Lions vs. Cowboys stock report: 9 movers following Texas takedown

The Lions made quick work of the Cowboys on Sunday. Check out this week’s risers and fallers in our Week 6 stock report.

The Detroit Lions manhandled the Dallas Cowboys from start to finish on Sunday for a final score of 47-9. The Lions played a near-flawless game, so regardless of how many stocks up you see, I’m sure I’m forgetting someone. That said, here are your movers for the week.

Stock up: Alim McNeill, DT

Stats: 4 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 TFL, 3 QB hits

Alim McNeill was the Lions’ lone source of pass rush beyond Aidan Hutchinson in 2023. Entering 2024, the hope was that he’d step up to be more consistent in generating interior pressure. Since the emergence of Levi Onwuzurike and the addition of DJ Reader, McNeill hasn’t had to. The result is that McNeill has been a name we haven’t heard most of the season.

That changed Sunday in an emphatic way. McNeill was a force to be reckoned with, generating more than half of his season’s stats in one game. The re-emergence couldn’t have come at a better time, either, as the Lions will need him to step up in the coming weeks to make up for the loss of Aidan Hutchinson. Hopefully McNeill can show more of this level of play week in and week out. Regardless, it was a phenomenal way to remind us all he’s still here.

Stock up: Alex Anzalone, LB

Stats: 3 tackles, 2 passes defended

Anzalone continues to play at an All-Pro level, and we often don’t appreciate that out of linebackers since we notice them when they do something wrong. Anzalone has largely neutralized opposing tight ends and running backs in pass defense, while continuing to stuff the run and allow younger guys like Jack Campbell and Malcolm Rodriguez to learn the ropes and play loose alongside him.

Stock up: Brian Branch, S

Stats: 6 tackles, 2 INT, 2 passes defended, 1 QB hit, 1 forced fumble

Is there anything Brian Branch can’t do? Ironically, it felt like Kerby Joseph played like a top-tier safety Sunday, but will go largely under-appreciated in the shadow of what Branch did. Branch had a flawless performance in his return from a concussion and an illness, and quickly erased any concerns of rust. The Lions will need Branch to continue to lean on his versatility, as Aaron Glenn may dial up more creative blitz packages from the secondary to keep pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Stock down: Dave Fipp, Special Teams Coordinator

The Lions seem to have found a long-term answer at punter, kicker, and long snapper for the first time in many years. However, special teams is still 11 players, and they continue to be the weakest unit on this team (although that is also a testament to how well the offense and defense are performing). Fipp’s punt and kickoff coverage units continue to show cracks, and gave up a very untimely kick return near the end of first half that would have been costly in almost any other game. The Lions will need to shore up this unit as the season progresses or it will come back to bite them down the line.

Stock up: Tim Patrick, WR

Stats: 3 catches, 68 yards

I wrote in our preseason record predictions that Patrick’s emergence (or lack thereof) would shift the Lions plus or minus two wins by season’s end. I stand by that, as this offense looks night and day compared to the first two weeks of the season. Patrick’s emergence has created a real downfield threat from a receiver who can track the ball and out-body someone, even when pass interference should’ve been called.

Establishing Patrick as a threat early and often forced the Cowboys secondary to play with cushion, and that allowed everyone else to benefit. Running backs get a bit more gap to advance to the second level; it allows Jameson Williams to capitalize on medium-depth routes because safeties can’t cheat underneath; it helps Patrick himself, like his catch-and-run on goal-to-go from the 9-yard line because his cornerback was playing the end zone.

Sure, Patrick may not still be the WR1 he once was, but boy does it feel like winning the lottery getting to see him play as your team’s WR3.

Stock up: Trevor Nowaske, LB

Stats: 3 tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QB hit

Nowaske has always been a fringe roster guy, but in Hutchinson’s absence, he was a Lions pass-rusher against the Cowboys’ first-team offense. That’s a tall ask on such short notice. However, Nowaske walked away with a stat sheet that you could tell me was from any team’s leading pass-rusher and I’d call it a good day.

Stepping up like that was huge for Nowaske. I don’t anticipate that level of production to continue out of him, but it shows a lot of promise that he can help navigate the defensive line re-shuffle that’ll now be necessary without Aidan Hutchinson.

Quick hits

Stock up

Jake Bates, K: Bates hadn’t attempted a field goal since Week 2 against Tampa Bay, but boy did he make an emphatic return. Bates went 4-for-4 against the Cowboys on Sunday, as well as perfection on five extra points. Admittedly, he did have some kicks that just snuck in, but it’s good to see him back in action.

Stock neutral

Malcolm Rodriguez, LB: Rodriguez was the player who missed the initial tackle on KaVontae Turpin’s long kickoff return near the end of the first half. On closer look, it looks at though Rodrigo may have been held, so we’ll keep this a neutral. However, worth noting that it was his gap compromised in what could have been a much more costly play if the defense hadn’t stepped up.

Amik Robertson, CB: We saw Amik Robertson for a season-high 57 snaps on Sunday. He played well in run support and his physical nature showed, finishing the game with 7 tackles. He did seem just a step behind in coverage, but it was often against Jake Ferguson, who has eight inches and 60 lbs on Robertson, so I’ll take a solid tackle and no yards after the catch.