DETROIT -- Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell has often been criticized for some of his predictable playcalling. On the first drive of Thanksgiving, though, he gave all those critics a little gift: some trickery.
Bevell called a reverse flea-flicker -- a handoff from Matthew Stafford to Kerryon Johnson, who flipped back to Jamal Agnew, who then flipped back to Stafford -- to set up a reception to a wide-open T.J. Hockenson for a 51-yard gain.
The Texans' defense was confused by the play, and it set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Adrian Peterson to give Detroit a 7-0 lead.
Thanksgiving trickery!
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 26, 2020
📱 https://t.co/9FfRobYXdz pic.twitter.com/ypuOlqfAVf
.@Lions RB @AdrianPeterson records the 114th rushing TD of his career and produced his 83rd-career game with a rushing TD.
— Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) November 26, 2020
For every TD he scores in home games for the rest of the season, he will donate 2,000 meals to Detroit families in need.#OnePride pic.twitter.com/UubjUmeeHK
It's the second straight year the Lions had a big play on their first drive on Thanksgiving. Detroit scored on a 75-yard touchdown pass from rookie quarterback David Blough to receiver Kenny Golladay last season against Chicago.