When the Lions took the field Thursday night at wet and rainy MetLife Stadium, it had been just over 200 days since their Super Bowl dreams came crashing down around them in the second half of the NFC Championship Game.
The preseason opener against the Giants officially marked the start of the quest to get back to that game — and, for the fans, hopefully further.
But anyone tuning into Thursday’s 14-3 loss hoping to see Super Bowl-caliber football may have been a little let down. Then again, we knew heading in that Dan Campbell won’t be playing the majority of the team’s starters throughout the entirety of the preseason.
Nate Sudfeld, in a competition with 2023 third-round draft pick Hendon Hooker, got the start at quarterback, while Hooker started the second half on QB duties.
Sudfeld, who missed all of last season after tearing his ACL in the third preseason game, started off struggling Thursday night, completing just 7-of-15 passes for 40 yards in the first. On the only drive the Lions were able to move the ball, Sudfeld threw an interception, though it was ultimately recovered by Detroit after a New York fumble.
He was replaced by Hooker to start the second half, but his first field action since tearing his ACL his senior season at Tennessee ended after just two drives. The first drive saw two six-yard scrambles and a 1-yard completion before the Lions punted.
His second series was much more sustainable, leading Detroit 88 yards on 14 plays, though it ultimately ended with a turnover on downs in the red zone. He went 4-for-8 for 35 yards on that series and showed off his dual-threat capabilities as he ran for 34 yards, including a 16-yard scamper on which he lowered his shoulder to pick up the first down.
Hooker was evaluated in the blue tent after that drive before walking to the locker room. There are no in-game injury updates issued during preseason games. It was not immediately clear if he was injured when he lowered his shoulder for the first down or if it happened on another play.
After returning following Hooker's exit, Sudfeld went 6-for-10 for 56 yards, including a nice 26-yard strike to Donovan Peoples-Jones, but another drive stalled out inside the 10-yard-line.
The game started ugly, with two three-and-outs for either team before Brandon Joseph, a member of last year’s practice squad, picked off Giants QB Drew Lock. The opening quarter also saw Lions return man Maurice Alexander twice struggle to hang onto the football while fielding punts.
Jake Bates — who signed with Detroit this summer after a breakout season with the UFL’s Michigan Panthers — drilled a 53-yard field goal with ease late in the first quarter, the only points of the opening frame.
The Giants went ahead early in the second after gashing Detroit for 91 yards on six plays, as the Lions’ defensive line got pushed around. The drive was capped by a 48-yard run by Eric Gray on which he easily shook Morice Norris in the open field. Gray added a second TD on the drive prior to Sudfeld’s pick.
Rookie Sione Vaki led Lions running backs with 29 yards on four carries, while Isaiah Williams caught all four targets for 35 yards.