Matt trick works against Giants
DETROIT — The Lions were waiting for the right time and team to try a trick play they’ve worked on in practice recently.
Early in the fourth quarter Sunday, the Giants proved to be the perfect opponents.
Matthew Stafford threw a 41-yard fleaflicker to Kenny Golladay to restore a double-digit lead the Lions needed to hold off the slumping Giants in a 31-26 victory.
“That was a good one,” Stafford said, “a great call.”
Lions offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell called for Stafford to pitch the ball to J.D. McKissic to the right and for the running back to throw a lateral back to the quarterback to connect downfield with Golladay.
“I was holding my breath on that one,” Lions coach Matt Patricia acknowledged.
Bevell used the same play with McKissic taking the pitch from Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson for a 38-yard touchdown to Paul Richardson in a victory over the Giants two years ago.
Detroit (3-3-1) enjoyed the feel-good moment as part of a much-needed win after losing three straight and trading away safety and captain Quandre Diggs to Seattle days before the game.
Stafford finished 25-for-32 for 342 yards with three touchdown passes and an interception. He threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Hall late in the first quarter and connected with Golladay for two scores in the second half.
In the last three home games, Stafford has thrown 10 touchdown passes with only two interceptions and is averaging 332 passing yards.
“There’s a bunch of great players around me,” Stafford said, refusing to take credit.
New York (2-6) had chances to come back, but it turned the ball over on downs at the Lions’ 39 with 6:25 left and at their 14 with 3:27 left.
Giants rookie Daniel Jones threw a fouryard touchdown pass to Saquon Barkley, and the extra point closed the deficit to five with 1:19 left. The ensuing onside kick went out of bounds, sealing Detroit’s victory.
“They always battle, but we’ve got to play better and make more plays,” said Giants second-year coach Pat Shurmur, who fell to 7-17 with the franchise.
The Giants have lost four in a row before the end of October for the second straight season, and they’re planning to have a players-only meeting Monday.
“Sometimes it’s better to hear it from the players and individuals in the locker room,” Barkley said. “Sometimes you just got to address situations.”
Jones had career highs with 28 completions, 41 attempts and four touchdown passes and fell just short of another mark with 322 passing yards.
He fumbled the ball while being hit attempting a pass, and former Giants linebacker Devon Kennard recovered the football and returned it 13 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter.