Throughout this week, we are going to go through the 10 plays (with some liberties for moments) that shaped the 2015 season for the Detroit Lions.
See the complete list as it is unveiled here.
The play: Rookie running back Ameer Abdullah took a handoff from quarterback Matthew Stafford on the San Diego 24-yard line on the Lions’ first drive of the season. He cut back, found an open hole, cut back again to fake out Chargers safety Eric Weddle in the open field and scored a 24-yard touchdown on his first regular season NFL carry.
The situation: The expectations and hype around Abdullah were high before the season started. After a couple nifty runs in the preseason, the anticipation of Abdullah’s debut skyrocketed. Then he scored on his first run of his career on Detroit’s first drive of the season. It allowed the Lions to quickly think they had a future star in Abdullah -- and they still might, but the rest of his season was not as strong as that first carry.
The reason it mattered: It offered hope. The Lions had spent all preseason explaining how they felt comfortable in then-offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi’s offense and how there were definite chances for success during the season. Then, on the first drive of the year, everything came together. The Lions moved the ball easily. Their newly-drafted running back looked quick and decisive. It rose the expectation level immediately and allowed Lions fans to think about what a successful season might be. Of course, it just ended up being a tease, considering how the first half of the season unfolded, including a 33-28 loss to the Chargers.
How Abdullah’s season fared: The No. 54 pick in the 2015 draft had an inconsistent season. There were flashes of what he could eventually be, but he was benched at least twice due to ball security issues -- five fumbles (two lost) this season. He ran a lot better down the stretch of the season, gaining at least four yards per carry in four of the last five games. In all, Abdullah had 143 carries for 597 yards and two rushing touchdowns along with 25 catches for 183 yards and a receiving touchdown. He also led the NFL in kick return yards with 1,077.
What Calvin Johnson thought about Abdullah’s touchdown run: “Man, the guy had some shake and bake, man. The guy can get up and down the field for us. So I love when he has the ball because once he has the ball, I just look for the next guy to block; try to keep him on his feet and get him to the end zone.”