The Detroit Lions (8-6) dropped a tough game to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 15, putting them in a precarious situation with just three games remaining in the regular season. With Detroit likely needing to win out to keep their playoff hopes alive, let’s take a look at how the Lions adjusted to all the moving parts on their roster by exploring how they utilized their personnel against the Rams.
Quarterbacks:
- Jared Goff: 64 snaps (100%)
- Kyle Allen: 0 (0%)
With the run game struggling to gain ground, Goff was called upon to pass the ball even more than usual. Overall, he threw twice as many passes as the Lions had runs, but he was efficient and put together a nice day overall: 25 of 41 for 338 passing yards, three TDs, one sack, 111.6 passer rating, and no turnovers.
Running backs:
- Jahmyr Gibbs: 52 (81%)
- David Montgomery: 18 (28%)
- Sione Vaki: 0 (0%) — 20 special teams snaps (59%)
- Jacob Saylors: 0 (0%) — 19 (56%)
While Montgomery was the more efficient runner, the Lions leaned on Gibbs—due to his versatility—in the second half as they played from behind. This was one of the season’s largest split differences between the two backs, and likely not what the Lions would have preferred.
Wide receivers:
- Amon-Ra St. Brown: 61 (95%)
- Jameson Williams: 58 (91%)
- Isaac TeSlaa: 40 (62%)
- Kalif Raymond: 11 (17%) — 4 (12%)
- Tom Kennedy: 0 (0%) — 8 (24%)
- Dominic Lovett: Inactive
St. Brown and Williams played massive roles in this game, and together, they combined for nearly three-quarters of the Lions’ offense (298 of the Lions’ 408 yards). TeSlaa and Raymond each saw just one target, with the rookie coming up empty and the veteran securing a 20-yard catch. With Raymond’s return, Kennedy was relegated to special teams only.
Tight ends:
- Shane Zylstra: 37 (58%) — 19 (56%)
- Anthony Firkser: 22 (34%) — 7 (21%)
- Giovanni Ricci: 12 (19%) — 14 (41%)
With Zylstra back from injured reserve and Ricci elevated, the Lions shifted away from their heavy use of Jumbo formations (6OL) and deployed their tight ends more traditionally. While Zylstra took on the Lions’ TE1 role, Firkser took on more of a blocking role, and Ricci split his time between being lined up inline and in the backfield as a fullback.
Offensive line:
- Tate Ratledge: 64 (100%) — 7 (21%)
- Graham Glasgow: 64 (100%) — 5 (15%)
- Penei Sewell: 64 (100%) — 2 (6%)
- Taylor Decker: 64 (100%)
- Trystan Colon: 51 (80%) — 7 (21%)
- Miles Frazier: 13 (20%) — 7 (21%)
- Dan Skipper: 9 (14%) — 7 (21%)
- Michael Niese: 0 (0%) — 7 (21%)
- Kayode Awosika: Inactive (injury)
The guard rotation continues as the Lions, once again, needed to call on Colon to start at left guard, and the rookie Frazier cycled in on a few series. Skipper saw his 6OL role cut in half from previous weeks, as the Lions adjusted their tight end usage. The only change amongst the starters occurred on special teams, where Glasgow picked up several reps after Sewell was injured. The All-Pro right tackle managed to play through his ankle injury, but it’s clearly bothering him and should be monitored moving forward.
Defensive end:
- Aidan Hutchinson: 57 (79%)
- Marcus Davenport: 56 (78%) — 7 (21%)
- Al-Quadin Muhammad: 33 (46%) — 7 (21%)
- Tyrus Wheat: 12 (17%) — 21 (62%)
- Tyler Lacy: Inactive
Hutchinson saw his snaps scaled back a bit in this game, but it’s not entirely clear if this was purposeful or just part of the game flow. He didn’t appear to be injured, but he also had one of his least impactful games of the season rushing the passer—save his insane interception. In turn, Davenport saw his reps increase, but like Hutchinson, his impact was not felt as much as the Lions would have hoped. Muhammad played on almost half the Lions’ snaps in a supplemental role and was used in a variety of ways, including lining up inside over guards. He led the team with five pressures, three more than any other defender.
Defensive tackle:
- Alim McNeill: 56 (78%) — 7 (21%)
- DJ Reader: 40 (56%)
- Roy Lopez: 20 (28%) — 7 (21%)
- Tyleik Williams: 19 (26%)
- Mekhi Wingo: Inactive
It appeared the Lions entered the game hoping to utilize their edge players more, but when the defensive line failed to stop the run, the roles of the interior players increased. Overall, at least one defender was still subbed off in subpackages, but we also saw a bit of an increase in “Big” sets with McNeill at the 4i—a role that had previously been scaled back.
Linebacker:
- Jack Campbell: 72 (100%) — 7 (21%)
- Alex Anzalone: 68 (94%)
- Derrick Barnes: 50 (69%) — 3 (9%)
- Trevor Nowaske: 5 (7%) — 27 (79%)
- Malcolm Rodriguez: 4 (6%) — 27 (79%)
- Grant Stuard: 0 (0%) — 27 (79%)
The Lions’ linebacker usage played out similarly to recent weeks, with a slight uptick in situational snaps for Nowaske and Rodriguez. Campbell is playing at a high level, and Anzalone is having a strong season, as the linebacker unit as a whole continues to be featured in Kelvin Sheppard’s defense.
Cornerback:
- Rock Ya-Sin: 64 (89%) — 10 (29%)
- D.J. Reed: 52 (72%)
- Amik Robertson: 44 (61%)
- Khalil Dorsey: 1 (1%) — 20 (59%)
- Arthur Maulet: DNP
- Nick Whiteside: Inactive
The Lions’ cornerback usage was probably not what they anticipated in their game plan. Robertson was forced from the game twice due to injury (leg and hand injuries), while Reed’s absence was not entirely clear, as he was not announced as having suffered an injury. With both starters missing time, it forced the Lions to lean on Ya-Sin more, and he ended up leading the corner group in snaps. Dorsey saw the field for one snap in a nickel set after Robertson was forced to sit out a play. Maulet, despite starting at nickel earlier in the season, did not see the field in any capacity in this game.
Safety:
- Avonte Maddox: 72 (100%) — 7 (21%)
- Erick Hallett: 55 (76%)
- Daniel Thomas: 12 (17%) — 27 (79%)
- Jalen Mills: 0 (0%) — 3 (9%)
- Thomas Harper: Inactive (injury)
- Kerby Joseph: Inactive (injury)
Maddox filled in admirably for the Lions’ injured safeties and should give coaches confidence that he can hold down a starting role moving forward. Hallett struggled in his starting role and ended up missing time due to cramping, while Thomas filled in situationally, but also had his fair share of difficulties. If/when Harper is able to return from his concussion, the Lions safety group should be okay, but if they need to rely on S5 and S6 in future starting roles, it will continue be challenging for the secondary.
Specialists:
- Jake Bates: 14 (41%)
- Jack Fox: 10 (29%)
- Hogan Hatten: 10 (29%)
Another missed field goal by Bates brings his season success rate 77.8% (21 of 27).
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