Detroit Lions snare Atlanta Falcons, 20-6: Game recap, highlights

The Detroit Lions entered Week 3 against the Atlanta Falcons looking to rebound after falling to 1-1 on the season with the overtime defeat last week against the Seattle Seahawks.

The Lions, wearing blue jerseys and blue pants, were three-point betting favorites but enter shorthanded on both sides of the ball Sunday against the 2-0 Falcons. The over/under point total was 47½.

The defense came up large, with seven sacks after getting just one during the season's first two games, en route to a dominant performance and 20-6 victory.

Here's a recap of key moments from the game at Ford Field:

Read more Lions game coverage for subscribers:

• Game balls for everyone: Lions put together total team win over Falcons

• Brian Branch, not Jahmyr Gibbs, was top rookie for Lions

• Lions would not have beaten Atlanta Falcons without stellar rookies

Final: Lions defense propels 20-6 victory over Falcons

The duo of Craig Reynolds and Jahmyr Gibbs ran out the clock for the Lions, who moved to 2-1 with the 20-6 victory. Jared Goff led the way with another good performance, completing 22 of 33 passes for 243 yards and one passing and one rushing touchdown. Sam LaPorta had eight catches for 84 yards and one touchdown. Detroit survived the onslaught of injuries at running back and on the offensive line and ran for 116 yards as a team.

The big story of the day was Detroit's defense, who only gave up six points. Detroit held Atlanta to two field goals and 195 total yards, a much better performance than giving up 37 to Seattle last week. Rookie Brian Branch stepped up to lead the team with 10 tackles and Tracy Walker, who started for the injured C.J. Gardner-Johnson, had six. The last time Detroit gave up six or fewer points was its 31-0 win over the Packers in Week 17 in 2018.

2:00, fourth quarter: Hutchinson forces fumble to seal win

Aidan Hutchinson broke through for his second sack of the game on third down of the Falcons' final drive. Hutchinson hit Desmond Ridder and knocked the ball loose before he dove on the fumble to recover it himself. Hutchinson and the rest of the defense shimmied in celebration to seal Detroit's first home victory of the year.

4:19, fourth quarter: Falcons hit field goal to trim Lions lead to 20-6

In desperation mode, the Falcons moved the ball to the red zone but stalled out again thanks to the Lions defense. Younghoe Koo made his second field goal of the game to trim the lead to 14 and set up an onside kick. Detroit defensive end Aidan Hutchinson got his first sack of the season on the drive.

9:50, fourth quarter: Goff rushes for TD, Lions lead 20-3

Jared Goff did not make a mistake this drive. The Lions moved quickly down the field on big runs from Jahmyr Gibbs, and Jared Goff punched it in on a zone read from the goal line to give the Lions a three-score lead. It was the first time Jared Goff scored a rushing touchdown as a Lion.

13:42, fourth quarter: Lions get fourth down stop

The interception did not end up hurting the Lions. Detroit shut down Atlanta's offense on four straight plays, including fourth down, to get the ball back to the offense immediately. Brian Branch was involved again in coverage on the fourth down stop.

0:00, third quarter: Goff throws interception inside Lions territory

On the final play of the third quarter, Jared Goff overthrew Amon-Ra St. Brown on an in-breaking route and Falcons safety Jessie Bates dove to make the interception. The Falcons took over at the Lions' 43 with its best opportunity since the missed field goal.

8:25, third quarter: Falcons miss field goal

The Lions went three and out on the first drive of the second half and Atlanta answered with a bruising, run-heavy drive to field goal range. Brian Branch had another big tackle for loss that set the Falcons behind and ultimately forced a field goal. Atlanta kicker Younghoe Koo pulled the attempt left and Detroit remained in the lead, 13-3.

Halftime: Lions lead 13-3

Detroit had its best half defensively so far this season in the first half. Detroit only allowed one sustained drive that resulted in a Falcons field goal and forced four quick punts. Safety Tracy Walker III led the way with three tackles starting in place of the injured C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Rookie Brian Branch also had three tackles and a deflected pass on third down.

