DETROIT (AP) — Long before Matthew Stafford’s two interceptions in the fourth quarter
A'Shawn Robinson Jersey White , the Detroit Lions looked limited offensively.Playing without running back Kerryon Johnson and wide receiver
Marvin Jones, the Lions kept it close against Chicago on Thursday but ultimately
fell 23-16 . Stafford’s late interceptions turned the game in the Bears’ favor,
but even when Detroit was keeping better care of the ball, the Lions weren’t
exactly picking up huge chunks of yardage. Detroit has some extra time to rest
now, and perhaps the Lions will be healthier for their next game — but that Dec.
2 matchup is against a formidable opponent in the Los Angeles Rams.“There’s not
a lot of time to sit around and feel sorry for ourselves,” Detroit coach Matt
Patricia said. “We have one of the best teams in the NFL coming in here next
week.”The Lions (4-7) already have as many losses as they had all of last
season, when they went 9-7 before firing coach Jim Caldwell and replacing him
with Patricia. It has been a struggle in 2018: The team started 0-2
Womens DeShawn Shead Jersey , battled back to 3-3, then lost three straight. Detroit was 3-4 when it traded receiver Golden Tate to the Eagles. Now
Jones has been dealing with a knee injury, further hampering the passing
game.Receiver Kenny Golladay looks like he could be developing into a star, but
against the Bears he seemed like Detroit’s only big-play threat.Stafford
finished 28 of 38 for 236 yards in the Thanksgiving loss to Chicago. It was the
third time in four games he averaged under 10 yards per completion. He indicated
afterward that the Lions prioritized quick passes to deal with Chicago’s pass
rush.“I think it’s just influenced by what you see on tape when you see them
play. Teams that hold the ball against those guys don’t get the ball off quite a
bit,” Stafford said. “I don’t make those two turnovers, I don’t make those poor
plays, we’re right where we want to be.”With the score tied at 16
Christian Jones Jersey , Stafford threw an interception that was run back for a touchdown. Then he had a pass picked off in the end zone with just over a
minute to play.Both Jones and Johnson were out with knee injuries. Johnson, a
rookie, has given Detroit’s running game a boost, but even with him out, the
Lions were able to move the ball decently on the ground. LeGarrette Blount ran
for a season-high 88 yards with two touchdowns.“He’s a great player. He’s tough,
he’s competitive, he works hard and tries to do everything the right
way
Womens Michael Roberts Jersey ,” Patricia said. “He has a great knack for continually going after it and eventually, at some point, he (was) able to break
a couple, which was good. But look, it doesn’t really matter. We have to go win.
We have to figure it out. We have to all perform better, and coach it better,
and just go do a better job than what we did.”NOTES: The Lions announced Friday
that they have been assigned CB Marcus Cooper via waivers from the Bears.
Detroit waived S Don Carey. … Although injuries made the going tougher on
offense
Da'Shawn Hand Jersey , the Lions had reason to be encouraged by DE Ziggy Ansah’s performance. Ansah has dealt with injury problems of his own this year,
but he was a factor Thursday with a sack and two hurries. Ziggy Ansah’s season
is over. His tenure with the Lions may be over as well.The Lions put Ansah on
season-ending injured reserve today. He becomes a free agent in March, and
there’s a good chance he’ll move on after spending his first six seasons with
the Lions, who chose him with the first overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft.This
year Ansah made $17.143 million by playing on the franchise tender for defensive
ends. Given that his injury-plagued season saw him appear in just seven games
while nursing multiple shoulder injuries and record just four sacks, he won’t
get that kind of money in 2019. A one-year deal for a smaller base salary with
incentives and the opportunity to test free agency in 2020 might be the best he
can do.Will that deal come with the Lions? It’s possible, but G.M. Bob Quinn
wasn’t the one who drafted Ansah, and Detroit looks like a team that’s going to
significantly overhaul its roster this offseason.Also placed on injured reserve
was tight end Michael Roberts
Sylvester Williams Jersey White , a 24-year-old who has nine catches for 100 yards and three touchdowns this season. Like Ansah, Roberts had a shoulder
injury.
