Atlanta14
Detroit30
Atlanta
Detroit
| Atlanta 14 | Detroit 30 |
 |
|  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 05, 2006 | Ford Field-Attendance: 60,987 (65,000) | Time: 3:15 |
 | ||
| Scoring Summary |
| FIRST QUARTER | ATL | DET |
| DET | FG | 10:17 | Jason Hanson 28 yard field goal attempt is good. | 0 | 3 |
| DET | TD | 6:26 | Kevin Jones rush to the right for 35 yards for a touchdown. | 0 | 9 |
| DET | PAT | 6:26 | Jason Hanson extra point attempt is good. | 0 | 10 |
| ATL | TD | 2:37 | Michael Vick pass completion to the left to Alge Crumpler for 19 yards for a touchdown. | 6 | 10 |
| ATL | PAT | 2:37 | Morten Andersen extra point attempt is good. | 7 | 10 |
| SECOND QUARTER | ATL | DET |
| DET | TD | 8:40 | Kevin Jones rush to the right for 2 yards for a touchdown. | 7 | 16 |
| DET | PAT | 8:40 | Jason Hanson extra point attempt is good. | 7 | 17 |
| ATL | TD | 1:02 | Warrick Dunn rush to the left for 1 yard for a touchdown. | 13 | 17 |
| ATL | PAT | 1:02 | Morten Andersen extra point attempt is good. | 14 | 17 |
| THIRD QUARTER | ATL | DET |
| DET | FG | 8:26 | Jason Hanson 19 yard field goal attempt is good. | 14 | 20 |
| FOURTH QUARTER | ATL | DET |
| DET | TD | 13:09 | Jon Kitna pass completion to the right to Roy Williams for 60 yards for a touchdown. | 14 | 26 |
| DET | PAT | 13:09 | Jason Hanson extra point attempt is good. | 14 | 27 |
| DET | FG | 2:52 | Jason Hanson 36 yard field goal attempt is good. | 14 | 30 |
| Statistics |
|
| | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team Stat Comparison |
| ATL | DET | |
| 1st Downs | 19 | 20 |
 | ||
| 3rd down efficiency | 3-11 | 6-12 |
| ||
| 4th down efficiency | 1-1 | 0-1 |
| ||
| Total Yards | 319 | 435 |
| ||
| Passing | 154 | 308 |
| ||
| Comp-Att | 17-32 | 20-32 |
| ||
| Yards per pass | 4.5 | 8.8 |
| ||
| Rushing | 165 | 127 |
| ||
| Rushing Attempts | 26 | 27 |
| ||
| Yards per rush | 6.3 | 4.7 |
| ||
| Penalties | 9-76 | 10-71 |
| ||
| Sacks against | 2-9 | 3-13 |
| ||
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| ||
| Fumbles-lost | 1-1 | 1-0 |
| ||
| Interceptions thrown | 2 | 1 |
| ||
| Possession | 27:04 | 32:56 |
| ||
Detroit turned Vick's two first-half turnovers into touchdowns and Roy Williams had a sensational game, highlighted by a 60-yard TD early in the fourth quarter, in the Lions' 30-14 victory Sunday over the Atlanta Falcons.
''I guess we had a little kryptonite for him,'' Detroit cornerback Fernando Bryant said. ''The whole key is to stay disciplined, keeping lanes and contain, and that's what we did with him.''
The Lions pulled off the feat without three starters on the defensive line, including Shaun Rogers.
Atlanta's electric quarterback threw for seven TDs and averaged 262 yards passing in the previous two games, both victories, but quickly found out it would not be his day in Detroit.
He fumbled on the Falcons' first drive, an unforced error as he held the ball like a loaf of bread, and threw an interception from deep in his end in the second quarter. Both led to Kevin Jones' TD runs.
''It was a major setback for us,'' Vick said. ''I would have never thought coming into this game that we would have performed the way we did.''
Vick completed 17 of 32 passes for 163 yards - numbers that would've been better had teammates not dropped several balls - with a TD and two interceptions, and he ran for 80 yards. He made a picture-perfect 19-yard pass to Alge Crumpler between two defenders in the end zone.
That play late in the first quarter was just about Vick's only highlight for Atlanta (5-3), not counting his one-of-a-kind scrambles that made short gains and losses look spectacular.
The game closed with Vick throwing a meaningless interception in the end zone, a fitting end to his frustrating day.
Detroit had a balanced attack, led by 2004 first-round picks Williams and Jones. Its defense did not allow Atlanta to score after Warrick Dunn pulled the Falcons within three late in the first half.
Williams had six receptions for 138 yards, making him the NFL's only player this season with four 130-yard receiving games, and a score that made it 27-14 with 13:09 left to play. Jones had 110 yards rushing and two TDs.
