/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65683712/1185731497.jpg.0.jpg)
Week 10 wasn’t exactly a shining moment of the Detroit Lions’ 2019 season. With Matthew Stafford sidelined, the Lions looked lifeless on offense, and while their defense put a better performance together, their day will be defined by the three passing touchdowns they allowed Mitchell Trubisky to complete on three consecutive drives.
Still, there were some promising individual performances on Sunday, and they deserve some recognition.
But before we get into this week’s five Game Ball candidates, here’s a look at the Game Ball standings through nine weeks.
Matthew Stafford - 14
Marvin Jones Jr. - 8
Kenny Golladay - 7
Justin Coleman - 5
T.J. Hockenson - 3
Jamal Agnew - 2
Tyrell Crosby - 2
Matt Prater - 2
Devon Kennard - 1
Taylor Decker - 1
Kerryon Johnson - 1
Sam Martin - 1
Trey Flowers - 1
Here are this week’s candidates:
Trey Flowers
Stats: 7 tackles, 1.0 sacks, 2 TFLs, 2 quarterback hits
Flowers is slowly beginning to become the player Lions fans expected him to be when the team shelled out a $90 million contract for him this offseason. Flowers was credited with four pressures on the day, got in the backfield twice, and was generally making Mitchell Trubisky uncomfortable for most of the day.
Jarrad Davis
Stats: 8 tackles (5 solo)
While Davis still had some minor issues in coverage, it was an overall very clean day for one of the most-maligned players on the team. Though Davis’ role was slightly decreased in this game—he only played about 77 percent of the snaps when he usually plays in the 90s—he thrived when he was on the field. In fact, he was PFF’s highest-graded player on the Lions’ defense in Week 10:
The #Lions highest graded players from their Week 10 loss to the Bears (min 25 snaps):
— PFF DET Lions (@PFF_Lions) November 12, 2019
Offensively- LT Taylor Decker, 74.3 OVR
Defensively- LB Jarrad Davis, 81.5 OVR (5th highest game grade of his career) #OnePride
Sam Martin
Stats: 6 punts, 40.5 avg., 4 inside 20-yard line
The Lions seemed content on playing the field position battle in the first half against the Chicago Bears, and Sam Martin kept making the coaching staff look like geniuses. Punt after punt, Martin pinned the Bears deep in their own territory without forfeiting a single touchback on the day.
Martin didn’t just pin the Bears inside the 20, but nearly inside the 10:
- 10-yard line
- 4-yard line
- 11-yard line
- 12-yard line
And remember, this was a punter that was struggling with an abdominal injury. Heck of a game for Martin.
Tavon Wilson
Stats: 6 tackles (5 solo), 1 sack, 1 pass defended
Of the Lions’ secondary, Tavon Wilson was the only shining star of the game. Wilson was strong in run support and made a couple of solid plays in coverage, as well, including a big hit that jarred the ball loose.
Matt Prater
Stats: 2-for-2 field goals (long 54), 1-for-1 extra points
While it’s never a good sign when two special teamers make the Player of the Game nominations, Prater is deserving in this case. Kicking at Soldier Field is never an easy task, so a 54-yard field goal in Chicago is more like a 60+ yarder elsewhere.
Additionally, Prater took over kickoff duties for Sam Martin on the day, and did a perfect job landing them right at the goal line.
Poll
Who gets the Week 10 Game Ball?
This poll is closed
-
43%
Trey Flowers
-
9%
Jarrad Davis
-
23%
Sam Martin
-
9%
Tavon Wilson
-
14%
Matt Prater