Let’s take a detailed look at the Detroit Lions Week 6 counts against the Dallas Cowboys. Notable for this game is that due to the lopsided score (47-9), the Lions offense played their starters around 57 snaps and their backups 11 snaps, while the defense started a heavier reserve rotation around 51 snaps.

Offence

Quarterbacks

Jared Goff: 57 (84%)
Hendon Hooker: 11 (16%)

Back-to-back dominant performances from Jared Goff led to him getting some early rest and a game ball – which he promptly paid forward to coach Dan Campbell.

Hendon Hooker got his feet wet in his first career NFL game, but threw the ball just twice in his 11 snaps and completed just one pass, a 19-yarder to Kalif Raymond.

Running backs

Jahmyr Gibbs: 37 (54%)
David Montgomery: 21 (31%)
Craig Reynolds: 11 (16%) — 16 special teams snaps (57%)
Sione Vaki: 1 (1%) — 16 (57%)

Gibbs played his normal amount of snaps, while the team opted to pass Montgomery’s end-of-game snaps to Reynolds and Vaki. Reynolds made six touches for 21 yards, while Vaki ran for 5 yards on his lone carry.

Tight ends

Sam LaPorta: 42 (62%)
Brock Wright: 34 (50%) – 13 (46%)
Parker Hessen: 23 (34%) — 13 (46%)

Wright was right around his average snap count for the year, while LaPorta saw his night come to an end early, handing off his end-of-game snaps to Hesse. The Lions used H-back slightly more than in previous weeks (he averages eight offensive snaps per game), but the bulk of his work came late in the game.

Wide receivers

Jameson Williams: 51 (75%)
Amon-Ra St. Brown: 43 (63%)
Tim Patrick: 30 (44%)
Kalif Raymond: 24 (35%) — 6 (21%)
Allen Robinson: 9 (13%)
Isaiah Williams: INACTIVE

This was the first time this season that St. Brown saw fewer than 89% of the offensive snaps in a game as the Lions, like Montgomery and LaPorta, played it safe with him. Williams saw his typical snap counts and Raymond had a sensational game (six targets, four catches for 73 yards) earning an overall grade of 90.9 from PFF. Patrick settles for around 30 offensive snaps per game, while Robinson has seen his snaps increase after previously seeing just two total offensive snaps in the Lions’ previous games.

Offensive line

Taylor Decker: 68 (100%)
Penei Sewell: 68 (100%) — 9 (32%)
Graham Glasgow: 68 (100%) — 8 (29%)
Kevin Zeitler: 57 (84%) — 9 (32%)
Frank Ragnow: 57 (84%) — 1 (4%)
Kayode Awosika: 14 (21%) — 9 (32%)
Dan Skipper: 11 (16%) — 9 (32%)
Michael Niese: 11 (16%) — 9 (32%)
Colby Sorsdal: INACTIVE
Giovanni Manu: INACTIVE

The Lions are deploying offensive linemen at a very high rate. They leaned on an extra double-digit lineman in this game, even trumping the NFL by putting seven on the field at once and having Decker and Skipper declare their eligibility. Skipper also lined up at wide receiver, and for one final troll from the NFL, they had Skipper declare himself eligible for the Lions’ victory formation and kneel on the final play of the game.

Additionally, the Lions also threw a pass to Decker and attempted a hook-and-ladder play with St. Brown passing laterally to Sewell. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was deep in his bag of tricks

Defense

EDGE:

Levi Onwuzurike: 50 (72%) — 3 (11%)
Josh Paschalis: 41 (59%)
Isaac Ukwu: 36 (52%) — 2 (7%)
Aidan Hutchinson: 32 (46%)
James Houston: INACTIVE

The huge player news from this match revolves around Aidan Hutchinson’s potentially season-ending injury. Hutchinson broke his fibula and tibia against the Cowboys and required emergency surgery. While those close to Hutchinson wouldn’t rule out a return to the field, Campbell noted that it was a four-to-six month recovery timeline (although he did leave the door open) and that the Lions will look for players who his understands. Their internal options will get the first opportunities to get snaps, such as Ukwu, Onwuzurike and Houston, and to practice squad edge rushers, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Lions look closely outside the organizations.

