The Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers kick off the NFL preseason
The Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers get ready to play in Thursday’s Pro Football Hall of Fame Game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
Quarterback Trey Lance threw for 120 yards and two first-half touchdowns, leading the Los Angeles Chargers to a 34-7 victory over the Detroit Lions in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, on Thursday, July 31.
Lance completed 13 of 20 passes while Lions starter Kyle Allen completed 9 of 14 passes for 91 yards and two interceptions.
Craig Reynolds paced the Lions with 38 yards on 10 carries and one touchdown. Overall, the Lions struggled to generate consistent offensive production.
The Lions’ defense is not doing well and they’re hampering themselves with repeated penalties (up to eight now for 68 penalty yards). The Chargers have just scored again as RB Kimani Vidal drove himself two yards into the end zone. 34-7 Chargers.
TE Kenny Yeboah, who signed with the Lions after leaving the New York Jets in the offseason, is injured at the end of the third quarter.
The Lions secondary stood tall against the Chargers, forcing multiple potential touchdown passes out of bounds and preventing any of Lance’s passes from becoming scores. Dicker kicks a field goal. 27-7 Chargers.
Dicker succeeded on this field goal attempt and the Chargers extend their lead to 24-7.
After the Lions fumbled the opening kickoff, rookie Jakobie Keeney-Smith muffed a punt and turned the ball back over to the Chargers.
Mid-interview with Minnesota Vikings DE Jared Allen about his HOF induction, the Chargers score again. Lance threw a 15-yard-pass to WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith for the touchdown. 21-7 Chargers.
In Detroit’s best drive of the first half, Allen is forced to scramble on fourth-and-3 to save the drive at the 14-yard-line. Shortly after, he threw a 2-yard shotgun pass to Lovett on 4-and-1 to again extend the drive. Running back Craig Reynolds ran it in 3 yards for Detroit’s first score. Jake Bates made the extra kick. 14-7 Chargers.
The Lions just became the first team to use the virtual measurement system to review a ball’s spot. The system will be used with Bluetooth in the ball and the measure sticks.
Detroit got a first down out of it, though the mark wasn’t even close to a spot that would happen in the regular season.
Allen began the drive with two passes to wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa for a combined 46 yards, but the Chargers defense back Tony Jefferson quickly read it and intercepted the pass intended for TeSlaa in the end zone for Detroit’s third turnover of the game.
On top of John Morton’s new offense having very little going for it, Kyle Allen threw an interception. CB Nikko Reed picked off a pass intended for receiver Tom Kennedy and ran it back to the Lions 6-yard line. Two plays later, Chargers running back Kimani Vidal scored for this team’s second touchdown. Chargers, 14-0.
Kicker Cameron Dicker missed a field goal off the left upright. He only missed three last year. The Chargers still lead, 7-0. Detroit’s defense is not holding up against quarterback Trey Lance and the rest of the Chargers.
If you were betting on which color of pants Jim Harbaugh was going to wear, first of all, call the number. Second, they are navy. He began wearing navy pants in 2021 after signing a deal with Lululemon. Michigan began having success soon after.
The Lions go three-and-out after a holding penalty on TE Shane Zylstra and a dropped pass from seventh round pick Dominic Lovett and are forced to punt it away.
Running back Omarion Hampton marched the Chargers offense down the field before QB Trey Lance threw to tight end Will Dissly for a touchdown. Extra point was good.
Chargers safety Kendall Williamson punches the ball out of Grant Stuard’s hands for the first turnover of Detroit’s season on the opening kickoff of the preseason.
- What: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game preseason opener.
- Who: Detroit Lions vs Los Angeles Chargers.
- Where: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio.
- When: Thursday, July 31, 2025.
- Time: 8 p.m.
- TV: NBC, Detroit Lions Television Network
- Streaming: Fubo, Peacock.