Recap: Martinez leads final drive, pushes Lions past Giants in preseason opener
Detroit Lions quarterback Adrian Martinez stole the show in Friday evening's preseason opener, leading a game-winning drive in the final minutes of the fourth quarter to secure a 21-16 victory over the New York Giants.
Wide receiver Maurice Alexander also impressed on special teams, breathing some life into the Lions with a 95-yard punt return for a touchdown early in the second quarter.
Quarterback Nate Sudfeld orchestrated the offense for most of the game. Though he put together a few solid drives, any good plays were overshadowed by a pair of first-half interceptions that gave the Giants prime field position.
Lions pick off DeVito, ices victory in preseason opener
Drive starts: NYG 25 (1:51 4th)
With just under two minutes let, its two minute drill time for the visiting Giants. DeVito kicks the drive off with a 12-yard pass, but the Lions start to lock up and force a short yardage scramble and an incompletion. On third down, it's again up to one of the Okwara brothers to make a place — Julian slips past the lineman for a sack to force fourth-and-15.
DeVito launches a prayer deep and Brandon Joseph picks it off, officially sealing the win for Detroit.
Martinez leads scoring drive to regain lead in waning minutes
Drive starts: DET 31 (7:59 4th)
Running back Benny Snell and Martinez look intent on answering New York's field goal. Snell notches some shifty short yardage on multiple downs and Martinez finds Cota for a 16-yard pass and Trey Quinn for a 8-yard reception.
The offense is helped out by a roughing the passer penalty and finds itself deep in the red zone. A third-and-7 nearly ends the drive, but Martinez uses his legs to scramble and earn just enough yards for a fresh set of downs.
Martinez punches it in at the goal line on third-and-goal to recapture the lead for Detroit.
Lions 21, Giants 16 (1:51 4th)
New York breaks scoreless half with field goal, leads 16-14
Drive starts: NYG 20 (3:16 3rd)
New York finally notches a first down on its third drive of the half. But the drive fails to last much longer, as Okwara earns his second sack of the night on third-and-2 to force the punt.
Drive starts: DET 20 (0:22 3rd)
Quarterback Adrian Martinez replaces Sudfeld as the third quarter comes to a close. Martinez' first play throw is nearly intercepted, but he follows it up with a 7-yard throw to Alexander and a 18-yard pass to Cota on third down. However, the Cota reception is hampered by a 10-yard offensive pass interference penalty and Martinez scampers out of bounds well short of the line to gain on the ensuing third down.
Drive starts: NYG 16 (13:45 4th)
The Giants kick off their drive with a bang, as Jashaun Corbin finds a hole for a 33-yard gain. Again, that offensive success winds up short lived.
Okwara again is the difference maker on third down, blitzing pass the offensive line and tackling DeVito for his third sack of the game. New York's second half offensive woes continue and a 44-yard punt hands possession right back to the Lions.
Drive start: DET 14 (11:50 4th)
Martinez throws three incomplete passes and the punting unit is quickly sent to the field.
Drive start: NYG 28 (10:52 4th)
New York opens with 11-yard and 22-yard completions to flip the field into Detroit territory. The Giants' offense slowed to a crawl on the next set of downs, but the previously gained chunk yardage is good enough for a field goal attempt.
Gano boots a 47-yard field goal to retake the lead.
Giants 16, Lions 14 (7:59 4th)
14-play, 46-yard drive puts Lions in front
Drive starts: NYG 20 (12:23 3rd)
Detroit's defense continues to impress in the second half. New York's offense stumbles for yet another third-and-out and the visitors settle for a 39-yard punt.
Drive starts: DET 44 (10:31 3rd)
Devine Ozigbo starts this drive as the Lions' primary running back, kicks things off with 4-yard and 9-yard runs. A 9-yard reception from Mitchell on third down sets up a fourth-and-1 at New York's 34 and Sudfeld snuck up the middle for the one-yard gain and the first down.
A pair of receptions from Cota and a few short yardage runs set up the Lions within the 10-yard line. That short distance to the endzone foils the offense again and Detroit settles for a 28-yard field goal from John Parker Romo.
Lions 14, Giants 13 (3:16 3rd)
Alexander's 95-yard punt return gives Lions first TD of night
Drive starts: NYG 40 (15:00 3rd)
A kick out of bounds gives the Giants some solid field position coming out of the locker room. The Lions defense makes quick work of its opponent, tops off a three-and-out series with a -8-yard sack from Romeo Okwara and forces the Giants to punt.
Detroit finally finds the end zone on its ensuing possession, though it doesn't come courtesy of the offense. Fielding a punt all the way back at the Lions' 5-yard line, wide receiver Maurice Alexander races and pirouettes 95-yards all the way to the end zone, scoring Detroit's first touchdown of the night.
The Lions keep their foot on the pedal, converting a 2-point attempt with a fade to Williams.
Giants 13, Lions 11 (12:23 3rd)
Detroit comes short with failed fourth-and-goal, trails at half
Drive starts: DET 25 (4:55 2nd)
Sudfeld starts throwing with confidence in the Lions last drive of the half, despite the interception that ended the last series. He opens the drive with pass to James Mitchell, who rumbles ahead for a gain of 32-yards.
A pair of short yardage runs gives the Lions a third-and-1 and Sudfeld dots up the defense with a short 9-yard pass to Jason Cabinda to notch the first down. Sudfeld continues to push the offense towards the red zone with a 11-yard pass to Jameson Williams and another Mitchell target, this one good for 12-yards.
