The only thing more impressive than Alex Smith’s arm Sunday was Matt Prater’s leg. The Lions kicker knuckled in a 59-yarder on the final play Sunday, giving Detroit a 30-27 win and thwarting an extraordinary comeback bid led by Smith.
Making his first start in two years, Smith passed for almost 400 yards and survived a blitz-happy Lions defense to erase a 21-point deficit and tie the score, twice.
But with 16 seconds left, the Lions’ Matt Stafford put together just enough of a drive to get Prater, who holds the record for the NFL’s longest kick, into field goal range. The Lions were helped out with a costly roughing-the-passer penalty on Washington rookie Chase Young, who shoved Stafford to the ground late after an incompletion.
The game-winning kick dropped Washington to 2-7 on the year, spoiling Smith’s remarkable performance.
The 36-year-old quarterback, who started the season as the team’s third-string emergency option, threw for 390 yards and completed 69.1% of his passes. For Smith, who threw for more than 300 yards a week earlier in a relief appearance, It was the first time in his career he’d notched back-to-back 300-yard-plus games.
Despite a series of chunk plays early, Washington’s opening drive stalled out due to a confusing play call on second down and a horrendous sack on third. On second-and-2, offensive coordinator Scott Turner dialed up a reverse for running back J.D. McKissic that was immediately snuffed out by the Lions. After the loss of 10, Smith took a 13-yard sack that led to a punt.
With the Lions taking over, Detroit didn’t need much time to carve up Washington’s defense. Rookie running back D’Andre Swift, getting the start over Washington castoff Adrian Peterson, burst through holes to move Detroit down the field. Then Stafford found a wide-open Marvin Hall for a 55-yard touchdown to take a 7-0 lead.
On the play, cornerback Kendall Fuller wrongly anticipated the breaking route — allowing Hall to blow past him. It was the type of coverage breakdown that could be seen throughout the game.
Later, to fall behind 14-3, slot cornerback Jimmy Moreland and Fuller weren’t on the same page as Stafford hit Marvin Jones for a 27-yard touchdown. Moreland had gone to cover the flat, while Fuller had shifted over to the deep third that created enough room for Jones to break free.
Washington had actually controlled the ball for much of the first half. With 20:39 in possession time, the team tried to take advantage of a Lions unit ranked 30th in rushing defense. Through two quarters, Washington had 16 carries on the ground — more than its 10 from last weekend.
The possession time, however, didn’t translate to touchdowns. Washington’s drives kept stalling after crossing midfield. Dustin Hopkins, who had been limited in practice with a groin injury, missed a 43-yarder.
Down double digits after halftime, Washington abandoned its run-heavy approach. The team trusted Smith to lead them, and he was successful.
Trailing 24-3, Smith mounted a comeback that eventually tied the game with just more than six minutes left. Over the course of three consecutive drives, Smith went 18 of 20 and put Washington into position into score. The team converted all three of its touchdowns, with Gibson rushing in for two scores and McKissic running in the other.
But after Washington tied the game, Detroit responded with a 37-yard field goal from Matt Prater with 2:37 left.
Washington answered back with a 19-play drive that ended with a 41-yarder from Hopkins.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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