Up until the final play of the game, Detroit Lions‘ wide receivers Kenny Golladay (4 catches for 132 yards, 1 TD) and Marvin Jones Jr. (8 catches for 126 yards, 1TD) absolutely torched the Oakland Raiders defense. Yet, for some reason, neither one of those players were on the field for the Lions last chance on offense.
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Following the game, Golladay and Jones were asked to comment on the decision by the Lions’ coaching staff to have them on the bench for the final play.
From Sports Illustrated:
WR Kenny Golladay
On how it feels when they take you and Marvin Jones off the field for that 4th and goal play at the end: “I have all the trust in our coaches and all of the faith in the world for those guys on the field for that last play. At that point I just cheer on those guys on the field and hope for the best.”
On people thinking ‘why not go down swinging with your best guys on the field’: “Those guys don’t play football, so it is what it is.”
WR Marvin Jones
On not being out there on the fourth down and goal call: “That is what it is. We have a great plethora of plays that we can get to and that was the call. It doesn’t matter who is out there. We all expect to make the big plays.”
On if he wished he could have been out there with the game on the line and on the road:“That is just what it was. That was not in my control. We trust all of our guys.”
On how the offense can convert more drives into touchdowns instead of field goals: “Execute. To execute when we get down there. We have been doing a good job doing that and getting those touchdowns but obviously we fell short today. We have to keep the mindset that every time we touch the ball, we have to put it in. I think we have been doing a good job but we have to do it more and better.”
