Lions coach Cardwell concerned about turnovers

Oct 17, 2017 - 1:41 AM ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Statistically, the Detroit Lions rank among the NFL's highest-scoring teams at nearly 27 points per game. But anyone who has watched them play of late knows that number is no indication of how poorly the offense has performed.

Matthew Stafford tied a career-high with five turnovers and the Lions allowed five more sacks in Sunday's 52-38 loss to the New Orleans Saints, when the Lions fell behind 35 points in the third quarter and got defensive and special-teams touchdowns in their near comeback.

Lions head coach Jim Caldwell said Monday that he was more concerned with his team's turnover problems than any of the defensive shortcomings that manifested themselves over the weekend.

Stafford threw two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns and lost one fumble that the Saints recovered in the end zone for another score. Two of his interceptions were tipped at the line of scrimmage, another deflected off Theo Riddick, and one of Stafford's fumbles came when Riddick missed a check on a blitz.

"When you look at strictly how the game unfolded, turnovers kind of clouds your mind a little bit," Caldwell said. "And you have to be able to certainly look at that and say, 'Hey, we typically aren't one of those teams that are going to give you points.' We may turn the ball over, but typically we'll get him down and give our defense at least a chance. But when they end up being 21 points, it's a little bit different deal."

Stafford, playing at less than 100 percent on a sore right ankle, had his third consecutive subpar game Sunday.

He fumbled in the end zone on the Lions' opening drive, when he didn't get rid of the ball quick enough on a third-and-long situation against a cornerback blitz, threw three interceptions in the second half and had a whopping 12 passes batted down at the line of scrimmage in the game.

"Some tips led to some interceptions that we'd love to have back," Stafford said. "I'm probably more frustrated at the fumbles than anything for myself, so I got to be better early on, not turn that ball over. I got to find a way to hold onto that ball."

One of the biggest issues for the Lions has been the play of an offensive line that's allowed 17 sacks in the last three weeks.

Right guard T.J. Lang was scratched just before Sunday's game because of a flare-up with his back injury, left tackle Greg Robinson was in a boot for an ankle injury after the game, and right tackle Rick Wagner and Lang's fill-in, Emmett Cleary, both missed snaps because of injuries.

Taylor Decker is expected back from the physically unable to perform list soon, and Caldwell said this week's bye comes at the perfect time for his injury-ravaged roster.

"If we were playing a Thursday game it'd be really tough," Caldwell said. "If we were playing a Sunday game it might be even fairly tough, so this comes at a great time for us."

--Several Saints players said they saw on film that Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was susceptible to having passes knocked down at the line of scrimmage because of the Lions' poor offensive line and dink-and-dunk play-calling.

Caldwell insisted Monday that the Lions' offense has not become too predictable.

"We've played a lot games around here within the same system and it was just unusual," Caldwell said. "Just unfortunate, and they were all different ways that they had them. Maybe it was a lineman didn't cut his guy, his hands got up, he's supposed to get him on the ground, maybe it was a launch angle, those kinds of things. So it was a lot of different scenarios, but the great thing about it, even though it was difficult, and it wasn't pretty, and we're not happy with it, it's correctable. So, we'll go to work on that."

--Jamal Agnew has two of the NFL's four punt-return touchdowns this year, but the rookie return man was angry at himself after Sunday's game for the muffed punt he had late in the fourth quarter.

Agnew muffed a punt around the 10-yard line, then retrieved the loose ball near the goal line and was tackled at the 1 after his momentum initially carried him into the end zone.

Two plays later, Cam Jordan intercepted a Stafford pass in the end zone for a touchdown that sealed the Saints victory.

"I got to make a better decision," Agnew said. "As a returner, if you have any doubt in your mind if you should catch it or you should let it go, you should let it go. Just got to make a better decision."

NOTES: S Glover Quin is in concussion protocol after taking an A'Shawn Robinson knee to the head in Sunday's third quarter. Quin appeared to be briefly knocked out for a time, and was led immediately to the locker room once he got to his feet. With 122 straight starts, he is the NFL's current ironman at the safety position. ... WR Golden Tate left Sunday's game in the third quarter with a right shoulder injury. NFL Network reported that Tate likely will miss "a few weeks" with an AC joint sprain. Tate leads the Lions with 36 catches for 363 yards. ... DT Khyri Thornton finished his six-game suspension on Monday, but head coach Jim Caldwell said the Lions still have not decided if they will reinstate him to the 53-man roster. For now, Thornton remains on the team with a roster exemption.



REPORT CARD VS. SAINTS

--PASSING OFFENSE: F - Matthew Stafford had five turnovers Sunday. He threw three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns, and lost two fumbles on sacks, including one on the Lions' opening drive when he held the ball for too long in his own end zone. Stafford's problems were partly of his own doing, but he didn't get much help from an offensive line that allowed five more sacks and a receiving corps that struggled to beat man coverage. Golden Tate and Marvin Jones did have impressive touchdown catches, but Stafford had 12 passes batted down at the line of scrimmage and most of his season-high 312 yards came in garbage time.

--RUSHING OFFENSE: D-plus - The Lions ran for just 66 yards on 19 carries, but it's tough to judge their ground game considering the 35-point hole they dug. Ameer Abdullah had a 34-yard run early in the second quarter, but just 20 yards on 13 other carries. He didn't have much running room in the first quarter, when the game was still tight. Zach Zenner was stopped for no gain on his lone carry on a third-and-short play, and Theo Riddick remains a non-factor as a runner.

--PASS DEFENSE: D - Drew Brees threw for just 186 yards and two touchdowns, but he had his way with the Lions early, completing 12 of his first 14 passes. The Lions didn't get a single sack on Brees, but they did force his first two interceptions of the season, with defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson returning one of them for a touchdown. DJ Hayden had a nice pass breakup on a third down to force a punt, but top cornerback Darius Slay had a couple of coverage busts and safety Glover Quin left with a concussion in the third quarter.

--RUSH DEFENSE: F - The Lions, playing their first game without DT Haloti Ngata, had their worst performance of the season against the run as the Saints amassed 193 yards on the ground and averaged 5.2 yards per carry. Mark Ingram scored two touchdowns and broke the game open with a 53-yard run, and the Lions had no answer for Alvin Kamara (10 carries, 75 yards) on outside stretch plays. Robinson (seven tackles) did have maybe the best game of his career, but linebackers Jarrad Davis and Tahir Whitehead were ineffective without Ngata occupying blockers.

--SPECIAL TEAMS: C - Jamal Agnew gave the Lions life midway through the fourth quarter with his second punt-return touchdown of the year, but the rookie misjudged the next punt he saw - he recovered his own muff - to bury the Lions in bad field position at their own 1-yard line. Agnew let another punt bounce at the 5-yard line rather than fair catch it, and the Saints downed it at the 1. The Lions turned the ball over on both of the possessions they started backed up to their own end zone. Matt Prater missed a 56-yard field goal, but made his other attempt. And the Lions were solid in coverage.

--COACHING: F - Give Jim Caldwell credit for nearly clawing back from a 35-point deficit, but there's no excuse for the Lions falling into that kind of a hole to begin with. Teryl Austin's defense was terrible against the run and Jim Bob Cooter's offense was too predictable with its short passing game. The Lions also had a fourth-and-goal at the end of the first half when they threw short of the end zone and were stopped a yard shy of a touchdown. Those are mistakes that have to be corrected over the bye.