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Week 3 Game Recap: Detroit Lions 13, San Francisco 49ers 31
What you need to know
| Detroit Lions |
The Lions struggled to get much going in their passing game, as QB Jon Kitna managed just 146 passing yards on 15 of 30 passing. Kitna was able to connect on a 34 yard touchdown pass to RB Rudi Johnson in the fourth quarter, but that was the lone bright spot for Detroit through the air.
Rookie RB Kevin Smith was benched early in the game and gave way to veteran RB Rudi Johnson, who led the Lions with 14 carried for 83 yards, and added 48 yards on three receptions in the passing game, including the aforementioned touchdown reception.
Detroit's two talented receivers, Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams, were held in check by the 49ers secondary. Johnson led the wideouts with four receptions for 40 yards, and Williams totaled just two catches for 18 yards.
| San Francisco 49ers |
J.T. O'Sullivan and the 49ers offense looked sharp from the get go against the Lions. O'Sullivan led the club on three first half scoring drives all resulting in touchdowns, giving San Francisco a 21-3 halftime lead. Of the first half scores, two came on scoring strikes from O'Sullivan to WR Isaac Bruce and TE Delanie Walker.
Frank Gore ran like a man possessed against the Lions, as he finished with 27 carries for 130 yards that included a four yard touchdown run. Gore also chipped in with four receptions for 32 yards in the passing game. San Francisco also got a rushing score from DB and KR Allen Rossum, who scored from one yard out on a fourth and goal call.
Eight different receivers caught passes for San Francisco, and WR Isaac Bruce and TE Delanie Walker each caught touchdown passes through the air.
What you ought to know
| QB Jon Kitna, Pass: 15 - 30 - 146 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 3 - 19 - 0 |
Jon Kitna struggled to find his rhythm against Detroit, as he completed 15 of 30 passes for just 146 yards, one touchdown, an interception and a fumble. Kitna was unable to get anything going with his talented receiving corps, and the only Detroit touchdown of the game didn't come until late in the fourth quarter. Kitna hobbled off the field late in the game following a sack with an apparent leg injury.
| QB Dan Orlovsky, Pass: 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 TD / 1 INT |
Orlovsky relieved Kitna following the injury late in the fourth quarter, and had his only pass attempt intercepted.
| RB Rudi Johnson, Rush: 14 - 83 - 0, Rec: 3 - 48 - 1 (4 targets) |
Rudi Johnson got the call early in the game and responded with some respectable numbers, even with Detroit down big from the start. Johnson totaled 83 yards rushing on 14 attempts and also added 48 yards on three receptions and a 34 yard touchdown through the air. Johnson also had a fumble, but Detroit was able to maintain possession.
| RB Kevin Smith, Rush: 3 - 14 - 0 |
Smith was benched early in the game and finished with just three rushes for 14 yards. With the way Rudi Johnson played, Smith's time may start to be limited.
| WR Calvin Johnson, Rec: 4 - 40 - 0 (10 targets) |
Johnson was targeted a team high 10 times for the game, but came down with just four receptions for 40 yards. He got three third down targets, and was thrown to deep down field a few times, so Detroit was making a point to try to get him the ball.
| WR Shaun McDonald, Rec: 2 - 13 - 0 (4 targets) |
McDonald got four targets and came down with two receptions for 13 yards. He was targeted twice on third down.
| WR Roy Williams, Rec: 2 - 18 - 0 (7 targets) |
Roy Williams was targeted seven times, but finished with just two receptions for 18 yards.
| TE Michael Gaines, Rec: 1 - 15 - 0 (3 targets) |
Gaines was targeted three times and finished with one reception for 15 yards.
| PK Jason Hanson 2 - 2 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 7 points |
Jason Hanson connected from 44 and 51 yards out and added one extra point to finish with seven points.
| DET Rush Defense |
Detroit's defense had a hard time bringing down 49er RB Frank Gore, who rushed for 130 yards on the ground. For the game, San Francisco totaled 182 rushing yards and totaled 11 rushing first downs. The 49ers scored twice on the ground, where Gore took one in from six yards out and DB Allen Rossum took it in from one yard out on fourth and goal.
LB Ernie Sims led the way defensively with 11 solo tackles and two assists and LB Paris Lenon chipped in with six solo tackles and one assist.
| DET Pass Defense |
The Lions didn't fare well in their pass defense, as they allowed two passing score, failed to force a turnover, and only had one sack.
DL Corey Smith recorded the only sack of the game for Detroit.
| QB J.T. OSullivan, Pass: 16 - 23 - 189 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 8 - 32 - 0 |
O'Sullivan had a solid performance against the Lions, where he finished with zero turnovers and was sacked just one time. He finished 16 of 23 for 189 yards, and touchdown scores of six yards to WR Isaac Bruce and 24 yards to TE Delanie Walker. O'Sullivan also showed some mobility out of the pocket as he rushed eight times for 32 yards.
| RB Frank Gore, Rush: 27 - 130 - 1, Rec: 4 - 32 - 0 (4 targets) |
Frank Gore had a huge game against Detroit, where he rushed 27 times for 130 yards and a four yard rushing score and added four receptions for 32 yards on four targets in the passing game. He even lined up at QB for a play, where he took a third down snap and rushed for three yards. Gore once again showed why he is the building block of the 49ers offense.
| RB DeShaun Foster, Rush: 2 - 1 - 0 (4 targets) |
Foster had just two rushing attempts for one yard and failed to make a reception on his only target.
| WR Arnaz Battle, Rush: 1 - 18 - 0, Rec: 3 - 22 - 0 (4 targets) |
Battle was targeted four times and finished with three receptions for 22 yards. He also had one rush for 18 yards.
| WR Isaac Bruce, Rec: 2 - 19 - 1 (4 targets) |
Bruce had just two receptions for 19 yards, but included in that was a six yard touchdown reception. He finished with four targets in the game.
| WR Bryant Johnson, Rec: 1 - 25 - 0 (1 targets) |
Johnson caught the only pass thrown to him for 25 yards.
| TE Delanie Walker, Rec: 3 - 44 - 1 (3 targets) |
Walker made the most of his three targets, as he hauled in two first down receptions and a 24 yard touchdown reception.
| TE Vernon Davis, Rec: 1 - 17 - 0 (5 targets) |
Davis received five targets, but came down with just one reception for 17 yards.
| PK Joe Nedney 1 - 2 FG, 4 - 4 XP, 7 points |
Nedney missed a 43 yard attempt, connected on a 25 yard field goal and added four extra points to finish with seven points for the game.
| SF Rush Defense |
The 49ers were lucky to have jumped out to such a big lead, as they allowed Detroit to run the ball 20 times for 116 yards, at 5.8 yards a clip. With such a big cushion on the scoreboard, they focused more on slowing down the Lions passing attack and their talented receiving core.
LB Patrick Willis totaled four solo tackles and two assists and LB Takeo Spikes forced a fumble that San Francisco was unable to come up with.
| SF Pass Defense |
San Francisco's secondary played a great game and focused on containing the Detroit wideouts, holding the Lions to just 124 net passing yards and getting to QB Jon Kitna for four sacks in the game. They held the 49ers to just five of 13 on third downs and held the duo of Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams to a combined six catches for 58 yards.
DL Justin Smith and DB Tarell Brown each recorded interceptions and Smith and LB Parys Haralson each recorded sacks. LB Roderick Green added two sacks of his own.
