4 Detroit Lions game ball candidates from Week 8 vs. Eagles

Things got ugly on Sunday, there’s no doubt about it. The season is still young and the Philadelphia Eagles are far from the most stout team the Detroit Lions will face this season, so we may have to get used to that. In the meantime, all we can do is try to focus on the bright spots.

Here are the current game ball standings:

Week 1 Game Ball winner: Penei Sewell
Week 2 winner: T.J. Hockenson
Week 3 winner: D’Andre Swift
Week 4 winner: Kalif Raymond
Week 5 winner: Tracy Walker
Week 6 winner: Derrick Barnes
Week 7 winner: Dave Fipp (I still can’t believe you guys actually voted him as the winner you guys are awesome)

Let’s get started.

Godwin Igwebuike

Stats: 3 rushes, 18 yards; 3 catches, 40 yards
PFF Grade: 81.5

Godwin Igwebuike continues his unlikely ascent with this team following his conversion from safety to running back in the offseason. He’s starting to get more comfortable and with it, more effective.

Sure, his offensive snaps all came in garbage time against somewhat of a prevent defense. However, for a guy who has seen next to no offensive action all year, that’s a win. Igwebuike also posted a 74.6 pass-blocking grade, the highest of any non-lineman. With D’Andre Swift continuing to be a liability in the run game (and, evidently, the pass protection game, with a pass blocking grade of 5.2 — yuck), perhaps the Lions try distributing the touches more in the future to see if Jamaal Williams misses more time.

Igwebuike also gave the Lions’ special teams a little shot in the arm, averaging 31.5 yards per kick return on four attempts.

Jermar Jefferson

Stats: 2 rushes, 6 yards, 1 TD; 4 catches, 23 yards
PFF Grade: 72.0

Jefferson, like Igwebuike, played well in his limited role Sunday after not seeing much action since the preseason. Jefferson also put up the team’s lone points with an eight-yard touchdown run on a draw play I’m still surprised worked, so by default he’s nominated for the game ball. It was limited action, but it was effective, and for a team trying to find something that works, you gotta start somewhere.

KhaDarel Hodge

Stats: 1 punt downed inside the 4-yard line
PFF Grade: 63.6

Hodge has been silent on offense, but given the current state of the team, I’ll take the wins as they come. For Hodge, that win came on special teams on Sunday, catching a Jack Fox punt at the 4-yard line to pin the Eagles deep on their first drive of the game. Great hustle by Hodge to start the game on a strong note prior to whatever the rest of that meltdown was.

T.J. Hockenson

Stats: 10 receptions on 11 targets, 89 yards
PFF Grade: 76.0

The focal point of the Lions’ offense on Sunday, Hockenson appeared to be Goff’s first read over and over again. By the end of the game, nearly a third of Goff’s throws went Hockenson’s way and he accounted for nearly have the receptions. He did have a false start, and his run blocking has some holes but his pass blocking was on point, and earned a 72.7 grade from PFF.

Time to vote. Who’s your pick for game ball?