As good as Ameer Abdullah looked in the first preseason game, Friday night has been poor. There was a fumble on a handoff exchange with Matthew Stafford (Stafford was credited with it in the scorebook, but it looked like it was Abdullah's issue, frankly) and then he muffed/fumbled a kick return.
Neither were forced by a Giants defender. Fumbling has been an issue for him at points in his career, so to see him have these issues is not a great sign -- especially since he's potentially behind LeGarrette Blount, Kerryon Johnson and Theo Riddick on the depth chart by the time Week 1 rolls around.
Giants up on the Lions 10-3 at half in this preseason game and the same issues that plagued Detroit last season are still relevant now. The offensive line allowed two sacks (and a third that was wiped out by a questionable lowering-the-helmet penalty). Rush lanes were non-existent. There wasn't much pass rush from Detroit, either, besides some bursts from Ricky Jean Francois.
Another preseason game and more of the same issues for the Lions that plagued them last season. Detroit, for the second straight game, got no real pass rush to speak of despite the Giants sitting top playmakers Eli Manning, Saquon Barkley and Odell Beckham Jr. The offensive line (minus RG T.J. Lang) was also 2017-level bad. Matthew Stafford was sacked twice in three series and almost every starting lineman appeared to struggle with the Giants' front. Yes, it is only preseason, but considering these were areas the Lions knew were problem areas and they still look like problems should be concerning. The third preseason game against Tampa will be very telling with those two units.
Lions LB Steve Longa was spotted in the locker room after the game on crutches with a brace on his leg talking with teammates. Longa was injured in the third quarter and did not return. Detroit did not announce his exact injury during the game.
Matt Patricia didn't think his team was overworked the past two weeks after two sets of padded joint practices -- including a trip to the west coast -- and then two games. "No, it's football. We're trying to get better every day and really to be honest with you, the practices are critically important. That's where we have to make improvements and get better and be able to do some things in practice that we can't do in a game in some different areas. It's important that we get those looks. That's part of the game and that's part of training camp and what it's supposed to be and that's how you better."
Matt Patricia: "I would say overall, I think everybody, skill-wide, wide receiver, DBs, defensive line, offensive line, I don't think we played particularly well at any position."
Matt Patricia: "I would say overall, I think everybody, skill-wide, wide receiver, DBs, defensive line, offensive line, I don't think we played particularly well at any position."
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