions talk prior to playing the...
(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Team Stat Comparison
MIA
|
DET
| |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Downs | 20 | 19 |
Passing 1st downs
| 15 | 15 |
Rushing 1st downs
| 2 | 2 |
1st downs from penalties
| 3 | 2 |
3rd down efficiency
| 5-14 | 3-12 |
4th down efficiency
| 0-0 | 2-3 |
| Total Plays | 60 | 64 |
| Total Yards | 228 | 351 |
| Yards per play | 3.8 | 5.5 |
| Total Drives | 11 | 11 |
| Passing | 178 | 288 |
Comp-Att
| 27-38 | 27-42 |
Yards per pass
| 4.3 | 6.4 |
Interceptions thrown
| 1 | 1 |
Sacks-Yards Lost
| 3-29 | 3-19 |
| Rushing | 50 | 63 |
Rushing Attempts
| 19 | 19 |
Yards per rush
| 2.6 | 3.3 |
| Red Zone (Made-Att) | 1-4 | 1-3 |
| Penalties | 5-44 | 10-98 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
Fumbles lost
| 1 | 0 |
Interceptions thrown
| 1 | 1 |
| Defensive / Special Teams TDs | 0 | 0 |
| Possession | 28:26 | 31:34 |
Scoring Summary
| FIRST QUARTER | MIA | DET | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | FG | 6:19 | Matt Prater 26 Yd Field Goal
Drive info: 15 plays, 72 yds, 8:41
| 0 | 3 |
| TD | 3:58 | Calvin Johnson 49 Yd pass from Matthew Stafford (Matt Prater Kick)
Drive info: 1 plays, 49 yds, 0:08
| 0 | 10 |
| SECOND QUARTER | MIA | DET | |||
 | FG | 0:13 | Caleb Sturgis 23 Yd Field Goal
Drive info: 14 plays, 75 yds, 5:09
| 3 | 10 |
| THIRD QUARTER | MIA | DET | |||
| FG | 8:24 | Caleb Sturgis 50 Yd Field Goal
Drive info: 7 plays, 25 yds, 2:52
| 6 | 10 |
| TD | 1:17 | Mike Wallace 3 Yd pass from Ryan Tannehill (Caleb Sturgis Kick)
Drive info: 1 plays, 3 yds, 0:05
| 13 | 10 |
| FOURTH QUARTER | MIA | DET | |||
| FG | 12:02 | Matt Prater 50 Yd Field Goal
Drive info: 8 plays, 50 yds, 4:15
| 13 | 13 |
| FG | 4:19 | Caleb Sturgis 20 Yd Field Goal
Drive info: 13 plays, 70 yds, 7:43
| 16 | 13 |
| TD | 0:29 | Theo Riddick 11 Yd pass from Matthew Stafford (Matt Prater Kick)
Drive info: 11 plays, 74 yds, 2:44
| 16 | 20 |
Research Notes
Matthew Stafford
has 4 pass TD in the 4th quarter in his last 3 games. All 3 games were
won by the Lions and decided by a combined total of 6 points.
Stafford had 0 pass TD in the 4th quarter in the Lions first 6 games.
[+] |
The Lions have won 3 straight games with game-winning scores that have come within 2 minutes to play.
[+] |
The
Dolphins had been a prolific zone-read rushing team this season, but
the Lions stopped that trend Sunday. The Dolphins had just 1 first down
on 17 zone reads Sunday, and Ryan Tannehill was held to -3 yards on his 1 keep. Tannehill was averaging 12.4 yards on zone read keepers this season entering the game.
[+] |
Ryan Tannehill
was pressured on 39% of his dropbacks Sunday, the most he's been
pressured in a game this season. Tannehill struggled greatly when the
Lions pressured him Sunday.
[+] |
Golden Tate and Calvin Johnson
worked as a strong complement to each other Sunday. Both gained 100
yards receiving in the same game for the first time this season.
- Tate caught 11 of his 13 targets from Matthew Stafford
Sunday, with his average target coming 3.3 yards past the line of
scrimmage. Tate gained 73 of his 109 receiving yards after the catch
Sunday, his 3rd-most in a game this season.
- Johnson caught 7 of his 15 targets Sunday, with his average target
coming 17.5 yards past the line of scrimmage. Johnson caught 4 passes
more than 10 yards downfield Sunday, including a 49-yard touchdown. It
was the first time a Lions receiver caught at least 4 passes that deep
downfield since Johnson caught 5 in Week 1.
|
The
Dolphins have limited opponents to a league-low 31.4 Total and just 6.1
yards per attempt. The Dolphins have allowed only 6 completions on
passes thrown 20+ yards downfield this season (best in NFL).
[+] |
The Lions extended their opening drive with a fake punt on 4th down. It was punter Sam Martin's first career pass and completion.
|
While Calvin Johnson was out of the lineup, Golden Tate became the go-to target for the Lions. Tate had 24 catches for 349 yards and 2 TD in that span.
[+] |
On the Lions' opening drive, which resulted in a field goal, punter Sam Martin had more pass yards (24) than quarterback Matthew Stafford (16).
|
The Dolphins have blocked 4 kicks (FG or punt) this season, the most in the NFL.
|
The Lions have already attempted 2 fake punts in the 1st half Sunday, with punter Sam Martin passing both times (2-2 completions, 1 first down).
It's just the 3rd time since 2004 that a punter attempted 2 passes in a game. The other 2 instances were Rams P Johnny Hekker in 2012 vs 49ers and Falcons P Chris Mohr vs Lions in 2004.
|
The
Dolphins had minus-20 yards of offense after their 2nd drive Sunday.
The minus-20 yards are the worst through the first 2 drives of the game
in ESPN Stats & Info's dataset (2001).
|
The Lions were 10-of-20 on field goal attempts when Matt Prater
had his kick blocked against the Dolphins. The Lions kickers haven't
been at 50% or better for made field goals this season since Week 2,
when they went 0-of-2 to dip below 50%.
Entering this week every other NFL team had made 66.7% of their field
goal opportunities.
|
The Dolphins' first 2 possessions resulted in 6 plays for minus-20 yards.
|
Matthew Stafford's pass TD to Calvin Johnson
traveled 48 yards past the line of scrimmage. Stafford's first 8 pass
attempts of the game combined to travel 14 yards.
It was just the 2nd reception for Johnson on a pass thrown 30+ yards
downfield this season (both for TD). He had 1 reception on 5 such
targets entering the game.
|
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