In Week 10, the Detroit Lions (6-3) got back to their winning ways, as coach Dan Campbell assumed offensive play-calling duties and led the team to a convincing 44-22 win over the Washington Commanders. Let’s take a look at how the Lions utilized their personnel on their way to their latest victory.
Quarterbacks:
- Jared Goff: 61 snaps (87%)
- Kyle Allen: 9 (13%)
With the Lions up 44-22 and less than five minutes remaining in the game, the Lions benched their offensive starters for the final two drives. Allen went 0-2 on the day, failing to connect with TE3 Ross Dwelley while Jameson Williams dropped his target. However, Allen still managed to lead the Lions to a field goal on one drive, while helping them run the clock out on the other.
Running backs:
- David Montgomery: 38 (54%)
- Jahmyr Gibbs: 35 (50%)
- Sione Vaki: 1 (1%) — special teams snaps 17 (63%)
- Craig Reynolds: 1 (1%) — 13 (48%)
- Jacob Saylors: Inactive (injury)
Gibbs and Montgomery each ran the ball 15 times in this game, with the former accounting for 142 yards rushing (along with three receptions for 30 yards) and the latter producing 71 yards on the ground. Vaki got his first carry of the 2025 season on the Lions’ second-to-last play (a 4-yard run), while Reynolds got on the field for victory formation.
Wide receivers:
- Jameson Williams: 61 (87%) — 1 (4%)
- Amon-Ra St. Brown: 54 (77%) — 1 (4%)
- Kalif Raymond: 38 (54%) — 7 (26%)
- Isaac TeSlaa: 20 (29%) — 4 (15%)
- Dominic Lovett: 4 (6%) — 1 (4%)
St. Brown and Raymond each had four receptions in the first half, accounting for 43 (plus a TD) and 49 receiving yards, respectively, but each only touched the ball once in the second half: a 15-yard reception and a 10-yard run, respectively.
Their production was limited because the second half of the Lions game belonged to Williams, as he secured five of the Lions’ eight receptions, accounting for 105 yards and a touchdown. Once Campbell realized he could unlock Williams with crossing routes, he went to the well multiple times, as we can see in his reception-tree via Next Gen Stats:
TeSlaa caught his only target on the day, an 11-yard reception in the second half, while Lovett got on the field in clock-killing time on offense and once as a punt returner.
Tight ends:
- Sam LaPorta: 53 (76%) — 1 (4%)
- Brock Wright: 27 (39%) — 12 (44%)
- Ross Dwelley: 11 (16%) — 7 (26%)
LaPorta and Wright were on their normal snap trajectories before being pulled on the final two series, allowing Dwelley to get some extra time on offense.
Offensive line:
- Tate Ratledge: 70 (100%) — 7 (26%)
- Kayode Awosika: 70 (100%) — 7 (26%)
- Taylor Decker: 61 (87%)
- Penei Sewell: 54 (77%) — 6 (22%)
- Graham Glasgow: 51 (73%) — 1 (4%)
- Dan Skipper: 23 (33%) — 7 (26%)
- Trystan Colon: 19 (27%) — 7 (26%)
- Michael Niese: 9 (13%) — 7 (26%)
The Lions’ offensive line got hit with a few more injuries this week, but everyone who was dinged up was able to return to finish out the game, save for the final two drives when the veterans were pulled for the reserves.
Ratledge played every snap at right guard, Awosika played 61 snaps at left guard, then shifted to right tackle for the final two series (nine snaps). Decker played his expected allotment of snaps, while Sewell and Glasgow each dealt with mid-game injuries, before also taking the final two series off.
When Sewell was injured, Skipper jumped in at right tackle (seven snaps), played the final two series at left tackle (nine snaps), while also getting on the field seven more times in “big sets”, even lining up out wide at receiver on one play. When Glasgow was injured at the end of the first half, Colon stepped in at center (10 snaps), then finished the final nine snaps at left guard. Niese played center for the Lions’ final two series (nine snaps).
Defensive end:
- Aidan Hutchinson: 50 (93%) — 1 (4%)
- Tyler Lacy: 36 (67%) — 2 (7%)
- Al-Quadin Muhammad: 21 (39%) — 1 (4%)
- Tyrus Wheat: 0 (0%) — 15 (56%)
- Pat O’Connor: Inactive (injury)
With Washington’s ability to run the ball as their best attribute, we saw the Lions counter with bigger defensive fronts, including more work for Lacy at the 4i, than traditional sets with Muhammad. Hutchinson continues to see the field at an incredible rate, only taking four defensive snaps off in this game.
Defensive tackle:
- Alim McNeill: 47 (87%) — 3 (11%)
- DJ Reader: 26 (48%)
- Roy Lopez: 12 (22%) — 2 (7%)
- Tyleik Williams: 8 (15%)
- Quinton Jefferson: Inactive
- Mekhi Wingo: Inactive
The Lions have consistently played just four defensive tackles each week, and this snap distribution has been their preferred approach against teams with good rushing attacks. McNeill looks fully in shape, Reader gives them a steady run-plugging force in the middle, while Williams falls back into a reserve role. Lopez’s snaps were close to expected, but he sure felt like he was out there more than he was, as he was incredibly impactful in his limited opportunities: recording five tackles, two tackles for loss, and a half sack on just 12 snaps.
Linebacker:
- Jack Campbell: 54 (100%) — 11 (41%)
- Derrick Barnes: 54 (100%) — 3 (11%)
- Alex Anzalone: 54 (100%) — 1 (4%)
- Grant Stuard: 0 (0%) — 19 (70%)
- Trevor Nowaske: 0 (0%) — 19 (70%)
- Ty Summers: 0 (0%) — 7 (26%)
The Lions continue to roll out three linebacker sets at very “old school” rates. However, it’s Barnes’ positional flexibility (along with Brian Branch on the back end) that allows them to be this creative.
Cornerback:
- Amik Robertson: 51 (94%) — 1 (4%)
- Rock Ya-Sin: 30 (56%) — 19 (70%)
- Terrion Arnold: 24 (44%) — injured
- Arthur Maulet: 16 (30%) — 15 (56%)
- Nick Whiteside: 3 (6%) — 12 (44%)
Arnold and Robertson got the starts, but Arnold suffered a concussion and was unable to finish the game, and was replaced by Ya-Sin. Robertson took just three plays off, and Whiteside briefly filled in for him, as has become common in the last two games. Maulet saw the field in nickel sets, with a 30% rate, lower than in previous weeks. As has become common, the Lions are removing a defensive tackle when they want to get a fifth defensive back on the field and shift their front seven accordingly.
Safety:
- Brian Branch: 42 (78%) — 3 (11%)
- Thomas Harper: 44 (81%) — 2 (7%)
- Avonte Maddox: 22 (41%) — 7 (26%)
- Daniels Thomas: 0 (0%) — 19 (70%)
- Kerby Joseph: Inactive (injury)
- Erick Hallett: Inactive
Branch was briefly injured in this game and was replaced by Maddox for 12 snaps, but Maddox also saw the field for 10 snaps at free safety, replacing Harper. It didn’t look like Harper was injured, so it’s possible the Lions had a planned rotation to get the veteran defensive back some opportunities as he re-acclimates from injury.
Specialists:
- Jake Bates: 16 (59%)
- Jack Fox: 7 (26%)
- Hogan Hatten: 7 (26%)
With the Lions scoring on every possession (save the game-ending kneeldowns), it meant that Fox wasn’t called on to punt, but they did need Bates to give them some extra kickoffs.
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