If you would have told me a few weeks ago that one of the games balls I would give out this season would go to Kevin Smith, I would have laughed. Just a few weeks ago, Smith was sitting at home without a team and without any inclination that he would soon be signed. Then, during the Lions' bye week, he was brought in for a workout and Martin Mayhew and company decided to sign him in hopes of providing a spark to the running game.
On Sunday, the spark Smith provided was quite large, to say the least. He didn't just play outstanding, he played out of his mind, especially considering this was only his second game back. Smith rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries and also had four catches for 61 yards and a touchdown. His 201 total yards and three touchdowns propelled the Lions to their comeback victory, and his performance gives them hope going forward that they will have a consistent option to go to at running back.
Smith's performance makes for an amazing story considering all of the injuries he's had to deal with and considering he was out of the NFL just a few weeks ago. It makes what he did on Sunday all the more impressive, and you have to feel good for him after what he went through the past couple of years.