by Football is BACK in Canton, OH!
CANTON, OH – The Pro Football Hall of Fame Game Presented by Novartis featured the Los Angeles Chargers versus the Detroit Lions on NBC and Peacock.
From the opening kickoff, the Chargers gained and secured all the momentum as Lions LB Grant Stuard caught the opening kickoff and fumbled the ball when running into the back of a teammate. The fumble was recovered by Chargers safety Kendall Williamson, setting the Los Angeles up with excellent field position to start their first possession. Backup QB Trey Lance started under center for the Bolts. On a 4th and 2 at Detroit’s 5-yard line, Lance found TE Will Dissley for a 5-yard touchdown, giving the Chargers the early 7-0 start. After the touchdown, the Lions were given their first opportunity on offense. Detroit had a poor first possession as they didn’t manage to move the chains. Detroit was only able to gain five yards in five plays, being forced to punt on their first possession. Following the punt, the Chargers managed a strong seven-play drive that ended in a missed 52-yard field goal attempt by Cameron Dicker. The Lions took over possession at their own 42-yard line. Their second possession was upended by an interception thrown by QB Kyle Allen. After the turnover, the Chargers quickly struck again in two plays when RB Kimani Vidal rushed in for a 2-yard touchdown, putting the Chargers up 14-0. On the pursuing Lions’ possession, Kyle Allen committed another turnover, throwing his second interception of the night, giving the Chargers the ball back at Los Angeles’s own 23-yard line. Off the turnover, the Bolts weren’t able to move the ball or capitalize, being forced to punt at their own 26-yard line.
Following the punt, the Lions put together their best possession of the night, going 15 plays for 60 yards, moving the chains three times, ending in a three-yard rushing touchdown by RB Craig Reynolds, getting Detroit on the board at 14-7. Trey Lance continued to lead the offense for Los Angeles, manufacturing another scoring drive going eight plays for 60 yards, ending in Lance throwing his second touchdown pass, connecting with WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith for the 15-yard score, going up 21-7. The Lions’ offense continued to struggle as they had another punt after the three-and-out. That concluded an eventful first half of football at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium with the Chargers leading the Lions 21-7.
The Chargers received the second-half kickoff as we began the second half of the Hall of Fame Game. Los Angeles wasn’t able to move the ball far, being forced to punt on a quick three-and-out. The Chargers were fortunate as the Lions’ WR Jakobie Keeney-James muffed the catch, resulting in the Chargers’ recovery inside Detroit’s 5-yard line. In four plays, the Chargers weren’t able to move the ball, resulting in a short 23-yard field goal attempt made by kicker Cameron Dicker, extending their lead 24-7. The pursuing Lions’ possession didn’t produce positive yards as they were forced to punt again. The Chargers continued to put the pressure on Detroit as they went 63 yards in 13 plays, ending in a 27-yard field goal by Dicker to go up 20 points at 27-7.
Opening the fourth quarter, the Lions possessed the football. Despite converting a first down, the Lions were unable to convert on a 4th and 3 at the Chargers’ 49, turning the ball over on downs. Following the turnover on downs, both teams traded punts. The Chargers were able to slam the door shut with a second late touchdown by RB Kimani Vidal, going up 34-7. A late Detroit interception gave the ball back to the Chargers, who were able to run the clock out and win the Hall of Fame Game 34-7. Charger’s QB Trey Lance shined under the lights, throwing for 13/20 120 yards and two touchdowns while his teammate RB Kimani Vidal also stood out, scoring two touchdowns on the ground. Fans from all around the country were treated to a high-scoring football game as the NFL Preseason kicked off right where the game of football started…in Canton, Ohio.
