NFL Power Rankings, Week 2: Saints blow by Packers, Kyler and Cardinals shine

For just a minute or two, the Detroit Lions looked like they were going to compete with the San Francisco 49ers. After giving up a seven-play, 59-yard drive to fall behind 7-0 Detroit answered with a 13-play drive that covered 82-yards and ended with T.J. Hockenson catching a touchdown pass from Jared Goff.

However, the next touchdown pass from Goff was thrown to the wrong team. Down 21-10 with the first half coming to a close, Goff threw an ill-advised pass that was picked off by Dre Greenlaw who took it 39-yards to the house to make it 28-10, and they allowed one more score before the half, going down 31-10 after their first 30 minutes of the ‘knee-biting era’.

But then, they stayed true to Dan Campbell’s words. The Lions fought back and didn’t care that they were “punched in the mouth” for 30 minutes. They fought back, scoring 23 in the second half and had an onside recovery that pulled them to within eight.

A fumble from Deebo Samuel also gave them life but they fell short, 41-33 in the first game with Campbell.

They may have lost but it was encouraging, especially the play of Goff. He finished with 338-yards and three touchdowns on the game, playing much better than many expected.