Jared Goff had another efficient half, completing 15 of 21 passes for 188 yards and one touchdown, a 45-yard bomb to rookie Sam LaPorta. LaPorta had six receptions for 70 yards and the score and Amon-Ra St.Brown had five catches for 63 yards. Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 25 yards on nine carries to begin his first start without David Montgomery.

Right tackle Matt Nelson left the game with an ankle injury. His replacement Dan Skipper came in and also got hurt and is questionable to return with a hamstring injury. Rookie fifth-round pick Colby Sorsdal is in to start the second half.

1:53, second quarter: Patterson hits second field goal, Lions lead 13-3

Detroit took over seven minutes off the clock on the 13-play drive but the Lions could not convert inside the 10-yard line after a holding penalty on Penei Sewell on first and goal. Patterson nailed the chip shot to extend Detroit's lead to 10.

10:05, second quarter: LaPorta scores first NFL TD to give Lions lead

After the injury stoppage, the Lions dialed up a deep shot on a play action pass. Jared Goff stood strong in the face of pressure and delivered a deep shot to rookie tight end Sam LaPorta for the 45-yard touchdown. It is the first touchdown for LaPorta in the NFL, who has had a busy start to the game so far.

10:20, second quarter: Lions right tackle Matt Nelson carted off

On a play that ultimately won't count because of penalty, Lions right tackle Matt Nelson for an ankle injury. Nelson was starting at right tackle because of the injury to Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell sliding to left tackle. Dan Skipper, who was signed from the practice squad in the week, replaced Nelson.

11:32, second quarter: Falcons equalize with field goal

Atlanta responded with a pretty similar drive down to the third down completions to their tight end, Kyle Pitts. Detroit's defense stood tall on its own 30-yard line thanks to a third down pass break-up from rookie Brian Branch. Falcons' kicker Younghoe Koo hit the 48-yard kick to tie the game at three.

1:46, first quarter: Lions take lead on Patterson field goal

Detroit manufactured a nice drive on its second time on the field. Jared Goff linked up with Sam Laporta and Amon-Ra St. Brown to move the ball into Falcons' territory, but the drive fell apart after the Lions had back to-back negative plays. The Lions settled for a field goal and Riley Patterson connected on the 37-yard kick.

8:50, first quarter: Lions secure consecutive sacks to force punt

Detroit's defense has forced two quick punts from Atlanta's offense, and the second one was thanks to the Lions' second and third sacks of the season. On second down, Benito Jones blew up a play-action pass and brought down Desmond Ridder and Derrick Barnes got to him on a blitz the next play to force a punt.

Inactives

The Lions lost outside linebacker James Houston to an ankle fracture and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to a torn pectoral and both were placed on injured reserve. Left tackle Taylor Decker, right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai, safety Kerby Joseph cornerback Emmanuel Moseley and running back David Montgomery are officially out with injuries.

Jeff Okudah, the former No. 3 overall pick by the Lions in 2020, is active for the Falcons after missing the season's first two contests with an ankle injury.

Pregame notes

Detroit is looking to correct the defense after allowing Geno Smith and the Seattle offense to do what it wanted. The Lions lacked discipline and execution in the loss where they gave up 393 yards and four touchdowns. The Lions will be in for a different type of threat against the Falcons, who thrive on a power rushing attack.

On offense, it will be on Jared Goff and the passing attack to lift the Lions offense past injuries to Montgomery and the offensive line. Goff has had a great start to the season, throwing for 576 yards and four touchdowns. His pick-six in the fourth quarter vs. Seattle hurt, but he still guided the offense to 31 points and a near comeback. Leading wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown will be available to play with a steel plate in his cleat, after suffering a toe injury last week.

Rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs is set to start in place of Montgomery, with Craig Reynolds working in between the tackles and former New York Jet Zonovan Knight called up from practice squad.

RARE DUO: Lions' Jahmyr Gibbs, Falcons' Bijan Robinson square off in battle of first-round RBs

The Falcons have fellow first-round rookie running back Bijan Robinson, who went eighth overall in April. Robinson has been the engine of Atlanta's run-heavy offense, with 255 all-purpose yards and a touchdown through two games.

This is the first time first-round rookie tailbacks have faced off since 2012.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions snare Atlanta Falcons, 20-6: Game recap, highlights