Prater’s kick, Slay’s pick give Lions 24-23 win over Eagles

They had a solid game plan offensively.

That proved deadly, because it led to something else finally happening – their first loss.

Lions’ kicker Matt Prater knocked one through the goal posts from 29 yards out to give the Lions a 24-23 lead with 1:32 remaining. Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles combined for 87 rushing yards, 56 receiving yards and Mathews recorded a receiving touchdown.

One of those fatal turnovers was his. It was his first interception of his career and the Eagles lost their first game of the season, though he did play a solid game in his first career loss.

Wentz took responsibility for the interception that ended any chance of a second comeback. Caleb Sturgis kicked three field goals for the Eagles (3-1). Rookie Drew Kaser couldn’t hold the snap on what would have been a 36-yard field goal attempt.

Carson Wentz threw the ball deep down the field, and as it arched high and started coming down towards wide receiver Nelson Agholor, there were so many things resting in the balance. He helped Wentz make good throws and not sit in the pocket forever. “I just kind of stayed prepared, mentally just stayed in the game and just trusted that when my number was called I’d make a play”.

The Lions’ offense netted just 45 yards in the second half after converting three long drives before halftime.

“I’m not an official”, he said.

There is one aspect of the play shrouded in uncertainty, though: whether or not the Lions’ recovery should have been upheld.

The rookie isn’t a finger-pointer, which speaks to his maturity at the age of 23.

Doug Pederson downplayed that notion, however, and said the Eagles were simply using a linebacker rotation that didn’t feature Bradham. In the first half, tackling hurt the team. “It’s our first division game and we have to be ready”. Next Sunday marks the first NFC East matchup on Philadelphia’s 2016 schedule.

The defense had only given up 20 points all season.

Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz: Wasn’t carried off the field this time.

The Eagles bounced back in the second half, holding Detroit to only 45 more yards of offense.

So it turns out that Carson Wentz is human after all.

The Eagles went back to Bradham and Hicks in the second half and the D returned to being the dominant unit it was in the first three games. It was the third consecutive victory for the Redskins (3-2), who came in with the league’s 29thranked defense. On the other hand, this team wasn’t emotionally prepared to play a football game.

BILLS 30, RAMS 19 Nickell Robey-Coleman returned an interception 41 yards for a touchdown, LeSean Mc-Coy rushed for 150 yards, and the visiting Bills won their third consecutive game by defeating the Rams. Even owner Martha Ford has said how much she “loves” Jim Caldwell. And in the closing minutes, you can easily argue the Lions should have been more aggressive trying to get in the end zone, instead of running it up the gut twice to burn the Eagles’ timeouts while settling for a field goal.

Detroit got the ball back about halfway through the quarter.

Wentz said it was a broken play and “that’s when players make plays”.

Still, Wentz chipped away and the Eagles’ defense tightened a bit.

The Lions also lost starting nickel cornerback Quandre Diggs late in the fourth after he tried making a play on a completed pass from Wentz to Jordan Matthews. “It seems when the pressure gets a little tighter, he shines a little brighter. It’s special to have a kid like that, especially as a rookie”. Pederson also said Wentz waited too long to throw the bomb and he even evoked the name of former Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre, whom Pederson played behind with the Packers.

“We knew they were going to run the ball there, so I was extra aggressive”, Slay said. “I was in great position”. It’s the first time the Colts (2-3) defeated the Bears in Indianapolis.

“He’s a talented guy, man”. “Really, the two turnovers were big-time plays”. Losing a game is never a good thing.