Bill Barnwell
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Bill Barnwell
@billbarnwell.com
ESPN writer/yapper
Completely blown coverage by the Lions on Tracy in the flat.
November 23, 2025 at 6:55 PM
This is a really nice play from Panthers rookie DB Corey Thornton (31). Carolina spins their safeties at the snap and plays Tampa-2, so Thornton has to bail and get to the deep half. He reads out the play and sees Cousins trying to throw the seam route and nearly picks it off.
November 23, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Love that Joe Brady's fourth-and-26 trick play was just Big Mesh
November 21, 2025 at 3:53 PM
5) The final fourth down. Looks like there's miscommunication, St. Brown breaks outside, Goff's throw is inside. This is the only one that looks like the Lions didn't really have a reasonable play called.
November 17, 2025 at 9:28 PM
4) Lions near the goal line, and this is the first one where they really could have considered a FG. They run an iteration of Mesh and Wright's open coming across the field, but Jaelan Phillips wins quick versus Penei Sewell and Goff's throw is wild and incomplete. (Are you watching, Brad Holmes?)
November 17, 2025 at 9:25 PM
3) This wrap combo is one of Jared Goff's favorites. He gets a clean pocket and Williams comes open. But the throw is low. It's still catchable, so WR deserves some of the blame, but this should be a first down. It's not a bad call.
November 17, 2025 at 9:24 PM
2) The fake punt. Nothing crazy like last year's (fun but unsuccessful) speed option fake. Guessing this was called on the field as opposed to from the sideline. Again, this is a really favorable box to run into if you want a yard. And again, Moro Ojomo blows up the play, splitting a double-team.
November 17, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Taking a look at the five Lions fourth down failures last night...

1) This is a really good look to run into on fourth-and-1 at midfield. Moro Ojomo (97) just makes an awesome play, swimming around the left tackle and still managing to tackle Gibbs at the line for no gain. Need to execute.
November 17, 2025 at 9:18 PM
And then the Bucs run Mesh against the Bills for Sean Tucker's third TD of the game. Used their own finishing move on them!
November 16, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Look at how much push right guard Tate Ratledge gets on this block (and how enormous of a hole that is for Jahmyr Gibbs)
November 14, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Jalen Hurts throws deep for a touchdown. Interesting coverage there.
November 11, 2025 at 3:39 AM
"Cover 4 and those safeties are low, that's when you got to drop one of those dimes," says Tom Brady, who seems to be suggesting that you can throw over the top against quarters
November 9, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Davante Adams also in the getting wide open on touchdowns that go to other receivers club.
November 9, 2025 at 5:37 AM
Jaxon Smith-Njigba's even getting wide open on touchdowns that go to other receivers. Look at him dust the CB at the bottom of this play
November 8, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Geno third-and-2 sneak from last night. Obviously don't love it if this is the call from the sideline, but wonder if Geno checked to it seeing the open A-gap.

Not many plays are going to work if the LT gets overpowered on his block and the LG whiffs on the MLB.
November 7, 2025 at 8:05 PM