LIONS FORCE 4 TURNOVERS IN SURPRISING 48-14 WIN OVER SAN FRANCISCO
The Dan Campbell era began with a bang Sunday afternoon, as the Detroit Lions forced 4 turnovers, and hammered the visiting 49ers 48-14. The defense was outstanding, limiting the Niners to just 61 yards rushing, and 215 yards overall. They forced San Francisco QB Jimmy Garoppolo into three turnovers (an interception and 2 fumbles.) Garoppolo was sacked 4 times.
Offensively, the Lions were efficient. They converted 7 of 10 third down chances, and were one for one on 4th down. The attacke was balanced, as they gained 250 yards through the air, and another 162 on the ground. In his first start for the Lions since being acquired in the Matthew Stafford trade, Jared Goff threw for 266 yards and 3 touchdowns. Deandre Swift ran 17 times for 86 yards and a touchdown. Jerome Williams added 64 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Tyrell Williams caught 6 passes for 123 yards and a TD. T.J. Hockinson had 6 catches for 71 yards and a score.
Jamie Collins led the way defensively with 10 tackles. Michael Brockers, acquired in a separate trade with the LA Rams, added a pair of sacks. Romeo Okwara and rookie Levi Onwusurike added a sack each. Will Harris had an interception, and 4 tackles.
The Lions opened the scoring in the first quarter, on a 24 yard Austin Seibert field goal. Following an interception by Will Harris, the Lions went up 10-0 on a 7 yard pass to T.J. Hockenson. San Francisco would cut it to a 10-7 lead on a 2 yard pass from Garoppolo to George Kittle.
with 3:05 left in the first half, Deandre Swift would score on a 1 yard run, making it 17-7. Seibert would add a 47 yard field goal as time ran out in the first half, putting the Lions up 20-7.
The Lions all but put the game away in the third quarter, on a pair of Goff touchdown passes. With 8:27 left in the third, Goff found a streaking Tyrell Williams on a perfect throw for a 47 yard TD, making it 27-7. Then, just over 3 minutes later, he found rookie Amon-Ra St. Brown from 9 yards out, making it 34-7 Lions. It was St. Brown's first career reception.
Jamaal Williams and rookie Jermar Jefferson would score rushing touchdowns in the 4th, making it 48-7. San Francisco scored a late TD on a 3 yard pass from Garoppolo to Jalen Hurd.
The win puts the Lions on top of the NFC North division, as every other team lost on Sunday. The Lions travel to Green Bay next week, for a Monday Night Football showdown with the Packers. The Packers were trounced 34-13 by the New Orleans Saints.
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