Jamaal Williams took his first carry of the game last Sunday for five yards. And his second. He took his third carry for eight yards, and his fourth for another five. He ended the first half with 57 yards on 12 carries, 4.8 yards per attempt. But the Lions ended the first half down 14-0, and Williams got just two carries the rest of the game.
Welcome to Detroit, Jamaal. Welcome to playing from behind.
“I’m all about riding the hot hand, and Jamaal ran really well last week," offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn said Thursday. "I probably should have used him more, to be honest with you. I was looking at the tape the next day, like, ‘That man ran extremely hard.'"
That's what Williams does. He takes the ball and plunges through holes, or plows into tacklers if holes don't exist. He flexes and screams after moving the chains, and he comes to his feet with a grin. Williams has been a boon to Detroit's ground game, a hard-charging runner who complements the open-field reaper known as D'Andre Swift. Its bane has been second half deficits. Williams has yet to pound for four quarters.
"Yeah, it's just unfortunate we couldn't get into them yet and we gotta end up throwing the ball," he said. "That's just to catch up. But I feel like once we start out hot and fast, with the lead or close to the lead, where we don't need to throw the ball like that, I feel we'll be OK."
We feel that's modest. With the freedom to run it this season, the Lions -- the Lions!! -- have been really good. They're averaging 4.3 yards per carry, their best mark since Kevin Jones led the way in 2004, and Williams is averaging a career-high 4.5. That ranks 16th in the NFL. In terms of carries -- 10.5 per game -- he ranks 30th. It makes you wonder if we've even seen him at his best.
"Oh hell naw," Williams said. "No."
Which makes you wonder what he might have in store, starting Sunday against the Vikings.
"I feel like I'm learning and catching onto things quick," he said. "I feel like the more repetitions I get, outside runs, inside runs, seeing certain defenses and seeing how they move, it gets me more comfortable. And I feel like now I can start using my ninja instincts a little bit, knowing where to go."
Williams has been Detroit's second best offensive player, per Pro Football Focus, and its best skill player. He has the sixth-highest running grade in the NFL among backs with at least 100 snaps, sandwiched between James Robinson and Jonathan Taylor. When the Lions hand him the ball, good things are happening. Bad things are happening before they can hand it to him more.
Sunday might bring more of the same. The Vikings can score points quickly. The Lions won't win a shootout against Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen, especially with an offensive line that could be missing its three best players. They could win a fist fight: Minnesota has allowed 4.8 yards per carry. If the Lions keep the score in check and the ball on the ground, hidden in the hands of Williams of Swift, they might sneak out of town with a win.
"At the end of the game, third quarter, fourth quarter, those are the golden quarters, especially for running the ball because the defense is tired," Williams said. "They know you're going to run, but at the end of the day, it's just all about imposing your will."