The Detroit Lions earned an impressive victory against the Arizona Cardinals, only allowing 13 points and seeing impressive games from various players. As usual, though, it was a somewhat mixed bag regarding player performances.
Let’s take a look at how a few Lions did on Sunday.
Stock up: S Kerby Joseph
On Sunday, Lions safety Kerby Joseph continued his impressive start to the 2024 season. He recorded his second interception of the year and added two passes defended in another standout performance. Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray struggled through the air, and Joseph was a huge reason why.
The Lions’ safety has been outstanding this year across the board, rarely allowing passes thrown his way to be completed. He established himself as one of the pillars of this revitalized defense and the team’s go-to ballhawk. If Joseph can keep up this level of production, he should be viewed as one of the best safeties in the league. He’s already well on his way to that title.
Kerby Joseph this season:
π· 82.3 PFF grade (8th among safeties)
π· 9 targets
π· 2 receptions allowed
π· 2 interceptions (T-2nd)
π· 1 forced incompletion
π· 0.0 passer rating allowed (1st) pic.twitter.com/jqrovsqWJNβ PFF DET Lions (@PFF_Lions) September 25, 2024
Stock down: WR Jameson Williams
After two exciting games to begin the season, Jameson Williams’ performance in Week 3 was a bit of a letdown. He finished with only one reception for nine yards on the day β not what a team wants from their WR2, and definitely less than fans were hoping for after his past performances.
The Detroit offense struggled for most of the second half, and Williams’ apparent inability to get going was one of the culprits. Hopes should still be high for the young wideout, but his latest outing was a disappointment. If the Lions want to truly compete for the Super Bowl, Williams must perform consistently.
WHERE IS JAMESON WILLIAMS
β yatta π· (@yattadondada) September 22, 2024
Stock up: P Jack Fox
The Lions asked Jack Fox to punt five times on Sunday. Only one of those was a touchback. The other four punts were all downed inside the 15-yard line, and three fell within 10 yards of the goal line. His day’s crowning achievement was a beautiful punt that pinned Arizona on its own two-yard line. It was an extremely impressive performance, and it should serve to remind fans how important Jack Fox is to this team.
In a league full of electrifying quarterbacks and wide receivers, punters are often an afterthought. The impact of an elite one like Fox, though, is hard to overstate. If a team can continually force its opposition to start near its own end zone β and, by extension, force them to drive 85 to 95 yards if they want to score β they will have a large defensive advantage. Fox can do that. The Lions made him one of the highest-paid punters in the league, and he’s showing them that he’s worth it.
Jack Fox is your week 3 NFC Special Teams Player of The Week π€©#OnePride pic.twitter.com/mjp0N058vG
β ππ₯π’ ππ’π±π―π¬π¦π± ππ¦πͺπ’π° π° (@the_det_times) September 25, 2024
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