Lions dominate in all 3 phases in blowout win over Cardinals, 45-21

For the first quarter of the game, it looked like the Detroit Lions' woes were here to stay. The Arizona Cardinals outgained the Lions 84 yards to -9, and it seemed Detroit was going to head into their bye week thinking about massive changes.

But the rest of the game was a complete reversal. The Lions defense forced five straight three-and-outs. The offense shook off three straight three-and-outs to start the game, and scored on seven straight drives, including six touchdowns. The rout was on as the Lions were finally firing on all cylinders: offense, defense, and special teams. It ended in a decisive 45-21 victory for Detroit.

The win moves the Lions to 3-2, tied with both the Packers and Bears for second place in the NFC North—all behind the undefeated Vikings.

The Lions won the coin toss and opted to take the ball—a shift in their normal strategy. But it didn't help provide a spark as Detroit quickly went three-and-out following two short runs and a sack on third down by Caridnals safety Budda Baker.

The Lions defense took over and ran into some familiar problems. Mainly, their third-and-long woes. On third-and-11, Jacoby Brissett hit Kendrick Bourne for a 22-yard gain, beating Roger McCreary in man-to-man coverage. That moved Arizona into field goal range. Then on third-and-6, the Cardinals converted again on a pass to Michael Wilson for 8. They faced yet another third-and-long, but Detroit got a stop…. to force a fourth-and-1. Arizona opted to go for it, and a trick play—reverse pass—made for an easy conversion.

One play later, the Cardinals cashed in on a 1-yard touchdown catch to Teagan Quitoriano. 7-0 Cardinals.

Detroit answered with another three-and-out. Goff was sacked on first down, and he failed to connect with Isaac TeSlaa on third-and-long.

But Detroit's defense finally responded with a three-and-out of their own. Brissett tried to target McBride downfield, but he was covered well by Jack Campbell, helping force an incomplete pass.

Tom Kennedy tried to provide a spark with a 22-yard punt return into Cardinals territory. It didn't work. The Lions went incomplete pass, sack/fumble, screen pass for 2 yards.

Detroit's defense got another three-and-out, thanks to a pressure from Alim McNeill on second down and sticky coverage from D.J. Reed on third down. Tom Kennedy got another decent punt return (11 yards), but his lower body bent awkwardly when tackles, injuring the special teamer. Kennedy was eventually carted off and listed as questionable to return with a knee injury.

The Lions, again, failed to convert a third down, still looking for their first conversion of the game. But on fourth-and-3, at midfield the Lions went for it, and Sam LaPorta made an impressive contested catch—and got another 15 yard tacked on due to a roughness penalty.

Jahmyr Gibbs followed it up with a 16-yard run to move the Lions inside the 5-yard line. Two plays later, Gibbs was in for the touchdown. 7-7 tie.

Detroit answered with another strong defensive series. McCreary batted down a third-down pass to get off the field, and Amon-Ra St. Brown, filling in for Kennedy, took the punt return 30 yards into Cardinals territory. Luckily for Detroit, they recovered a late fumble by St. Brown on the play.

On the subsequent drive, LaPorta came up with a big play on third-and-12, juking a defender and diving forward to pick up what appeared to be a first down. Officials ruled him short and that ruling stood upon a Lions challenge. That set up a fourth-and-1 from the Cardinals' 37-yard line. Detroit ran a play action and Goff found a wide-open LaPorta for a 37-yard touchdown and a 14-7 Lions lead.

The Cardinals went three-and-out for their fourth straight possession after another pass breakup from McCreary, and a deep shot on third down that fell incomplete when the receiver fell down.

Detroit immediately threatened again thanks to a screen pass to Gibbs for 23 yards. Then Gibbs had an excellent rep in pass protection, allowing Goff to find Brock Wright for 11 yards. Then the Lions running back picked up 18 yards on the ground to get into the red zone. But on third-and-4 from inside the 10-yard line, Goff missed an open Isaac TeSlaa for the touchdown. Detroit made the controversial decision to go for it, but Goff and Jameson Williams proved Dan Campbell right with an 8-yard touchdown. 21-7 Lions.

Detroit forced a fifth straight three-and-out thanks to a coverage (!!) sack on a third-and-short. Brissett couldn't find anyone open, and DJ Wonnum brought him down for the first sack of the game.

The Lions offense avoided a return three-and-out with a well-time screen pass to St. Brown for 11 yards, pushing the game into the two-minute warning. Out of the break, the Lions pulled off a reverse flea flicker screen for 18 yards.

But Detroit's drive stalled in field goal range when they failed to convert a third-and-6 with a conservative draw play. Jake Bates lined up for a 46-yard field goal and nailed to to move the game to 24-7 Lions with 53 second remaining.

With no timeouts, the Cardinals looked to cut into the lead and possibly double-up at each side of halftime. They converted a third-and-10 with a 22-yard strike up the seam to Bourne. But Wonnum's second sack of the game essentially ended their bid. Rookie Keith Abney picked off a hail mary attempt to close out an impressive second quarter from the entire Lions team.

Arizona started the second half with an explosive play. A missed assignment in the secondary left a wide open Elijah Higgens for a 38-yard gain.

But the defense stiffened up from there. D.J. Reed made a nice tackle for loss in the run game, and Alim McNeill followed it up with a sack.

That set up a third-and-21, and the Cardinals just checked down to improve field goal range. But Chad Ryland pushed the 53-yard field goal wide right.

The Lions were putting together a promising drive until St. Brown absorbed a big hit and fumbled the ball—turning a 6-yard gain into a 6-yard loss when Tate Ratledge fell on the ball. But the Lions dug out of the hole with a 39-yard bomb to Jameson Williams for his second touchdown of the day. 31-7 Lions.

The Cardinals needed to score and they needed to score quick to get back in the game. They methodically worked their way down to the field with a steady and productive passing game, including a third-and-2 conversion to Trey McBride that set the Cardinals up in the red zone. Then Brissett found a wide open Quitoriano for a 13-yard touchdown. 31-14 Lions.

Detroit quickly answered, though. Goff found a wide-open St. Brown for a 36-yard gain, and Gibbs followed it up with a 22-yard gain on a toss play all the way down to Arizona's 2-yard line. The Lions struggled to punch it in, but Jared Goff eventually plunged in for Detroit's third touchdown on fourth down. 38-14 Lions.

On the last play of the third quarter, the Cardinals kept a drive alive with a third-and-9 conversion to McBride for 11.

The Cardinals got a free extra 15 yards after Levi Onwuzurike roughed the passer, which moved Arizona comfortably into Lions territory. It appeared they were about to score again, but Detroit's disciplined defense on third and fourth-and-short forced a turnover on downs. It was Aidan Hutchinson who wrapped up Brissett for the sack after fantastic coverage.

Nursing a 24-point lead with 13 minutes left, Detroit turned to Gibbs and the run game to try to bleed the rest of the clock. Gibbs had gains of 8, 11, and 15 yards on consecutive runs to move midfield. A 19-yard pass to Laporta kept the drive moving, and a 7-yard wide receiver screen to St. Brown converted a third-and-long. Eventually, Gibbs plunged in for Detroit's sixth touchdown of the game. 45-14 Lions.

The Cardinals would add on a late touchdown, with this incredible catch from Trey McBride. 45-21 Lions.