In a preseason matchup against their opponent, the Lions' first-team offense faced challenges, as they struggled to find consistent success on their drives. While the second half showcased some improvement, the offense relied heavily on advantageous starting positions and drive-extending penalties to make progress. The reserve offenses also faced difficulties, resulting in a mixed bag of outcomes. Let's take a closer look at each first-team drive and key plays from the reserves.

The first drive for the Lions' first-team offense lasted only three plays, covering a mere six yards before a punt. Brock Wright dropped a pass on second down, and Jared Goff then failed to connect with Kalif Raymond while Ennis Rakestraw provided excellent coverage. Notably, Brian Branch stepped up in the absence of Amik Robertson, playing the nickelback position when necessary.

On the second drive, starting from their own 30-yard line, the offense managed to gain 24 yards but ultimately punted after five plays. Aidan Hutchinson impressed with a knockdown of a wide receiver screen, but back-to-back completions to Amon-Ra St. Brown propelled the offense forward. However, the defensive line, led by Hutchinson and Alim McNeill, disrupted the following plays, resulting in a tackle for loss and a sack.

A short-field opportunity presented itself on the Lions' fourth drive, starting from their own 45-yard line. The offense capitalized, culminating in a field goal after six plays covering 42 yards. Jared Goff made an impressive 29-yard pass to Kalif Raymond, followed by a 19-yard completion to Amon-Ra St. Brown. However, struggles in the red zone led to consecutive passes being batted down by the Lions' staunch defensive line.

Drive five saw the offense gain a mere seven yards on three plays before punting. McNeill and Jack Campbell made a run stop, and a short completion to Craig Reynolds provided minimal progress. Goff's attempted deep shot to Jameson Williams appeared to suffer from a miscommunication, resulting in an incomplete pass.

Drive six started promisingly with a 19-yard completion to Williams, only to be thwarted by an interception on the following play. Kindle Vildor's tackle for loss on a wide receiver screen added to the offense's woes. As Goff faced pressure, Alex Anzalone tipped the pass, allowing himself to secure the interception.

The Lions' first touchdown came on the seventh drive, beginning on the opponents' 44-yard line. A crucial third-down conversion by St. Brown set the offense up at the 2-yard line. Despite solid defensive efforts, fullback/tight end Parker Hesse sneaked out on a play-action pass to secure the touchdown.

Drive eight, starting at the 50-yard line with 1:11 left in the half and three timeouts, resulted in a field goal. Craig Reynolds proved influential with three early touches, but an incomplete pass forced the team to settle for three points.

The ninth drive saw Penei Sewell sustain an injury, drawing attention away from the offense. Despite early pressure, Goff managed to find Wright for a significant gain. Eventually, Goff connected with Raymond for a 2-yard touchdown pass in a fourth-and-goal situation.

Drive ten showcased some success for the Lions' offense, resulting in a touchdown after 13 plays and 70 yards. St. Brown's contributions, including quick slant passes, helped propel the offense forward. Though initially stopped on third down, a pass interference call gave the Lions a fresh set of downs. A tackle for loss by McNeill was nearly overshadowed by David Montgomery's strong run, halted just shy of the end zone.

The offense's struggles continued on the final drive, resulting in a turnover on downs. Goff's deep attempt to Williams missed the mark, and the defense disrupted subsequent plays, leaving the offense unable to convert on fourth-and-18.

It was an inconsistent day for kicker Jake Bates, who missed a wide-left extra point attempt but showed some success on field goals. Donovan Peoples-Jones had a drop but redeemed himself later with a solid 18-yard reception. Safety Chelen Garnes made an impressive interception, capitalizing on Steven Gilmore's pass breakup.

Overall, the Lions' first-team offense faced challenges in their preseason match, relying on favorable field position and penalties to sustain drives. The reserves also encountered difficulties, resulting in a mixed bag of outcomes. As the regular season looms ahead, the team will need to address these offensive struggles and strive for improvement.