Falcons vs. Lions Live Updates: Detroit Wins 20-6
The Atlanta Falcons (2-0) are traveling to face the Detroit Lions (1-1) for their first road game of the season with heralded rookie running back Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs.
Through two weeks, Bijan Robinson has already asserted himself as one of the league's premier weapons offensively as both a rusher and receiver.
Gibbs, on the other hand, had been brought around slowly, but this week, the No. 12 pick is expected to take on a bigger workload for the first time in his young career with veteran David Montgomery out.
Back in college, it was Robinson who was playing on the up-and-coming Texas Longhorns and walked away with a loss against Gibbs Alabama Crimson Tide. Now, the roles have shifted.
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson and Detroit Lions rusher Jahmyr Gibbs will compete as each makes a case for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Robinson's undefeated Falcons are traveling to Detroit and expecting to assert themselves with physicality in an offense that favors old school smash mouth football stylistically, while the Lions are headlined by former No. 1 pick quarterback Jared Goff and talented wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Atlanta has had a strong defensive showing through the start of the season, making life difficult for quarterback Bryce Young and Jordan Love, but this game will be the biggest test for the defense as they go against Goff, who has years of more experience having led the Rams to the Super Bowl in his past.
Meanwhile, Detroit is attempting to prove that NFC North, following their win against the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, the team lost to the Seattle Seahawks in overtime, surprising many.
This game could have major playoff implications down the line as the NFC jockeys for playoff seeding.
WHAT: Atlanta Falcons (2-0) at Detroit Lions (1-1)
WHERE: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan (64,500)
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 24, 2022, 1 p.m. ET
TELEVISION: FOX / FuboTV (try it free)
RADIO: WZGC-FM 92.9 The Game
Tickets via SI Tickets
Betting via SI SportsBook
SPREAD: Falcons +3.5 (+118), Lions -3.5 (-110)
TOTAL: 46.5 (o -110, u -118)
MONEYLINE: Falcons +140, Lions -175
FIRST QUARTER
Falcons First Drive:
Desmond Ridder throws to Bijan Robinson for a seven-yard gain. Atlanta goes three and out.
Lions First Drive:
With an incomplete pass, Gibbs rush for no gain, and a catch for Sam LaPorta, the game already has its second punt.
Falcons Second Drive:
Ridder missed Kyle Pitts on a deep pass but connected with No. 1 wide receiver Drake London for a 28-yard gain. A sack by Barnes on Ridder kills Atlanta's drive, forcing a punt.
Lions Second Drive:
LaPorta picks up the first down. Goff fires the ball to St. Brown for a 15-yard gain. Raymond picked up the first on an 11-yard gain. Gibbs had a nine-yard rush, and Raymond got an eight-yard reception, but the team came up short of a touchdown on this drive. Detroit settles for a field goal.
LIONS UP 3-0 AGAINST FALCONS
Bijan Gets the ball and Picks up 11 yards on a run. Ridder connects with Pitts for 16 yards and another first down.
SECOND QUARTER
Falcons Ball-
Jonnu Smith gets a first down for 12 yards. The team settles for a field goal and ties it up.
TIE GAME 3-3
St. Brown picks up a first down for 19 yards. SAM LAPORTA finds an opening for a 45-yard TOUCHDOWN!
Lions up 10-3
The Falcons go three and out, giving the ball back to Detroit, who's looking to build on their momentum.
LIONS BALL:
Raymond picks up 14 yards, then nine to St. BrownThen Knight picks up eight, Followed by a Raymond 22-yard pickup to the 10-yard line. A Jessie Bates III illegal contact gives the team a fresh set of downs at the four-yard line. Gibbs ran for 8 yards following a sack. The team is on third and goal entering the two-minute warning. When the team comes back, they settle for a field goal.
Lions extend the lead 13-3 with 1:53 remaining in the first half
Ridder sacked for an eight-yard loss. Then Bijan ran for four yards and had an incomplete pass on a target. The Falcons punt the ball after going three and out and giving the ball back to Detroit with 51 seconds remaining.
DETROIT BALL
They go three and out, giving the ball back to the Falcons with seconds left in the half.
HALFTIME: Lions Lead 13-3
Back Halftime
Lions ball, but they go three and out punting the ball to the Falcons, who are looking to trim the lead after the half.
Falcons Drive:
Atlanta is feeding its running backs it to start this half, giving the ball to Robinson and Allgeier (who's running ANGRY) on its first five plays. Finally, Ridder targets tight end Pitts for seven yards.
Koo comes out to attempt a field goal from 47 yards but misses wide left.
The score remains 13-3 Lions are up with 8:25 remaining in the third quarter
Goff connects with St. Brown for 11 yards, but the drive stalls out, and they punt the ball to the Falcons.
Falcons Drive:
Ridder runs for a one-yard gain, but the drive goes nowhere. They punt the ball to the Lions again.
Lions ball 3:39 remaining in the third quarter
LaPorta continues to look like Goff's favorite target, with him being targeted twice to St. Brown's one before the team punted it to the Falcons again.
Falcons Ball 1: 50 remaining in the third quarter
Ridder is sacked for a seven-yard loss and fails to get any additional yards, forcing the team to punt on fourth and 17.
Lions Ball
Goff throws a pass, and it is INTERCEPTED by Jessie Bates III, Atlanta's ball again to open the fourth Quarter.
Fourth Quarter:
Falcons Ball-
The team goes four and out, turning the ball over on downs and eating up 1:18 in the fourth quarter.
Lions Ball:
Goff completes to St. Brown for 17 yards. The team gets down to the goalline thanks to a couple of explosive runs, and Goff runs it in for a TOUCHDOWN!
Lions extend lead 20-3
Falcons ball 9:50 remaining in the fourth quarter
On third and 14, Ridder connects with Hollins for 23 yards! First Down!!! Ridder completes to Pitts for five yards.
Ridder converts on second and nine for a first down to Pruitt for 10 yards, then Smith for eight yards. Allgeier picks up the first, but Ridder gets sacked, losing seven yards. Pass to Smith for 11. Hodge gets another 15. First and goal.
Delay of game on second and goal. The drive stalls, and they settle for a field goal.
Lions are up 20-6 with 4:19 remaining in the game
Reynolds runs for eight yards. The drive dies, and the team punts it back to the Falcons with just over two minutes remaining.
Falcons Ball
Ridder takes an unnecessary roughness in for a total gain of 18 yards. Then Ridder is sacked by Hutchinson and fumbles it to Detroit.
Lions Ball
Goff is kneeling
FINAL SCORE: Lions Win 20-6
