Detroit Lions notes: Encroachment on fourth down was the goal; big day for Rafael Bush

Detroit Lions strong safety Rafael Bush (31) is congratulated by teammates after intercepting a pass and scoring on a run during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) reacts to a defensive encroachment penalty on a fourth down against the Jacksonville Jaguars during an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

By Paula Pasche | The Oakland Press

PUBLISHED: November 20, 2016 at 6:44 p.m. | UPDATED: June 17, 2021 at 6:43 a.m.

DETROIT >> When the Lions offense stayed on the field for a fourth-and-2 from the Jacksonville 46, you figured they had a trick play up their sleeves.

Wrong. They had no play.

Usually hope is not a strategy, but in this case it was.

PHOTOS FROM LIONS 26-19 WIN OVER THE JAGUARS

They wanted the Jaguars defense to jump offsides to give the Lions an automatic first down.

“They’d done it before on tape and we saw it,” said quarterback Matthew Stafford who had to sell the play. “I watched, Philip Rivers did it and it worked. It was a heat of the moment call, went up to the line and we always have options there. At that particular point I don’t think coach would’ve liked it if I checked into a play, but it worked.”

The Lions were holding onto a 23-19 lead with 2:34 left in the game.

An official was standing in the middle of it and it appeared that Stafford told him to get out of the way.

“He was standing over the ball and we didn’t sub. Normally when you sub they have to stand over the ball and let the defense sub. It probably helped with the theatrics that I was getting on his (butt) a little bit, telling him to move out of the way. It worked for us, it was a big play, it helped us chew up more time and get a little closer for a field goal,” Stafford said.

The reason it looked like a smart play was that it worked. Defensive tackle Sen’Derrick Marks, a veteran who should know better, jumped. The flag flew and seven plays later Matt Prater kicked a 43-yard field goal to give the Lions a seven-point lead that stood.

Coach Jim Caldwell was impressed with the way Stafford handled it.

“He got them to the line and put some pressure on them, certainly used his voice inflection to get it done,” Caldwell said. “Early on, some of our voice inflections got our own guys. We had those two young guys on the left side jump off, they both took turns at one point in time jumping offside. But I think Matthew is a veteran player. He does a lot for us, and a lot of things that go unnoticed just in terms of what he does in and out of the huddle. Getting things straightened away and solving problems as he goes.”

Bush notches a first

The Lions and Jaguars were tied at 9-9 after the first half.

That ended quickly when Lions safety Rafael Bush intercepted Blake Bortles on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter and ran back 39 yards for a touchdown.

“He’s an unusual guy in terms of how much ground he can cover,” Caldwell said. “He can really run and he runs well. He’s active, he’s aggressive and once he get the ball in his hand he can do something with it.”

It was Bush’s first NFL touchdown.

“I was just running to the ball like we do every day at practice,” Bush said. “You know, we got our hands on a lot of ball this week in practice and it kind of correlated in the game so I credit that to preparation this week in practice.”

Caldwell hits milestone

Sunday’s win was Jim Caldwell’s 50th as a head coach in the NFL.

I havent even thought about it and won’t think about it beyond this second,” Caldwell said. “I just think these guys keep playing and what’s important is the next one. We’ve got a really, really good football team (the Vikings) coming in here on Thursday. That’s the win I’m really looking at.”

He’s now 50-40, 10 wins above the .500 mark.

Veterans honored

Salute to Service day on Sunday at Ford Field started with World War II veteran Earl Roberts serving as honorary captain for the coin toss.

And then in the weekly Hometown Heroes segment, U.S. Army Sergeant Jarrett Zimmer, from Grand Rapids was honored with a purple heart for his courageous and selfless actions during a 2013 enemy ambush in Afghanistan.

From a statement: “Zimmer drove the lead vehicle in a convoy conduction route clearance in support of the Afghan National Army. Thirty minutes into the trip, his vehicle was struck by a large IED lifting it 20 feet off the ground. As an enemy attack began on the convoy, and while under heavy fire, he emerged from the wreckage and returned fire, eventually making his way to safety. His quick and decisive actions were instrumental in his surviving the complex attack and his disregard for his personal safety kept his fellow soldiers in the convoy safe and alive. For his heroic efforts, he was chosen to receive The Purple Heart being presented to him during the game by US Army Command Sergeant David Folsom.”

This and that

The Lions finished with a season-low 14 rushing yards. … After 84 passing yards in the first half, Stafford added 193 passing yards in the second half. … The Lions fumbled three times and lost two of them. In the previous nine games they had two fumbles and lost one. … Rookie Miles Killebrew tied Tavon Wilson leading the Lions with five tackles each. … Ziggy Ansah had four quarterback hits along with four tackles. … Tavon Wilson also had an interception, a pass defense and a fumble recovery.