Lions film review: Breaking down top performances from defensive-fueled win

The Detroit Lions have had some outstanding defensive performances this season. They held Tampa Bay — still at full strength with Chris Godwin and Mike Evans — to 216 yards, kept Arizona out of the end zone the final 10 drives after giving up a touchdown to open the game, befuddled Dallas, and forced four turnovers in a blowout victory over Tennessee.

But Sunday’s win over the Houston Texans is in contention for the unit’s finest showing of the year.

It wasn’t without its hiccups. They couldn’t keep Houston out of the end zone when they took over in Detroit territory following an interception on the game’s opening possession. The defense also had multiple breakdowns during a dreadful two-minute drive at the end of the first half that increased Detroit's deficit to 17 at the break.

But after weathering that stormy first half, one where the Texans' average starting field position on six possessions was their 46-yard line, Detroit slammed the door closed, shutting out the opposition across the final two quarters to pave the path for an improbable comeback.

The Lions finished the night allowing just 248 yards and fewer than 100 across the final two quarters, and after struggling mightily to defend the run the previous three weeks, the Lions allowed a paltry 56 yards on 28 attempts against the Texans. That was highlighted by holding featured back Joe Mixon to 1.8 yards per carry, his worst efficiency in five years.

Instead of a drive-by-drive look at the performance, let’s take a look at some of the individual performances that were the driving forces of the whole.