Detroit Lions Week 3 Player of the Game: 5 Game Ball candidates vs. Eagles

The Detroit Lions picked up a big road win in the conference on Sunday over the Philadelphia Eagles. While results are never the result of one player and one player alone, several individuals made a big impact in Week 3 and deserve some accolades.

So, as always, we are going to provide five candidates for the Game Ball of the Week, and your vote will decide on the Detroit Lions’ player of the game.

But before we get into this week’s five candidates, here are the Game Ball standings through two games.

Reminder: First place in voting gets three points, second place receives two points, third place gets a single point.

Game ball standings through Week 2:

T.J. Hockenson - 3
Kenny Golladay - 3
Matthew Stafford - 3
Tyrell Crosby - 2
Devon Kennard - 1

Jamal Agnew

I don’t know if I’ve ever seen such a dramatic bounce-back game from anyone. Jamal Agnew may have been on the verge of losing his job permanently, but the first time he touched the ball after getting benched in Week 2, he took it 100 yards for a touchdown, becoming the first player to do so in the 2019 season.

Add in an impressive 24-yard punt return and Agnew turned out to be the spark this special teams unit so desperately needed.

Marvin Jones Jr.

Stats: 6 catches, 101 yards, 1 TD

Marvin Jones became the fourth Lions receiver to eclipse 100 yards this season, joining T.J. Hockenson, Danny Amendola and Kenny Golladay before him. That speaks to the Lions’ versatile talent set, but Jones come up in big moments on Sunday.

Five of Jones’ six catches went for first downs against the Eagles and four went for at least 18 yards. Oh, he also had the game-winner:

This is the big play threat that the Lions came to know well in 2017.

Justin Coleman

Stats: 3 tackles, 3 passes defended

The Lions defensive backs are fighting out there. They aren’t winning every rep, and at times, they look like they’re getting thoroughly beaten.

But they are also getting their hands on a ton of balls this season, and this week it was Justin Coleman’s turn to emerge as a playmaker. Coleman was consistently in-stride with receivers on Sunday and on at least one occasion, his blanket coverage prevented a touchdown.

Matthew Stafford

Stats: 18-of-32 for 201 yards, 1 TD (85.5 passer rating)

It was far from a perfect day for Stafford, but he had a couple of key dimes on the day.

Example No. 1:

(The Lions would score a TD on this drive)

Example No. 2:

See Marvin Jones TD above.

There were definitely a few throws Stafford left out there, but when he was on, he was on. And, again, we saw the Lions offense with a nice little rhythm to it.

Taylor Decker

Stats: No sacks allowed

This final slot really belongs to the entire Lions offensive line, who allowed zero sacks for the second straight week and very few pressures. It was a big day specifically for Decker, who had a lot to prove after a rough season opener.

The Eagles’ best pass rusher on the edge, Brandon Graham, had zero sacks, zero passes defended and zero quarterback hits. That’s a huge win for the Lions’ captain.