Handing out the game ball and unsung hero from the Lions’ road revenge match against the 49ers
The Detroit Lions, with minimal playoff consequences on the line, brought it in full force to the Bay Area and were able to persevere through an offensive barnburner by bludgeoning out 40 points against the San Francisco 49ers defense. A year after losing the NFC Championship game, despite leading 24-7 at halftime, the Lions went on a 23-7 run in the second half to get a stranglehold of the lead and not look back—with just enough impact plays on defense in the second half to retain the lead for good.
Everyone in the Lions organization, and in the fan base, wanted to have closure on the heartbreaking loss to end last season’s playoff run, and there were quite a few worthy candidates for my game ball and unsung hero.
Game Ball: Kerby Joseph
Last week, after the Lions defeated the Bears, I handed out game balls to Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Jameson Williams. After the victory over the 49ers, all three are very deserving of a game ball. In fact, the entire offense, after an NFL record-breaking sixth game with 40 points scored and zero turnovers, is deserving of a game ball. However I’m giving the game ball to a defensive player on a defense that allowed 34 points, including 21 in the first half.
Kerby Joseph, after a first drive personal foul stepping in to have Terrion Arnold’s back, stepped up and was the defensive stopper the Lions team needed.
The 49ers scored touchdowns on their first three drives of the game, they missed a field goal on their fourth drive, and scored a touchdown on their fifth drive.
On the 49ers sixth drive, with first-and-10 at midfield, Brock Purdy air-mailed a ball over Ricky Pearsall and into Joseph’s profitable arms. The Lions hadn’t had an interception since Joseph picked off Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones in Week 11 (six games) and it couldn’t have come at a better time. The Lions offense responded with a touchdown to Amon-Ra St. Brown and took the lead for the first time all game.
Two 49ers drives later, after another missed Jake Moody field goal, they had first-and-10 from the Lions’ 36-yard line. Purdy tried to fire a ball over the middle, behind the Lions’ charging linebackers, to Pearsall again when Joseph stepped, like a buzzard swooping down, and got the Lions the ball back while also shutting another potential 49ers scoring drive. This led to the Lions eating another nearly five minutes of fourth quarter football and a Gibbs touchdown that gave Detroit the defining 40-28 lead.
In total against the 49ers, Joseph totaled six tackles, one defensive stop, zero catches, and two interceptions. They were Joseph’s eighth and ninth interceptions of the season. It’s the most interceptions in the NFL this season and the most for a Lions defender in a season since 1981. Joseph also has the most interceptions (17) and most multiple interception games (three) of any NFL player since he entered the league in 2022.
The Lions defense has lost a number of star players and crucial depth pieces. In order to reach their goals and hoist the Lombardi Trophy, they’ll need some of the remaining impact players to make game-changing plays like those two second half interceptions.
Unsung Hero: Scottie Montgomery
Assistant head coach and running backs coach, Scottie Montgomery lost one of his star pupils in David Montgomery after Week 15, and the backfield has managed to remain an incredibly productive group in back-to-back games. For those efforts, he is this week’s unsung hero. Under Montgomery’s tutelage, Gibbs has proven to be more than capable as a work-horse back, while Craig Reynolds was a spark plug in his reps, and even Jermar Jefferson had valuable carries.
For the second week in a row, and only the fourth time in his career, Gibbs recorded at least 150 yards from scrimmage with 163 total yards (second-most of his career). Gibbs did so with 18 carries, 117 rushing yards, and a rushing touchdown on the ground while providing 46 receiving yards on four catches through the air. Gibbs generated three 10+ yard rushes, including his 30-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, and had five rushing first downs while adding one first down in the passing game. Also in the passing game, Gibbs has emerged as a much more reliable pass protector, particularly in a handful of high collision blitz pick-ups against the 49ers.
Reynolds had his best game of the season, totaling 66 yards on nine touches. He did so with seven rushes for 31 rushing yards and two catches for 35 receiving yards (including a long of 26 on his first touch) and even contributed a tackle on special teams. Reynolds is an unselfish do-it-all player for the Lions and has continued to perform when his number is called. Reynolds’ 66 total yards and three first downs were huge, underrated values for the Lions offense on another quest for a 40 burger.
While Jefferson only recorded 9 rushing yards, his 8-yard run from the 9-yard line helped set up the Lions’ first touchdown of the game.
Scottie Montgomery and his running back room were pivotal in the offense not missing a beat against the 49ers with everyone in the group elevated to new, more important roles.
