The Detroit Lions defeated the Los Angeles Rams to open the 2024 season with a 1-0 record. Considering the high expectations for the team, it was hardly an inspiring performance from the Lions, who blew a 14-point second-half lead and needed a final-minute drive to send the game into overtime.

But Sunday night’s game had its fair share of good and bad, and let’s take a closer look at them in our Week 1 report.

Quarterback: C

Goff had a relatively quiet day, attempting just 28 passes and completing 217 yards through the air. He made some big plays, including his 52-yard bomb to Jameson Williams and a 7-yard scramble that kept a key drive alive.

But he also put the Lions in some tough situations that they narrowly escaped. With the Lions in field goal position, up by four points in the fourth quarter, he threw a ball up the middle late in the game that was intercepted. When he got the ball again, now down by three points, he nearly threw another interception that likely would have ended the game.

Running backs: A-

Jahmyr Gibbs wasn’t much of a factor in the rushing game, rushing for 40 yards on 11 carries. However, he made a couple of key catches, including one in overtime, to add another 34 yards to his total.

Of course, Sunday’s star was David Montgomery, whose physical running style wore down a Rams defensive front early and late in the game. Montgomery finished the game with 91 yards rushing, 45 of them on the game-winning overtime drive. None was bigger or more emblematic of Montgomery’s skill than that 21-yard gain.

Tight ends: D

Sam LaPorta finished with 45 yards, including a big catch on Detroit’s game-tying drive, but it was otherwise a quiet day for the tight end group. The reason I’m giving them a below-average grade, however, is the blocking. Granted, I may have a different opinion after re-watching the tape, but I thought some of Detroit’s pass protection and rushing issues (in the middle quarters) were malfunctions by the tight ends.

Wide Receivers: C+

Jameson Williams was electric Sunday night, pulling the Lions offense out of the doldrums on multiple occasions. It wasn’t just his straight-line speed. Williams’ routes were polished and deceptive, and his hands were as good as we’ve ever seen. Without his five catches for 121 yards, the Lions don’t win that game.

Unfortunately, that was it for the Lions receivers. Amon-Ra St. Brown had just three catches on 13 passes, and no other receiver was even targeted on the team. Hopefully Tim Patrick or Allen Robinson can get up to speed quickly and provide a spark.

Offensive Line: C+

It’s hard to complain when the offense is putting up 163 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, and 5.3 yards per carry. However, over the middle two quarters, the Lions running backs managed just 10 rushes for 28 yards. Additionally, Jared Goff suffered five quarterback hits and two sacks.

Defense Line: B+

Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport combined for eight quarterback hits (four each), 1.5 sacks and six tackles. The team had 12 QB hits in total, all produced by the defensive line. The Rams were largely reduced to their fourth and fifth offensive tackles, so it’s good that Detroit’s edge rushers took advantage of them. You might want more production than that on the sack front, but that’s tough when Matthew Stafford gets rid of the ball quickly.

Detroit was also relatively strong in the run game, with Kyren Williams managing just 50 yards on 18 carries (2.8), though he did reach the end zone once.

Overall I was hoping for a bit more pressure from inside. Detroit did get a half-sack from Levi Onwuzurike, but Alim McNeill was almost completely kept off the stat sheet (1 tackle).

Linebackers: B-

Alex Anzalone started the game swinging, picking up two tackles for loss on the first drive alone. He finished with 13 tackles and three TFLs. Jack Campbell picked up seven of his own, one for loss.

But toward the end of the game, the Lions’ linebackers struggled in coverage, allowing Stafford to often attack the middle of the field.

Secondary: D

Once again, it was a very boom-or-bust performance for the Lions defensive backs. Kerby Joseph’s interception was a sight to behold and a huge play in the game. Brian Branch had three pass breakups, including a near interception. Carlton Davis should have intercepted Stafford as well.

However, the cornerbacks often gave up too much yardage. Even though it was part of the game plan, the secondary didn’t do enough to limit the gains from those passes due to sloppy tackling.

Things will get better, but it was a somewhat disappointing debut for this strengthened defence.

Special teams: B

Jake Bates was perfect on all of his kicks (2-for-2 on field goals and extra points each), including a clutch 32-yard kick to tie the game with 17 seconds left. He also squibbed a kick perfectly on the kickoff that helped pin the Rams on their own 22-yard line.

There wasn’t much else to report on the special teams, other than a costly error by Ennis Rakestraw on the punt coverage team. Jack Fox had laid a perfect punt to pin the Rams inside their own 5-yard line, but Rakestraw’s attempt to take down the punt – which would have come to rest in bounds had he not touched it – knocked the ball through the end zone.

Coaching: C

Nothing special in terms of decisions in the game. Dan Campbell’s one decision to go fourth down was the right one, even though it didn’t result in extra points. You could argue that his decision to go fourth-and-5 late in the game, still down three points, was a bit conservative, but it worked out well.

It was a little frustrating, though, to watch the Rams continually dink and dunk their way down the court with no apparent adjustments made on defense. It almost seemed like the Lions were doing just fine with that strategy, as the defense tightened up in the red zone. However, it could have been costly if the offense hadn’t scored on their final two drives.