Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys face off in Week 14 Thursday night NFL matchup
DETROIT — Jameson Williams has back-to-back games with a career-high seven catches, as he continues to carve out a more consistent and explosive role in the offense.
Williams turned those seven receptions into 96 yards against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night, helping lead the Detroit Lions to a crucial 44-30 victory.
He saw nine targets against the Cowboys after drawing a season-high 10 looks on Thanksgiving. Sure, Amon-Ra St. Brown suffered an ankle injury last week, leading to Williams getting some run as WR1. But each wide receiver played 57 offensive snaps in the win over the Cowboys, with Jared Goff looking their way over and over again to great success.
Goff didn’t hold back in his praise for Williams’ latest performance when speaking with reporters after the big win. He pointed to the trust being at an all-time high, and how the offense feeds off Williams’ energy.
“He’s becoming that player we always knew he could be over the course of the season,” the Lions quarterback said. “He’s as reliable of a guy as I’ve ever played with at this point. Third down, fourth down, don’t matter. He’ll make the play. He’ll show up.
“He’s an energy guy. He’s a juice guy. He’s confident right now. He’s on his details. He’s doing everything right. It’s awesome.”
Goff has used those same words to describe his trust in Amon-Ra St. Brown over the years. That’s really saying something about the electric wide receiver’s growth in this offense and as an all-around player.
The quarterback took some downfield shots against Dallas, more than we had seen in quite some time. And that’s what happens when Williams is getting chances and operating as one of the no-doubt main options. The former first-round receiver also leads the NFL in yards on the crossing route, and that’s very good news for this offense, because he can take those looks all the way in the blink of an eye.
Williams has had two games without a reception this year. He’s had four outings with just three or fewer targets. There is always going to be an element of boom-or-bust with his style of play, but to see him turn this corner and handle a high-volume induces optimism.
But he’s had some big games this year, with a touchdown in four out of the last six. He’s had at least 66 receiving yards in five out of the previous six games, with at least one 40-yard reception three times in that same span. Since the bye, Williams leads the team with 417 receiving yards, impressive considering that it includes a no-catch outing.
For an offense missing Sam LaPorta from the passing attack, Williams has to do more, especially on third and fourth downs. Yes, he had the fourth-down drop that everyone is quick to mention on Thanksgiving.
But Goff doesn’t throw around empty, high-end praise around like that. He’s looking Williams’ way early and often in the five games with Dan Campbell calling the offense. Williams had the one shutout showing two weeks ago against the New York Giants. But he still had three targets, and one 30-plus yard reception called back due to an offensive line penalty.
“High confidence. High confidence,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said earlier in the week. “He’s really growing. I mean, he just continues to grow and get better. He’s fearless. He’s fearless, and he’s just — his fundamentals. For the speed and quickness he has, the ability for him to drop his weight now and there’s really some detail to his routes.
“He’s becoming a hard cover. And then you see the run after catch ability, he’s had it. So, his confidence is growing, our confidence is growing, and he’s doing well. And I mean, he came back out this week again, I mean, he’s full-tilt. You should’ve seen him running yesterday. I mean, this guy, he works now. He works in practice every day. So, love where he’s at.”
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