Studs and Duds: Jameson Williams Jolts Late Rally

Studs and duds from Detroit's win over Chicago.
In this story:

The Detroit Lions secured victory from the jaws of defeat Sunday, rallying to stun the Chicago Bears. 

With Chicago leading by 12 with less than four minutes remaining, the Lions tallied two late touchdowns to win the game and move to 8-2 on the season. 

Here are the studs and duds from Sunday's game.

STUD: WR Jameson Williams

The Lions' passing game received a jolt from Williams, who scored a 32-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to kickstart the team's rally. Williams finished with 44 yards on two receptions, as his workload continues to increase within the offense.

The second-year wideout has dealt with criticism for the majority of his tenure with the Lions, but has continued to string together strong performances in recent weeks.  

"He's part of the herd, you know? He's part of the herd. He's been accepted, and the way he works and the way that he goes and he blocks and he's starting to run some pretty good routes. He's making some catches," Dan Campbell said. "There's a lot of guys that are beginning to trust him, and that's been earned. No different than everybody else had to earn it. Whoever you are, offensive lineman, receiver, back end. You've got to earn your right. Man, he's putting in the work. That was good to see. It was a huge moment, that was a huge play, and he just keeps getting better and better and better." 

Elsewhere, Amon-Ra St. Brown delivered a strong performance. Though he was held under 100 yards for the first time since Week 6, he provided a touchdown and a team-high 77 yards on eight catches. 

His touchdown grab was a superb display, as he dove to the turf and secured a throw below his knees to give the Lions the lead before the half. 

DUD: QB Jared Goff

Goff came up big for the Lions Sunday, and his late-game heroics will rightfully be the big point of this game. Yet, the first three quarters saw him put forth a forgettable performance. 

He tossed three interceptions Sunday, the first time he's done that since 2019 and the only time he's done so in a Lions uniform. He was largely ineffective outside of a late-scoring drive in the first half. 

Goff connected with Amon-Ra St. Brown late in the second quarter for a touchdown, but wouldn't strike again until late. His inefficiency resulted in three turnovers, as he looked to be out of sync with his receiving corps. 

Granted, his performance in the clutch was masterful. With the team down two scores in the final minutes, he led back-to-back touchdown drives to ensure the Lions avoided the upset. 

Yet, the struggles for the first three quarters are ultimately what put Detroit in the situation it faced, plus cannot go ignored. 

STUD: RB David Montgomery

The former Bears back provided the game-winner Sunday, plunging in from a yard out with under 0:30 remaining. He was quiet for most of the afternoon, but came alive in the fourth quarter to help fuel the offense. 

In total, Montgomery finished with 76 rushing yards and 22 receiving yards, to go along with the game-winning score. 

His counterpart, Jahmyr Gibbs, also had a solid day. Gibbs scored the team's first touchdown, and provided 95 all-purpose yards between rushing and receiving. He logged 59 yards on six catches. 

Lions Dominate Bears in Fourth Quarter, Win Sloppy Game

DUD: LB Jack Campbell

The rookie linebacker has proven to be a difficult assessment through his first 10 games as a pro. He finished with nine tackles Sunday, but also missed multiple in what was an up-and-down effort. 

The Lions invested in him as a first-round pick, and he has yet to display that level of consistency. His struggles at the point of contact are uncharacteristic, as he had just one missed tackle coming into Sunday's game. 

With his increased role as the defense's SAM linebacker, more is being asked of the rookie. He must improve from Sunday's struggles. 

STUD: EDGE Aidan Hutchinson

Hutchinson was a constant presence throughout Sunday's game, but failed to get home against Fields until the fourth quarter. After the Lions scored to take the lead in the final moments, Hutchinson provided the knockout punch. 

He sacked Justin Fields, jarring the ball loose. The fumble eventually rolled out of the end zone, resulting in a safety and ensuring the Lions would emerge victorious. 

Hutchinson finished the game with six tackles, and also forced a holding penalty on offensive tackle Darnell Wright in the third quarter. Before Sunday, he had been held without a sack since Week 5 against Carolina. 

DUD: CB Jerry Jacobs

Jacobs was beat deep for a touchdown by D.J. Moore Sunday, as part of a tough day for the Lions secondary. Justin Fields threw for just 169 yards, but the Lions' defensive backfield often caused their own problems because of penalties. 

Cam Sutton was flagged for illegal contact, while Brian Branch had two penalties in the second half. It wasn't all bad for Branch, however, as the rookie collected three tackles for loss and a pass breakup in the victory. 

To Sutton's credit, the veteran forced a fumble that Alex Anzalone recovered in the first half. That takeaway led directly to Detroit's first touchdown. 


Published
Christian Booher
CHRISTIAN BOOHER

Sports journalist who has covered the Detroit Lions the past three NFL seasons. Christian brings expert analysis, insights and an ability to fairly assess how the team is performing in a tough NFC North division.