Saturday was one last opportunity for backups and players on the roster bubble to impress before Tuesday's roster cuts as the Detroit Lions concluded the preseason welcoming the Pittsburgh Steelers to Ford Field. Pittsburgh played the majority of their starters to begin the game vs. Lions reserves and built a 14-0 lead, but when the game was turned over exclusively to the reserves, the Lions mounted their comeback for a 24-17 victory to end the preseason 2-1.
Running back Jermar Jefferson had two touchdown runs for the Lions and running back Jake Funk caught a Hendon Hooker touchdown pass as the Lions out-gained the Steelers 361 yards to 215 in the contest.
After a slow start offensively for Hooker and the Lions' offensive reserves – seven total yards in the first quarter – Hooker led two scoring drives late in the second quarter that tied the game 14-14 at halftime.
Hooker hit Funk for a 2-yard touchdown that capped off a 12-play, 72-yard drive for the first Lions score of the afternoon. Following an Isaac Ukwu strip sack at the Steelers' 33-yard line that was recovered by defensive lineman Chris Smith, Hooker led a five-play drive that turned the takeaway into a Jefferson 1-yard touchdown run.
Hooker led another impressive offensive series to start the first half but came away with no points when kicker Jake Bates missed a 30-yard field goal. Matthew Wright made his 26-yard attempt on the following Steelers possession to give Pittsburgh a 17-14 lead.
Hooker led a seven-play, 88-yard drive ending in Jefferson's second touchdown of the game, this one from seven yards out, to give the Lions their first lead of the contest.
Bates added a late 46-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to round out the scoring. Detroit's defense played really well down the stretch to preserve the win.
Hendon Hooker's Breakout Performance
Lions head coach Dan Campbell was asked about Hooker last week and more than anything else Campbell said his second-year quarterback needs reps. Well, he got them Saturday afternoon. Hooker played into the fourth quarter. After a slow start, he finished 12-of-20 passing for 114 yards with a touchdown and an interception for a passer rating of 71.7. He was also Detroit's leading rusher, escaping pressure or spotting an open lane 10 times for a total of 93 yards (9.3 avg.). That's the part of his game that really separates him from Jared Goff and Nate Sudfeld in the quarterback room. His legs are a weapon.
Offensive Standouts
Wide receiver Maurice Alexander also had a nice game for the Lions, catching four passes for 60 yards and returning two kickoffs for 55 yards (27.5 avg.).
Defensive Dominance
Linebacker Ty Summers had a heck of a finish to the preseason, recording eight tackles, 1.5 sacks and two tackles for loss. He also notched a special teams tackle. He was all over the field as a blitzer and stacked linebacker. Also recording sacks for the Lions' defense Saturday were James Houston, Joel Iyiegbuniwe and Ukwu.
Fanatic Fanbase
Lions fans are something else. They sold out Ford Field for a preseason game that featured no Lions starters. They also sold out standing room only tickets. This fanbase can't get enough of their football team. They impacted the game too, forcing a late false start penalty on a fourth down to force a Steelers punt.
Looking Ahead
The Lions will open their regular season against the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 8 at 8:20 p.m. ET. This game will be a test for the Lions' new-look offense and defense, but with a strong finish to the preseason, the team has high hopes for the upcoming season.
