Most of the time, D'Andre Swift dodges defenders. Sometimes he hurdles them. And there was that one time he ran right through the soul of Vikings CB Bashaud Breeland.
Turns out, Breeland had it coming.
We take you back to Minnesota, Week 5, Vikings leading the Lions early in the fourth quarter. Swift catches a pass on third down and gets dragged down by Breeland, forcing Detroit to punt. Simple enough. Except Breeland hangs onto Swift for an extra second or two, then talks a little talk, and Swift doesn't enjoy this. He doesn't enjoy this at all. He told FOX 2's Dan Miller this week that Breeland was in for it right then and there.
"There was one play, I think it was a third down, he was holding onto my leg. I’m like, 'Get off my leg.' He said something crazy, so I'm like, OK. So when I caught the ball the next time and I seen it was him, I had made my mind up what I was going to do," Swift said with a smile. You'd smile, too.
With about three minutes to go, Swift catches another short pass from Jared Goff. This time he has room to run. When he turns his head upfield, who does he see in his path but Breeland. He gets down hill for 10 yards and barrels into Breeland like a bull at the Vikings' 30. Breeland staggers backward and winds up on his stomach at the 25. Swift runs for eight more yards.
"It happened real quick," said Swift. "I didn’t really think too much of it during the moment. Just turned around (after the catch) and I knew what I was going to do. It kind of just happened."
Whatever becomes of the 0-6 Lions this season, Swift will be a beacon of hope. Beyond Detroit's depleted receiving corps, there's a reason he's tied for first in the NFL among running backs in receptions and yards: he's a menace in space. Around, over or through, these are Swift's options on every play. Generally, Swift said he likes "making people miss."
"But when the opportunity presents itself," he grinned, "I will do whatever needs to be done."