When Hutchinson was forced out of the match, Ukwu came on and tried to seize his moment. The Lions say they are in no rush to figure out how to replace Hutchinson, but they are keeping their options open, and this is something general manager Brad Holmes prepares for every season.

DT:

Alim McNeill: 36 (52%) — 3 (11%)
Mekhi Wingo: 26 (38%) — 3 (11%)
DJ reader: 23 (33%)
Kyle Peko: 5 (7%) — 1 (4%)

Like the offensive skill players, McNeill and Reader were given the veteran treatment late in the game and have scaled back their snaps in favor of Wingo and Onwuzurike, who continue to split time inside and outside. Peko injured his pecs early in the match and was ruled out for the rest of the day.

As a whole, this group saw lighter snap counts overall as the Lions opted for more nickel packages to offset the Cowboys’ three wide receiver sets.

Linebackers

Alex Anzalone: ​​​​51 (74%)
Jack Campbell: 48 (70%)
Malcolm Rodriguez: 33 (48%) – 19 (68%)
Trevor Nowaske: 29 (42%) — 19% (68%)
Jalen Reeves-Maybin: 14 (20%) – 19 (68%)
Ben Niemann: 0 (0%) — 16 (57%)

Anzalone, who typically plays every defensive play, also got the veteran treatment, while Campbell saw a slight decline from his weekly average. Those decisions led to an increase in opportunities for Rodriguez – who has steadily increased his roster since Derrick Barnes’ injury – and Nowaske. Nowaske also likely absorbed Niemann’s snaps because he didn’t see the field Sunday, a likely decision coming out of the bye week. Nowaske flashed in the Lions SAM role and it’s fair to wonder if the team will continue to give him opportunities as he registered a sack against the Cowboys.

Cornerbacks

Amik Robertson: 57 (83%)
Terrion Arnold: 51 (74%)
Carlton Davis: 37 (54%)
Kindle Vildor: 20 (29%) — 15 (54%)
Ennis Rakestraw: 17 (25%) — 12 (43%)
Khalil Dorsey: 15 (22%) — 19 (68%)

Davis left the game early and was assessed for a concussion after his helmet came loose and he was kicked in the head by a teammate attempting to make a tackle. According to the Lions (via Justin Rogers), Davis passed concussion protocol and was eligible to return to the game, but the Lions played it safe.

He was replaced by Vildor and Rakestraw. Dorsey found the field later in the game as the Lions pulled Arnold once they had an insurmountable lead.

Robertson, the Lions’ starting nickel corner, had surpassed 50% of defensive snaps just once before the bye, as the Lions stayed in their 4-3 base most of the time. But any significant shift in staff utilization after a bye week is something to watch for. Was this just an opponent-specific game plan or does this indicate the Lions have changed their philosophy?

Safety

Kerby Joseph: 67 (97%) — 13 (46%)
Brian branch: 53 (77%)
Brandon Joseph: 18 (26%) — 9 (32%)
Loren Strickland: INACTIVE

The Lions opted to only have three safeties active in this game, so when it came time to rest their starters, it was Branch who took a break while Kerby remained on the field with Brandon Joseph.

Branch and Kerby have been absolutely sensational this season and are starting to get recognition for their hard work. In this game alone, Branch had six tackles, two interceptions, two pass breakups, a forced fumble and a quarterback hit. Not to be outdone, Kerby secured his fourth interception of the season (all in the end zone), which is second in the NFL so far.

Special teams

Jake Bates: 19 (68%)
Jack Fox: 9 (32%)
Hogan Hatten: 9 (32%)

Jake Bates went 4-for-4 on field goals, successfully hitting from 40, 48, 33 and 33 yards, while also making all five of his extra point attempts. His 17 points scored were the most by a kicker since Jason Hanson scored 19 in 1999.

Jack Fox did not kick in this match. So that was fun.