''If Kevin Jones rushes for 100 yards and a receiver gets 100 yards, there's no one in the country that can beat us,'' Williams said.
Jon Kitna was 20-of-32 for 321 yards with a TD and an interception for the bye-rested Lions (2-6) who had a chance to win in five of their losses.
''Even though they were 1-6, we knew all week that their record didn't show how good they are,'' said Dunn, who was held to 51 yards rushing. ''And they showed that by dominating us.''
Vick's interception and fumble in the first half helped the Lions take a 17-14 lead into the third quarter.
Detroit drove to the 1 on its first drive of the second half before settling for Jason Hanson's second of three field goals and a six-point lead.
After limiting Atlanta to another three-and-out in the third quarter, the Lions had a chance to add to their cushion.
On a third-and-13, Kitna ran for 17 yards, slid and was hit by DeAngelo Hall and Michael Boley. That led to a brief scuffle and Hall's personal-foul penalty that gave Detroit the ball at the 11. Holding and false start penalties backed up the Lions, then Kitna's shovel pass was intercepted by Jonathan Babineaux.
The Falcons could only pick up one first down and were forced to punt again.
Detroit made the missed opportunity costly for Atlanta.
Could it be??? The Offense and Defense both playing at their highest level together? For the first time years, I actually enjoyed watching a Lions game from start to finish. This was the biggest victory in quite some time given Atlanta has been one of the hottest teams in the NFL and dismantled the Lions in the Thanksgiving Day game fiasco last year. Jon Kitna, Roy Williams and Kevin Jones led the Mike Martz led offsensive bull dozer as they manhandled the Falcons Defense. The Offense racked up 435 total yeards and although they scored 30 points easily could have scored more. Unlike last year where the Lions had if not the worst Offense in the NFL, this years version is fun and exciting to watch. The biggest surprise of the game was the Lions Defense, missing key starters holding Vick and company to only 14 points. They forced three turnovers and held the Falcons scoreless in the second half. Eddie Drummond had a key runback that helped setup a score. Although the Lions are 2-6, they have been in every game to the end except the Bears debacle. It was quite exciting to finally hear Ford Field loud and with everyone supporting the Lions. The Roy Williams 60 yard touchdown reception put the icing on the cake. I can only hope this is a signs of good things to come, but we have been teased quite a bit in the past several years by the honolulu blue and silver.
Offense: --- A. The Offense has been on quite a roll of late. Although they still take dumb penalties, they have been for the most part unstoppable. The Offense punted only twice the entire game. Although they shot themselves in the foot twice inside the two yard line coming away with only 3 points, Kitna had a field day picking apart the Falcons secondary. Roy Williams, who should be heading to his first pro bowl, caught six passes, none bigger than his electrifying 60 yard catch in the fourth quarter. It really is ashame that Charles Rogers and Mike Williams were colossal busts - if even one of them would have lived up to expectations, the Offense would be that much better. Still, Mike Furry has been a pleasant surprise and Kevin Jones continues to shine in this new Offense. If Kitna, Jones and Williams can continue playing how they have for quite some time and stay healthy, the sky is the limit with this offense!
Defense: --- A-. James Hall and Shaun Rogers were not playing but that did not matter. The Defense led by a huge game by Fernando Bryant clamped down on Vick and held one of the NFL's most exciting players in check. Last year the Falcons had a Thanksgiving Day feasting on the Defense - not this time! By forcing three turnovers and shutting down the run game, the Defense had their best showing since the opening week. I never would have expected them to hold the Falcons Offense to only 14 points and shut them out in the second half! I can only hope this was not a fluke since just when they look to be turning the page, they fall flat on their face. Call it a hunch, but I expect the Defense to play great for the next three weeks.
Special Teams: --- B+. Eddie Drummond had a great return and Jason Hanson nailed two more field goals. Coverage was good and for the most part, the Special Teams played great - something they rarely do.
Coaching: --- A. I think that is safe to say the players are buying into the Marinelli's cocaching philosophy. Marinelli and his staff had a great game plan on both Offense and Defense. It paid dividends and I can only hope they build on this victory.
Overall: --- A. This was a game few thought the Lions had a chance to win. I was not surprised one bit since the Falcons were due for a letdown after two big wins the past two weeks. The Lions needed a victory over a playoff caliber tearm and they got it. Now they face three teams that are definitely beatable: San Francisco, at Arizona and Thanksgiving Day against Miami. If the honolulu blue and silver play like they did against Atlanta, they should have no problem winning all three games and give themselves some momentum heading into the hardest part of their schedule. Given how awful San Francisco has been on the road this year, the Lions should be a solid favorite and coast to their third straight home victory.
Click
HERE to go back to my LIONS page!!