Detroit Lions Week 10 Game Ball: 5 Player of the Game candidates vs. Bears

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:

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.