However, Detroit can not cut the deficit heading into the locker room. The Giants defense buckles down inside their 10 and Sudfeld ends the drive with an incomplete pass on fourth-and-goal.
Drive starts: NYG 4 (0:54 2nd)
The Giants kneeled to end the half, entering the locker room with a double-digit lead.
Halftime: Giants 13, Lions 3
Sudfeld throws second INT, Giants cash in to extend lead
Drive starts: DET 19 (11:30 2nd)
Undrafted free agent Mohamed Ibrahim steps in for Gibbs on Detroit's primary back in the second quarter. The Lions first drive of the second quarter is highlighted by a 24-yard pass to Antoine Green, but a few paltry rushing attempts and an incomplete pass end the series at midfield.
An ensuing 44-yard punt pins the Giants inside their ten yard line.
Drive Starts: NYG 8 (8:57 2nd)
The Giants answer with a quite similar drive. DeVito darts a 17-yard pass down the middle of the defense on first down, followed up just a few plays later by another pass between the dashes for 15-yards. Following the pair of first downs, Detroit's defense buckles down and forces New York to punt.
Drive Starts: DET 10 (6:39 2nd)
The drive starts promising enough for the Lions. Sudfeld gives the offense some breathing room with a 24-yard mid-range pass to Chase Cota on the right side of the field. On the very next play, Sudfeld throws an interception near midfield and the Giants return it to the Lions end zone.
Drive starts: DET 14 (5:19 2nd)
New York wastes no time in making Detroit pay for the mistake. DeVito slings a 14-yard pass to the end zone for the first touchdown of the night on the first play of the series.
Giants 14, Lions 3 (4:55 2nd)
Bend-don't-break Lions defense notches third red-zone stop
Drive starts: NYG 12 (3:03 1st)
The Giants respond to the Lions' 63-yard drive with a solid series of their own. Tommy DeVito starts finding success in the passing game, highlighted by a 18-yard pass to Cole Beasley. The drive is also helped out with a 15-yard face mask penalty on Will Harris.
Detroit has a chance to get off the field without giving up a point at its own 32-yard line. The Giants elect to attempt a conversion on fourth-and-5 and DeVito is sacked by Romeo Okwara. However, an offside penalty on Detroit bails out New York and gives the visitors a fresh set of downs.
The Giants are faced with another fourth on the very next set of downs. This time, the Lions defense doesn't bail out its opponents as linebackers Jack Campbell and Jalen Reeves-Maybin stuff a fourth-and-1 rush attempt at the Detroit 18.
(11:30 2nd)
Detroit offense finds its groove, cuts deficit
Drive starts: DET 16 (8:59 1st)
The Lions' offense finally finds some rhythm on its third drive of the evening, thanks in large part to timely runs from Gibbs. The rookie running back notches a 18-yard pass and runs the rock five times as Detroit marches its way into New York territory for the first time all evening.
However, the drive stalls out in the red zone after a pair of incomplete passes on second and third down.
Kicker Riley Patterson kicks a 39-yard field goal to get rid of the goose egg on the scoreboard and cuts New York's 6-0 lead in half.
Giants 6, Lions 3 (3:10 1st)
Lions hand Giants prime field position with failed fourth-down attempt
Drive starts: DET 32 (13:30 1st)
The Lions offense puts up another poor showing in its second drive of the night. A negative yardage run by Jahmyr Gibbs, a pair of 6-yard passes gives the offense a fourth-and-1 at its own 32 yard line. An dropped pass by rookie tight end Sam LaPorta turns the ball over on downs and gives New York more excellent field position.
Drive starts: DET 32 (11:33 1st)
Again, the Giants' offense doesn't go far despite the prime opportunity. New York's offense stalls out after just one first down, earned due to a Lions' penalty. Gano manages to make the series worthwhile by booting a 42-yard field goal to put his team up 6-0.
Giants 6, Lions 0 (9:03 1st)
Giants take early 3-0 lead courtesy of Sudfeld interception
Drive start: DET (15:00 1st)
Nate Sudfeld will get the starting nod on the opening drive of the night. Giants' pressure off the edge force an uncomfortable Sudfeld to throw an interception on the first play of the game.
Drive start: DET 32 (14:45 1st)
The Giants cash in on the error after a quick three and out as Graham Gano nails a 48-yard field goal.
Giants 3, Lions 0 (13:35 1st)
Pregame
The Detroit Lions kick off their three-game preseason slate against the New York Giants this evening, as the offseason hype train makes its first stop.
The game likely won't feature many starters, with the focus turned more toward reps for the reserves competing for roster spots.
Positional battles across the roster will be the narrative to key in on. Justin Jackson's retirement and Craig Reynolds' injury have ratcheted up the roster battle in the running back room, as Jermar Jefferson, Mohamed Ibrahim and a couple new signings fight for a spot behind David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.
Beside the roster battles, the play of Jameson Williams could be the most intriguing aspect of the game. The second-year wide receiver became a hot topic this offseason after a six-game suspension due to breaking the NFL's gambling policy. He'll get a few opportunities to see the field during the preseason before he serves his suspension to open the year.
Detroit Lions vs. New York Giants
▶ What: NFL preseason opener for both teams
▶ Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Ford Field, Detroit
▶ TV/radio: Fox/97.1 FM