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Darrelle Revis was brilliant, but the nickel back and safety play was inconsistent, however criticizing the safeties might be unfair upon further review . . .
Holding Calvin Johnson to one catch for 13 yards – saying a performance like that is brilliant, might be an understatement. That is what Revis did.
On the Lions first play, they dialed up a deep pass down the right sideline to Johnson that Revis broke up. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think my first play of the game would be a throw at Revis. On a third-and-five, early in the second quarter, Revis had an impressive PD on a short pass on the left side to Calvin Johnson, to end the drive. Early in the fourth quarter, Revis had perfect spacing on a fade down the right side to Calvin Johnson.
Drew Coleman had a rough game in the nickel back role. On the first series, WR Nate Burleson beat Coleman for a gain of 25 over the middle on the Lions third play of the game. On the second series, TE Tony Sheffler beat Coleman for a gain of 12 on a square-in. Late in the first half, Stafford threw a fade to Burleson for a gain of 11 on the right side. Coleman didn’t turn around on this play.
Brodney Pool was called for illegal contact on an incompletion to Pettigrew on the left side of the end zone, on first series of the game. Two plays later. Pettigrew beat Jim Leonhard on a quick slant for a touchdown. This matchup makes little sense. 5-8, 186-pound Leonhard against 6-5, 265-pound Pettigrew.
But the Jets clearly felt they could cover Pettigrew with safeties. We just listed the two examples above, and in the fourth quarter, Pettigrew beat Eric Smith downfield and drew a 27-yard pass interference penalty to the one-yard line. The Lions scored three plays later.
Late in the first quarter, Antonio Cromartie was called for pass interference on Burleson on the mid-range pass on the left side. This didn’t seem like a great call.
Eric Smith did some effective blitzing. The Lions third drive ended when Smtih blitzed, and caused Stafford to make a bad throw to Pettigrew in the left flat. In the middle of the second quarter, a Smith blitz up the middle caused Stafford to throw off his back foot and off target to Burleson.
Speaking of safety blitzes, Dwight Lowery did a nice job of shedding RB Kevin Smith, but failed to close the deal on Stafford for a sack, but did force him to throw it away. Lowery was also called for holding on a third quarter kick return.
Getting back to Coleman, his best play of the game was late in the first half when he had a PD on WR Bryant Johnson down the right sideline. Also in the second quarter, Burleson beat Coleman on a square-in for a gain of 15. Early in the fourth quarter, Burleson beat Coleman for a gain of 36, taking a short pass on the right side and was off to the races.
Pool tipped a pass in the end zone intended for Pettigrew (the play before Trevor Pryce ran into the kicker.)
A head’s up play by James Ihedigbo, calling a timeout with 12 men on field on the goal-line, early in the fourth quarter.
Leonhard stopped a scrambling Drew Stanton after a short gain to force a punt in the fourth quarter.
