Upon further review: Rams vs. Lions

John Niyo / The Detroit News

Where there's a Will ...

 Hard to believe, but Will James -- a street free agent signed in late July -- is the Lions' No. 1 cornerback at the moment. Anthony Henry , benched for poor play three weeks ago, was inactive Sunday, while Phillip Buchanon -- the other starter heading into the season -- was in a rotation with Demarcus Faggins on Sunday before Faggins went down with a groin injury in the third quarter.

Catching fire

 Lions coach Jim Schwartz lamented having to play "small ball" without Calvin Johnson . But the play of Johnson's fill-ins clearly left him upset. Stafford targeted his three wideouts -- Bryant Johnson , Dennis Northcutt and Derrick Williams -- eight times in the first three quarters without a completion. "It's no excuse," Schwartz said. "Our guys need to make those plays when they're given the opportunity."

Look who did their homework

 The Rams' TD off a fake field goal wasn't an accident. It only appeared that way, after they called a timeout and replaced the offensive unit with the kicking team on fourth-and-8 from Detroit's 36. With the Lions' overloading the right side to try to block the kick, Josh Brown took a pitch and threw it to a wide-open Daniel Fells . "We had watched tape and they came every single time when they were set up that way," Brown told AP. "It was ours for the taking."

Halftime heave? Too-risky business

 Why not try a Hail Mary into the end zone on the final play of the first half? Jim Schwartz defended that decision by Matthew Stafford , saying he didn't want to risk a turnover -- or QB's health -- on a 57-yard prayer with no time left. "If that was the end of the game, I'd agree with you," Schwartz said.

John Niyo