Detroit Lions keep losing players, but keep getting help, even from Jameson Williams, in win

TAMPA, Fla. — For a while they had nowhere to go and had fewer places to turn, especially after their leading running back … wait, their best running back and a critical piece to their balanced offense — hurt his ribs in the second quarter and didn’t return.

How long David Montgomery will be out remains to be seen. Rib injuries are tricky for any football player. But for running backs? Not a fun thought.

Though that’s about the only thing that wasn’t fun if you love these Detroit Lions and judging by the Lions’ fans takeover of yet another stadium in Sunday's 20-6 win over the Buccaneers, it seems everyone loves this team these days. (Even certain flight attendants, who urged her plane of passengers Saturday afternoon after landing in Tampa to cheer for the Lions. They broke out into applause.)

Really, then, what choice did the Lions have but to find a few new places to go? To find a way to make up for Montgomery’s loss? For Tampa’s blitzing linebackers? For its formidable defensive line?

After all, these players aren’t just playing for themselves and their coaches, but for the millions of Michiganders back home, for the thousands who live in Florida who ringed Raymond James Stadium to tailgate and celebrate, for the thousands who flew — or drove — to support this increasingly lovable team.

So many of whom chanted “Let’s Go Lions!” in the fourth quarter when the Lions had taken control.

What did the Lions do to take control?

Give the ball to their quarterback, Jared Goff, who in turn gave the ball to Amon-Ra St. Brown and Josh Reynolds and Craig Reynolds and Kalif Raymond and Sam LaPorta and, eventually Jameson Williams.

Wait, Jameson Williams?

The first-round pick who has been struggling with drops and route precision? Who was used as a decoy in the first half and a blocker on first downs and who wasn’t even targeted once?

Yeah, that Williams, who not only scored a touchdown but did so in the most unlikely of circumstances and made a head-turning catch that essentially ended the game. Surprising?

Try Shocking. Stunning, even.

Not because the second-year receiver doesn’t have talent and speed, but because he hasn’t shown a feel for what the Lions do offensively.

Mostly because he hasn’t had the time. Also: drops. In training camp. In practice. In pregame warmups, Williams couldn’t hold onto at least three passes before kickoff.

So, when he dropped a comebacker down the field on the previous play, it was hard to imagine Goff would return to him so quickly. But he did, launching it some 50 yards to the end zone.

He underthrew him, in fact, though the extra time gave Williams the chance to turn around and then turn back around to adjust to the ball as it moved through the windy stadium. When he caught it and fell to the turf in the end zone, his teammates raced to him.

From there, he took a stroll across the back of the end zone to the Lions sideline, where more teammates mobbed him, including Alex Anzalone, who was in the midst of his best game as a Lion.

The linebacker was around the ball all afternoon. A stellar, ball hawking effort in a season of inspired play. That his parents were in the stands watching him, after making their way back from Israel surely added to his verve.

Yet that emotional boost — and release — shouldn't undercut how good he’s been. Tampa simply couldn’t run the ball.

A pattern, by the way, because no one has run the ball on this defense, and for Tampa, that wasn’t so nice. That meant Baker Mayfield had to win the game with his arm, and he couldn’t.

Whether he overthrew his receivers or got a few passes batted down. Isaiah Buggs tipped one early. pass. Will Harris picked off the deflection. A good thing, because Kerby Joseph bit on a fake by Mayfield, allowing Mike Evans to get 10 yards behind the defense. If not for the tip, Tampa Bay had an easy touchdown.

On two other occasions, the Lions’ secondary messed up coverage and Tampa couldn’t take advantage. Once when Evans dropped a pass, another when Mayfield overshot Trey Palmer, who was open down the field.

The Lions mixed coverages well and contained Mayfield’s scrambling for the most part, even if they didn’t get him to the grass until late in the game when Tampa had no choice but to throw.

Goff, meanwhile, felt the pressure from Tampa, applied from the opening drive, and mistimed several of his throws. Tampa sent its linebackers in blitz after blitz, almost always on third downs, but on first and second down, too, at times.

And because the Lions couldn’t run the ball to give the defense much else to think about — they had 22 yards on the ground in the first half — they struggled to loosen things up.

Until they did, and Goff found his rhythm, and used screens and short sit-downs to get the ball to his receivers. This was his game offensively. And he came through.

As he had all season. As the defense now has, too.

No wonder so many fans traveled and chanted. This team is different. And is showing why every week in different ways.

Contact Shawn Windsor: 313-222-6487 or swindsor@freepress.com. Follow him @shawnwindsor.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions keep losing players, but keep finding ways to win