Last Sunday, the Detroit Lions had seven kickoffs. On all seven kicks, Sam Martin sent the ball short of the goal line, ensuring a return from the New York Giants. It was clear that the Lions did not want to give the Giants a touchback, giving them free field position at the 25-yard.
Their strategy undoubtedly worked. On six of the seven kickoffs, the Giants failed to return it to the 25-yard line, and the only time they succeeded in getting past that benchmark was at the end of the first half.