Lions @ Texans
Final Score: Lions 26 – 23 Texans
Writer: Christian Otteman (@COttemanPL on Twitter)
It was a mouth-watering Sunday Night Football matchup between two up-and-coming powerhouses in the Houston Texans and the visiting Detroit Lions. What was profiled as an offensive shootout turned out to be a comedy of errors, as quarterbacks Jared Goff and CJ Stroud combined to throw a whopping SEVEN interceptions in this contest. Unfortunately for Detroit, Goff was responsible for the lion’s share of those turnovers, more than doubling his interception total on the season with five picks. Facing a large deficit in the second half, Goff put those turnovers behind him and led an incredibly unlikely comeback for the Lions, who won this game thanks to the howitzer attached to Jake Bates‘ leg. Another signature win for Dan Campbell’s crew, who lead the NFC at 8-1, and a heartbreaking loss for the home team. The Lions head home for what should be an easy matchup against the Jaguars, while the Texans will travel to Jerry World to take on the shell of the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football.
Two Up
- Jake Bates – 110 yards of field goals in the fourth quarter that stayed inside the uprights by a combined 2 inches. Clutch performance by a guy with a monster leg.
- John Metchie III – Scored his first career touchdown and posted a career high in yardage. One of the easiest guys in the NFL to root for.
Three Down
- Jared Goff – Goff has set multiple NFL records thanks to his surgical precision over the past several weeks, but this game was filled with mistakes from the Lions’ signal-caller. Goff threw five interceptions and missed his receivers on short throws several times throughout the night. Hopefully just a bump in the road for a player that has played like an MVP candidate through the first nine weeks of the season.
- Other Texans Receivers – This team needs Nico Collins back desperately.
- Offensive Lines – Goff was pressured all night and Joe Mixon wasn’t able to find any running room whatsoever. Two poor performances from the front lines for these teams.
Detroit Lions
Quarterback
Jared Goff: 15/30, 240 yards, 2 TD, 5 INT | 1 carry, 2 yards
Oh my. Jared Goff has done a phenomenal job taking care of the football this season, but this was a complete Mr. Hyde to Goff’s usually surgical self. He threw three interceptions in the first half to put the Lions in a deep hole to start the game. Two of those picks were admittedly strange, while the third came on a Hail Mary as the clock expired in the first half. Goff didn’t have much time to throw in this game, as he was pressured all night thanks to an uncharacteristically poor performance from the Detroit offensive line. In the second half, Goff threw another pair of interceptions on ill-advised throws, but led the Lions to a couple of scores in their comeback bid. Goff looked nothing like his usual self for most of the game; hopefully this was just an off night for the QB, who was having a career year up to this point.
Running Back
Jahmyr Gibbs: 19 carries, 71 yards | 3 targets, 2 receptions, 37 yards
Jahmyr Gibbs looked like his usual explosive self on a few instances tonight and is truly dangerous whenever he is able to find open space. It wasn’t the most prolific fantasy day for Gibbs, but the Lions were playing from behind for most of the game and didn’t quite get to #EstablishTheRun to the extent they usually do. Better days should be ahead for Gibbs in matchups against the Jaguars and Colts the next two weeks.
David Montgomery: 12 carries, 32 yards, 1 TD | 2 targets, 1 reception, 24 yards
The Knuckles to Jahmyr Gibbs’ Sonic, David Montgomery got back to his scoring ways by punching in a touchdown in the third quarter this week. Like his backfield mate, it wasn’t a very efficient or prolific day on the ground for Monty, as the Lions’ offensive line didn’t have the best day at the office. Monty is still an every-week starter in fantasy thanks to his role in this elite offense.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Amon-Ra St. Brown: 8 targets, 6 receptions, 60 yards, TD
The Lions’ top pass-catcher was clearly the focus of the Texans’ defensive scheme tonight, and Houston’s plan worked for the most part, as St. Brown was very rarely open through three quarters of play. However, with the Lions looking to mount a comeback in the fourth, Goff found St. Brown for a screen pass that he took in with ease for his seventh consecutive game with a touchdown. The Sun God also converted the most crucial third down for the Lions that would eventually set up Jake Bates for the game-winning field goal. St. Brown hasn’t quite put up the prolific numbers we’re used to seeing from him this year, but his nose for the end zone has kept his fantasy production at a respectable level. He’s as safe a WR1 as you’ll find in today’s NFL.
