Welcome to Detroit Lions gameday.
The Lions kick off the 2025 NFL preseason schedule with the Hall of Fame Game matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. The outcome may not matter, but the game certainly does. There are roster spots on the line, and Thursday will be the first opportunity for many second and third-string players to get extensive work on the field. The tape does not lie, and Thursday night will offer these players a chance to plead their cases for a spot on future 53-man rosters.
Neither team is expected to play any of their veteran starters, which means we’re expected to see Lions veteran quarterback Kyle Allen face off against Chargers quarterback Trey Lance in the first half. That said, Hendon Hooker is almost certainly going to get a half of football, too, and that should be very entertaining for the third-year passer.
Throughout the entire game, we’ll be providing live updates right here in this post. Just come back here right around kickoff at 8 p.m. ET, and start hitting the refresh button. Soon, drive-by-drive analysis, highlights, injury updates, and everything in between will start showing up on the screen. It’s a great way to follow the action if you’re not able to watch the game live. And when the game is over, you’ll have a full, comprehensive recap right here.
As a reminder, you can catch the game live nationally on NBC at 8 p.m. ET, or watch live on the Peacock app.
See you at kickoff.
First quarter
The game got off to a bit of a rocky start for the Lions. Linebacker Grant Stuard took the kickoff return for Detroit, and immediately turned it over by fumbling it after running into his own player.
The Lions were able to hold the Chargers to a fourth-down attempt in the red zone thanks to a great open-field tackle from Rock Ya-Sin. Unfortunately, Los Angeles went for it, and Trey Lance lofted a ball just over Lions safety Loren Strickland’s head for a 5-yard touchdown pass. 7-0 Chargers.
Stuard returned the ensuing kickoff and gave the Lions decent field position at the 35-yard line. But Detroit’s offensive drive went nowhere. A holding penalty on Shane Zylstra set up a first-and-20 situation, and a Dominic Lovett drop on what would’ve been a big gain set up a third-and-long. Detroit essentially gave up on the drive with a draw play to Craig Reynolds for minimal gain.
Detroit’s second defensive possession went a little better. The Chargers converted a third-and-4 with a deep shot to KeAndre Lambert-Smith, who picked up 28 yards after slipping by Ennis Rakestraw.
But good coverage from there helped hold the Chargers to a long field goal attempt, and Los Angeles’ 52-yard kick went off the left upright.
Kyle Allen tried to lead the Lions offense to more success on his second drive, and they picked up their initial first down thanks to a swing pass to Reynolds for 10 yards that was well-blocked by Detroit’s receivers. But a third-and-9 pass from Allen held up too long, and Chargers cornerback Nikko Reed picked him off for a near pick-six.
Two plays later, Los Angeles punched it in for a 14-0 Chargers lead.
The Lions offense finally opened up, thanks largely in part to third-round rookie Isaac TeSlaa. The Lions receiver picked up 24 yards on the first play of the game, and followed it up with another 22 yards on the next play.
But on a third-and-2, Allen lofted up a deep shot to TeSlaa, who could not catch up to the pass and it was picked off again.
The Lions defense got another stop thanks largely to a first-down sack from linebacker Grant Stuard. He came rushing in on a blitz, and despite getting chopped down by a running back, he got back up and corralled Lance for the loss.
Lovett turned the punt return upfield for about 20 yards, setting the Lions up at the 40-yard line to start the second quarter.
Second quarter
Detroit’s offense got going again thanks to a trio of first downs picked up by Reynolds on the ground and into Chargers territory. On the last one, Reynolds nearly broke it and was tackled awkwardly, forcing him out of the game.
(Reynolds would return a few players later).
Allen then picked up a pair of fourth downs. First, with a scramble on fourth-and-3. Then again with a short pass to Lovett. Reynolds closed the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. 14-7 Chargers.
Jake Bates’ first kickoff landed short of the landing zone, giving the Chargers the ball on their own 40-yard line. Detroit appeared to get a quick stop, but Rakestraw was called for an illegal hands to the face penalty on a pass breakup, giving Los Angeles new life. Then, on third-and-6, Lance beat the Lions blitz with a quick slant pass to Lambert-Smith (Dicaprio Bootle in coverage). 21-7 Chargers.
The Lions had an opportunity to run a nice two-minute drills, but the offense went three-and-out. On third-and-4, Allen slid 2 yards short of the sticks, giving the ball back to the Chargers with 1:04 left in the half and two timeouts left.
But after a booming Jack Fox punt, the Chargers opted to run the rest of the clock out and take a two-score lead into halftime.
Third quarter
The Chargers got a big return on the opening kickoff of the second half. However, a great tackle for loss from Anthony PIttman on a screen forced Los Angeles into an immediate third-and-long and the Chargers came up well short.
But Detroit’s struggles on special teams continued. Jakobie Keeney-James muffed the ensuing punt, giving the ball to Los Angeles at Detroit’s 5-yard line.
However, the Lions defense held strong, forcing a chip-shot field goal. 24-7 Chargers.
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