Jameson Williams — Week 4: Three Third Downs, Three Conversions

Down 16 to 13 against the Panthers, 21 seconds left in the second quarter, first and 10 at the Detroit 28. Jared Goff threw deep right to Jameson Williams, 44 yards in the air, and Williams was brought down at the Carolina 23 after 49. +2.4 expected points added — expected points added is what a play was worth given down, distance and field position — and 13.1 points of win probability, the chance of winning the game after the play against before it, the second-biggest swing of the game. Two incompletions later, Detroit kicked a 41-yarder and went to halftime tied at 16.

The line: eight targets, six catches, a hundred two yards, six first downs, no touchdown, +7.1 expected points on the targets. The three third downs: eight yards on third and five to the Carolina 38 in the second quarter; 11 on third and three to the Carolina six, which set up Gibbs' touchdown two snaps later; and 14 on third and seven from the Detroit 28 late in the third. Both incompletions were deep.

His eight targets tied Isaac TeSlaa for third on the Lions, behind Sam LaPorta and Amon-Ra St. Brown, and his hundred two yards led the team.

Back in June the preview called Williams Detroit's deep threat, with the variance that comes with the job. Weeks 2 and 3 were four targets each, below the volume that read leaned on. This week doubled it. Weeks 1 through 3: 17 targets, 10 catches, a hundred 27 yards, no touchdowns. Four games: 25 targets, 16 catches, 229 yards, still no touchdown. One big game after two quiet ones settles little.

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_Data via nflverse._