httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRE7CwHT-SY
Quietly, overshadowed by all of that, rookie running back Ameer Abdullah appears to have fully climbed out of the hole he dug himself in the middle of the year with his inability to protect the football.
Getting his fourth start of the season, and first since Oct. 18, Abdullah set season-highs with 16 carries and 63 rushing yards.
Abdullah has fond memories of football during Thanksgiving.
On Detroit’s first offensive possession, Abdullah was swallowed up in the backfield for a five-yard loss by Detroit-native Brandon Graham when fellow rookie, Laken Tomlinson, blew a bock.
On third-and-long, Abdullah couldn’t handle a screen pass from quarterback Matthew Stafford.
The Lions could have turned to another back in their rotation on the next series, but they stuck with Abdullah and were rewarded for their patience.
He would go on to add runs of nine, nine and 10 yards, plus a 12-yard reception, leading a running back group that racked up 226 yards from scrimmage in the blowout win.
“Theo has been on fire, catching everything out of the backfield, making good decisions on his routes, running good routes and just playing hard,” Abdullah said.