Lions v. Jaguars First Half Observations
Score at the Half: Jaguars 14 – Lions 13
Blake Bortles Looked Solid
After a subpar rookie season, Blake Bortles showed some nice improvement in this third game. He was showing good ball placement and fitting it into some very tight windows. Many of that can be attributed to the improvement of Luke Joeckel, who reportedly gained 15 pounds in the offseason. Bortles was getting clean pockets and plenty of times to deliver strikes to his receivers. Allen Hurns was getting the majority of receptions from Bortles. At one point, Bortles was 7 for 7 on third down. Great to see from the sophomore quarterback. He was clearly comfortable tonight, which is a great sign for the Jaguars and their fans.
Rookies Abdullah and Yeldon Impressed
Both rookies got their chance to start tonight and neither disappointed. Both pushed the piles for those extra yards and showed they could take NFL hits. Weldon’s first touchdown was hard-earned as he jumped over the offensive line into the end zone, only to be hit by a Lions linebacker. Abdullah on the other hand was bouncing his way down the field several times for big gains. I expect both Abdullah and Yeldon to be the starters, if not week one, then by the midpoint of the season.
As Did Zach Zenner
Fighting for a roster spot, Zach Zenner showed good speed and vision, especially on his 41 yard run down the side line. He currently sits fourth on the depth chart, but Bell’s status could mean a roster spot for the young Zenner. The deceptive speed is what makes Zenner so interesting for Lions fans, and he could be a nice piece to have during the dog days of the season.
Scoring Summary
Allen Hurns 13 yd receiving TD (Jaguars)
"Allen Hurns fez o primeiro tchaca do jogo! Quer assistir aos jogos da NFL? Peça os canais EI para @clarotvatende https://t.co/tD3KQk4kqQ— Esporte Interativo (@Esp_Interativo) August 29, 2015"
TJ Yeldon 1 yd rushing TD (Jaguars)
This isn't the SEC, TJ Yeldon 😵
— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) August 29, 2015
https://t.co/ZI7HAsv7JA
Golden Tate 62 yd receiving TD (Lions)
Stafford 62 yard bomb TD to @ShowtimeTate https://t.co/QojUoUro4E
— uSTADIUM App (@uSTADIUM) August 29, 2015
Corey Fuller 4 yd receiving TD; Matt Prater misses XP (Lions)
Touchdown #Lions!! @iCoreyFuller caps a 95-yd #Lions TD drive w/a 4-yd TD catch from Stafford. #DETvsJAX
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 29, 2015
What To Look for in 2nd Half
Can the Lions Second String Defense Hold Up?
Can Both Teams Stay Healthy?