Jameson Williams: 5 Targets, 3 receptions, 53 yards
Following a two-game suspension for using a performance enhancing substance, Jameson Williams made his impact in this game early by making a couple of key grabs on the Lions’ first scoring drive of the night. Jamo also made a phenomenal catch in the fourth quarter, where he leaped to grab a ball and then hung on with pure strength as he was hit by multiple defenders on the way down. Jamo has developed as an NFL receiver in his third season but still profiles mostly as a boom/bust option in fantasy.
Sam LaPorta: 6 targets, 3 receptions, 66 yards, TD
It’s been a quiet year for Sam LaPorta after finishing as the TE1 as a rookie, but tonight was a step in the right direction for the sophomore stud. LaPorta scored his second touchdown of the season and also set up the Montgomery score with another deep ball. Unfortunately, LaPorta left the game in the second half with a shoulder injury and did not return. It’ll be a situation to monitor leading up to the Lions’ Week 11 matchup against the Jaguars.
Houston Texans
Quarterback
CJ Stroud: 19/33, 232 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT | 1 carry, 5 yards
Fresh off of one of the worst games of his young career against the Jets in Week 9, CJ Stroud bounced back in a big way in the first half of Sunday night’s performance. Stroud looked calm and collected as the Texans built a lead, constantly hitting his receivers for chunk plays while not making any major mistakes. Unfortunately, the second half was a different story–Stroud was picked off by Carlton Davis on the first play of the second half (while Dan Campbell was speaking about how his defense needed a turnover) and was intercepted again by the same man deep in Lions territory. Stroud is missing key weapons in his offense, sure, but even when Nico Collins returns to the fray, he might not be an every-week starter. The good news is next week’s matchup against the Cowboys will be a great get-right spot for the stud sophomore.
Running Back
Joe Mixon: 25 carries, 46 yards, TD | 4 targets, 2 receptions, 44 yards
Despite being stymied on the ground by the Detroit front seven, Mixon continued his torrid scoring pace in 2024, finding the end zone for the eighth time in seven games played on the Texans’ first drive of the night. Mixon was visibly frustrated about the team’s inability to get the ground game going but still found a way to return a respectable fantasy performance. Mixon remains an every-week RB1 thanks to his massive share of the workload and penchant for finding the end zone. Next week’s matchup in Dallas should give Mixon a chance to turn in a more efficient outing.
Dare Ogunbowale: 1 carry, 11 yards
Merely a Mixon handcuff at this point in the season, Ogunbowale isn’t worth a roster spot in most leagues.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Tank Dell: 9 targets, 5 receptions, 39 yards | 1 carry, -6 yards
Tank Dell was Stroud’s go-to guy at the onset of this game, as the pair of sophomores connected early and often to keep the chains moving for Houston. However, Dell would disappear for much of the second half, amassing a disappointing 39 yards on 9 targets. Dell had a great game against the Jets as the team’s de facto WR1 but wasn’t able to find a lot of open space in this one as the Lions’ secondary tightened up. Hopefully getting Nico Collins back on the field will allow Dell to find more space in the future.
John Metchie III: 6 targets, 5 receptions, 74 yards, TD
One of the best moments of the night was John Metchie III‘s first career touchdown at the end of the first half. Metchie’s journey back to the football field after missing his rookie season due to a leukemia diagnosis has been well-documented, and it’s fantastic to see Metchie looking like his old Alabama self and making the most of his chances following injuries to the Texans’ receiving room. This was easily the best game of Metchie’s career, but hopefully it’s just the first of many standout performances for the second-year wideout.
Dalton Schultz: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 66 yards
A fine stream if you took a chance on the Houston TE this week. Schultz’s time as an appealing streamer is coming to an end with Collins’ impending return. He’ll be firmly entrenched in the “TD or bust” tier for the rest of the season barring any other injuries to the Texans’ receivers.
Xavier Hutchinson: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 6 yards
A deep-league dynasty stash and nothing else.
Cade Stover: 2 targets, 1 reception, 2 yards
Robert Woods: 3 targets, one reception, 1 yard
It’s been a fun ride, Bobby Trees.