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    • Detroit Lions were right about Jameson Williams’ breakthrough potential
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    Detroit Lions were right about Jameson Williams’ breakthrough potential

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    Free Press columnist Carlos Monarrez tackles tough questions after the Detroit Lions’ 26-20 overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night at Ford Field.

    How big was this victory?

    I’d like to say huge, given all the raw emotion that coursed through Ford Field. But honestly, it felt more like the Lions survived after blowing a double-digit lead (for the second straight game) and letting the Rams get back into the game shorthanded. Of course, season openers can be crazy affairs that ultimately don’t tell us much. Right, 2023 Kansas City Chiefs? This was always going to be a tough draw for the Lions, because that old saying — it’s hard to beat a team twice — is so often quoted. And that’s what this game was: a rematch between two teams that were essentially playing each other. The Lions ultimately won this game with their run game, and they won it with David Montgomery’s hard-nosed running in overtime. Expect both teams to make the playoffs and, with any luck, play each other again in January in a rematch.

    SHAWN WINDSOR: Detroit Lions Finally Remember Their Identity in OT as They Bully LA Rams in 26-20 Win

    Is this the year Jameson Williams breaks through?

    Before the game, a group of sports writers discussed Williams’ potential this season. Well, based on his performance on Sunday, a breakthrough seems likely. After an injury-plagued first season and a suspension-ridden second, Williams had a drama-free offseason and picked up where he left off in the NFC title game, when he was a receiving and running threat who threw for two touchdowns. Williams had five catches for 121 yards, including a touchdown on a 52-yard dazzler thanks to Big Brain Ben Johnson’s bold third-down call and Jared Goff’s perfect deep pass down the sideline. Against the Rams, Williams matched his speed with schematic intelligence and consistently burned L.A. on the outside.

    IN THEIR OWN WORDS: We asked the Detroit Lions: Which teammate is poised for a breakthrough in the 2024 season?

    What did you think of the Lions defense?

    Aaron Glenn’s group held off the run for most of the game and harassed Matthew Stafford consistently throughout the game. Levi Onwuzurike had a sack, Kerby Joseph made a monster interception with a huge catch in the endzone to stop a Rams drive in the first half. And Aidan Hutchinson should have measured the Rams’ offensive backfield for curtains, since he basically lived there the entire game. But we have to remember that the Rams were severely undermanned. They were reduced to their third-string left tackle after Joe Noteboom left the game in the second quarter. More importantly, the Rams lost Pro Bowl receiver Puka Nacua early in the third quarter. Rookie Terrion Arnold had his ups and downs and, as he predicted, was picked up by Stafford. Overall, the defense gave up nearly 400 yards of offense, but it was to an offense led by a genius Super Bowl-winning play-caller (Sean McVay) and a motivated potential Hall of Fame quarterback in Stafford.

    JEFF SEIDEL: Sure, there were issues, but Detroit Lions showed special qualities in win over Rams

    Contact Carlos Monarrez: [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @cmonarrez.

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