Takeaways from Lions' Loss: DE Injured, QB Flops, TeSlaa Shines

Rookie wideouts spark offensive attack on first scoring drive

The Lions have relied upon two rookie wide receivers to spark the offense throughout each preseason contest.

On Detroit's first scoring drive, rookies Isaac TeSlaa and Jackson Meeks were instrumental is aiding the offense moving down the field.

Detroit's third-round pick was on the receiving end of a 13-yard pass from Kyle Allen that helped get the offense close to the red zone.

Meeks was able to record an eight-yard grab early in the drive. The undrafted free agent capped off Detroit's 10-play, 63-yard drive with an 11-yard reception on fourth-and-goal in which he was easily able to scamper into the end zone untouched to tie the game at 7-7 midway through the second quarter.

Defense stands tall

After Detroit's offense tied the score, the defense bent but didn't break on a late drive from Zach Wilson. A facemask penalty from Grant Stuard negated a sack from Isaac Ukwu, and the Lions gave up a big completion from Wilson to Ollie Gordon.

However, the Lions' defense did an excellent job holing the Dolphins to no points. Wilson threw incomplete on third-and-4 from the Lions' 9-yard line, and then was sacked by Ukwu to force a turnover on downs.

Allen perfect in two-minute drill

After the turnover on downs, Kyle Allen was tasked with moving the Lions 83 yards in less than two minutes. He would wind up doing just that, firing an 18-yard touchdown to Isaac TeSlaa.

The drive began with a 14-yard run by Sione Vaki. Though Allen took a sack on a second-down, he bounced back with two straight completions including a fourth-down conversion to TeSlaa.

Allen would then hit Jackson Meeks for 27 yards, then Vaki put together two short gains to set up the touchdown to TeSlaa. The veteran quarterback finished 6-for-6 on the final drive of the first half for 70 yards and a touchdown.

Dolphins special teams botch gives Lions momentum in third quarter

Hendon Hooker was tasked with leading the offense in the second half. Unfortunately, his first two drives leading the offense only resulted in jeers from the home crowd.

After failing to move the chains, the Dolphins gave the Lions momentum, when wideout A.J. Henning muffed a punt, giving the Lions the football in prime field position.

Unfortunately, a Giovanni Manu holding call wiped out what would have been a touchdown scramble from Hooker. Detroit was forced to settle for a Jake Bates 33-yard field goal, which gave the Lions a 17-14 lead.

Hendon Hooker shaky, teammates let him down too

Detroit's backup battle is becoming clearer with each passing game. Hooker was inaccurate, struggled to extend drives and even his teammates let him down, when there was a positive play.

Detroit's coaching staff certainly does not have an expansive passing attack for a third-string player to highlight his strengths.

Hooker's confidence must be now at an all-time low, with not much going right against the Dolphins.

In an attempt to tie the game, Hooker led a drive, but eventually threw an interception that sealed the 24-17 preseason win for Miami.

Notes

1.) Detroit's starting offensive line featured Jamarco Jones at left tackle, Netane Muti at left guard, Kingsley Eguakun at center, Kayode Awosika at right guard and Dan Skipper at right tackle.

2.) The officials were certainly calling the game tightly during the first quarter. There were seven flags thrown in the first 15 minutes of action.

3.) Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes joined the broadcast and shared the team has more clarity about the interior of the offensive line. He also praised the team's third-round pick this past April, indicating TeSlaa "emulates his style of football from what we've been displaying from the past few years." Holmes added, "He's been doing a great job. He's getting better and better."

4.) Rookie Ahmed Hassanein left the game in the third quarter, and headed straight to the locker room. The television broadcast described it as an elbow injury. Dan Campbell will likely give more information during his postgame talk with reporters.

5.) The Lions faithful was loud and proud all game long at Ford Field. It was reported that attendance for the preseason contest with the Dolphins was 47,684.