Let's take a look back at some of the more interesting plays from the Detroit Lions' 23-16 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
SECOND QUARTER
14:23 -- 2nd-and-2 at the Detroit 38
The Lions motioned wide receiver Nate Burleson through the backfield a number of times on Sunday, but only handed the ball to him on the end-around twice. This one went for eight yards, the bigger gain of the two, but probably should have gone for more.
Burleson took the handoff clean, and had Will Heller, pulling from the H-back spot, to lead the way. Gosder Cherilus had done his job, getting to the second level to seal off outside linebacker Stephen Nichols, but Cherilus couldn't hold the block, essentially getting tossed aside by Nichols.
That forced Heller to step up and take on Nichols instead of picking up a block further down field. With only safety Thomas McCloud left to beat, this play could have been a monster gain instead of just eight yards.
12:28 -- 1st-and-10 at the Atlanta 41
After getting beat with wham blocks regularly last week, the Lions used one of their own to spring Keiland Williams for an 18-yard pick up.
Heller lined up as the H-back on the right side and pulled to the left, picking up defensive end John Abraham. Heller actually got blown up on the play, but did enough to create a good-sized lane between Abraham and defensive tackle Vance Walker, who had been sealed to the inside by Rob Sims.
In the second-level, Williams showed quickness and elusiveness, making safety William Moore miss to pick up an additional nine yards on the carry.
11:01 -- 3rd-and-7 at the Atlanta 20
There was a strange communication breakdown on this play, where Stafford had Titus Young in one-on-one coverage to the outside.
Young, defended by cornerback Brent Grimes, essentially ran a fly route up the sideline. Grimes, trying to not get beat deep, turned and stayed a few strides ahead of the receiver.
Seeing the cushion, Young ran a hitch, but Stafford had already released on a deep pass to the end zone.
The route appeared to be read-option for Young, and if so, the rookie made the right call to come back to his quarterback because of the positioning of Grimes. There was no pressure on the play, so one of three things happened.
One, Young didn't have an option on the route like it appeared. Two, Young tried to run the hitch too deep in the route making Stafford believe he was going into the end zone. Three, Stafford didn't make the right read on the coverage, and tried to force the ball deep into coverage.
The Lions settled for another field goal, trimming Atlanta's lead to 10-6.
8:02 -- 2nd-and-5 at the Atlanta 39
The Falcons missed an opportunity for a big gain and potentially six points. Roddy White came off the line with a stutter step that temporarily froze cornerback Chris Houston. As soon as Houston hesitated, White turned on the jets and beat the cornerback down the sidelines.
Matt Ryan saw White get the step down the sideline and lofted a pass up to his top receiver, but overthrew him by three feet at the Lions 30-yard line. With Amari Spievey late to the play, it would have been a foot race between White and Houston to the end zone if the pass was on target.
7:11 -- 2nd-and-11 at the Detroit 47
It's nice to see first-round pick Nick Fairley show a little athleticism. Working out the shotgun, Matt Ryan was pressured on both edges by Cliff Avril and Lawrence Jackson. With the Lions rushing just four, Ryan tried to scramble up the gut.
Fairley, who was double-teamed at the snap, pushed off both blockers as he saw Ryan step up and made a diving tackle just as the quarterback crossed the line of scrimmage.
5:18 -- 2nd-and-9 at the Detroit 10
These are the types of throws that impress. Despite the timing of the route being thrown off by Dunta Robinson holding Calvin Johnson's arm, Stafford was able to zing a 25-yard pass to Johnson running a post route.
The sidearm throw, hit Johnson perfectly in stride despite four defenders in the vicinity. A fearless pass attempt, but one Stafford knows he has to make with team's shading extra defenders to Johnson's side of the field.
4:36 -- 1st-and-10 at the Detroit 35
Feeling confident, Stafford tried to hit a home run with Johnson on the next play. The Lions ran play-action to the left and gave Stafford a big pocket with good time. Johnson was able to get separation from cornerback Brent Grimes, but Stafford's 43-yard pass came up about five yards short, forcing Johnson to slow down and allowing Grimes to knock the ball away.
If the pass is on target, there's little doubt Johnson scores on the play. Instead, the drive stalled, and the Lions were forced to punt.
2:00 -- 1st-and-10 at the Atlanta 31
After starting off the drive with some dink-and-dunk plays, Ryan found tight end Tony Gonzalez for a 30-yard gain. The execution of the play was possible because of an excellent pump fake by Ryan.
Gonzalez came off the left side of the line and faked an out route six yards beyond the line of scrimmage. Simultaneous with Gonzalez's outward cut, Ryan pump-faked, causing Stephen Tulloch to come up to make the stop. As soon as Tulloch bit, Gonzalez turned up field and Ryan hit him in stride.
The reception moved Gonzalez into second place on the NFL's all-time reception list, passing Marvin Harrison.
1:19 -- 1st-and-10 at the Detroit 39
The Lions wide-nine technique on the defensive line let up another big run. With Avril rushing the outside edge and Suh sealed to the inside, Michael Turner had a massive hole to get to the second level.
The Lions were in nickel on the play, and the Atlanta linemen did a great job putting blocks on Tulloch and nickelback Eric Wright in the second level, allowing Turner to bounce out toward the right sideline untouched. Turner was eventually shoved out of bounds after a 19-yard pickup.
:31 -- 2nd-and-8 at the Detroit 18
White again used a stutter step off the line to freeze Houston before beating him down the sideline, but this time Ryan didn't miss. Well, he didn't miss by enough. The pass was a bit long into the corner of the end zone, but White made a remarkable, full-extension, over-the-shoulder grab to increase the Falcons lead to 17-6 heading into the half.
