Video recap: Rookies impress as defense dominates in win for Detroit Lions

DETROIT -- The Detroit Lions and their defense dominated to the tune of seven sacks and no touchdowns allowed in their 20-6 win over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3 action.

But the rookies, on both sides of the ball, were also paramount to the team’s success back at Ford Field. Defensive back Brian Branch led the defense with 11 tackles, three tackles for loss and two pass deflections. Jack Campbell notched the first sack of his career on the final play of the first half, with the linebacker bouncing around in different looks. And Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta ate a ton of looks.

Gibbs came on strong in the fourth quarter, running 17 times for 80 yards. He wasn’t involved in the passing attack as much as expected. But that’s where LaPorta enters the equation, with eight catches on 11 targets for 84 yards and the first touchdown of his career. LaPorta became the first rookie tight end in league history to notch at least five receptions through their first three games.

“It felt good getting back out here,” Branch said in the locker room. “Coming from a loss last week, we were hungry. We just wanted to get out here, and this is our get-back day, it felt like. We going to ride together, and shoot everybody plays for each other tonight, and shoot, ask a couple more.”

See below for MLive Lions beat writer Ben Raven’s quick postgame hit for YouTube, not to mention his Facebook Live from Ford Field: