NFL Week 7 is over, and we are at a pivotal point in the season when teams begin to differentiate themselves. The stronger teams will stand out, while the weaker ones will reveal their true nature—unless we’re talking about the Carolina Panthers, whose true colors have been shining bright since the first quarter of Week 1.
One of the consistently strong teams is the Detroit Lions, our top pick for Week 7.
The Lions Killed Skol
The Lions defeated the Minnesota Vikings with a final score of 31-29. This victory is particularly significant for Detroit for several reasons.
Firstly, the Vikings are a division rival in a closely contested NFC North race, and every win at this stage is crucial as it will have implications in Weeks 17 and 18. The Lions achieved an impressive win on the road at U.S. Bank Stadium. Winning in such a tough atmosphere is always challenging.
Furthermore, Detroit handed the Vikings their first loss of the season, leaving the Kansas City Chiefs as the only undefeated team in the league.
#Cowboys fan Chris Christie called #Lions HC Dan Campbell “classless” after Detroit’s 47-9 win last Sunday over Dallas.
Dan Campbell’s response: “The last time somebody called me classless, I was drinking wine out of a bottle. … I’m not worried about it.”
(🎥 @Lions) pic.twitter.com/FFli7FBrZP
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 21, 2024
Did All Without Hutch
The Lions’ defense recorded four sacks on Sam Darnold thanks to Malcolm Rodriguez, Jack Campbell, Joshua Paschal, and Trevor Nowaske. They applied this pressure on the quarterback despite the absence of their star pass rusher, Aidan Hutchinson, who suffered a broken tibia and fibula in his lower leg one week earlier.
Hutchinson’s injury may not have a major impact on the defense immediately, but down the road, it will likely be a setback for Detroit.
The Roaring Detroit Offense
The Detroit offense was on fire against Minnesota, like preparing a metaphorical five-course meal. Jared Goff completed 22 of 25 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns, which were caught by Kalif Raymond and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
St. Brown was the team’s leading receiver, finishing with eight catches for 112 yards.
The running game enhanced the Lions’ offensive performance against the Vikings. Jahmyr Gibbs was outstanding with 15 carries for 116 yards and two touchdowns.
Former Brick Salesman Hits Game-Winning Field Goal
You may look at this headline and think it is a tagline from a movie about football. Nope, this is the story of kicker Jake Bates, who thought his football career was over just 18 months ago. He was training to be a brick salesman in Houston, Texas. However, his football career would not be over. He signed with the Michigan Panthers of the UFL and made a name for himself within that league. Detroit saw something in Bates; that something was the ability to hit game-winning kicks like the one from Week 7.
The Lions have become the first team to win Team of the Week honors twice during the 2024 NFL season, having previously received the award in Week 1. The 2024 Lions are a formidable force, demonstrating their strength with a convincing victory over their division rival, the Vikings.
Jake Bates hits the BOOM after giving the Lions the lead pic.twitter.com/zoObXDdHXP
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) October 20, 2024
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