ALLEN PARK — Coach Dan Campbell unchained the dogs and let them run on Sunday. And boy, did they. The Lions’ 44-22 win at Washington felt more like a turning point in the season than just a romp over the Commanders.
This could be exactly what the Lions (6-3) need near the halfway point in the season. If that is the offense that will produce for the rest of the season, wins will come in bunches. And remember, the defense played lights out too and they are expected to get back key players — Kerby Joseph, Josh Pashal, Malcolm Rodriguez — in the coming weeks.
Campbell tried to downplay the fact that he took over the offensive play calling from coordinator John Morton, but obviously it was the right move.
“It’s not about me. When everything comes together you’re trying to put together the best team that you can because they all have strengths and you play to those strengths,’’ Campbell said on Monday. “Whatever this player’s strength is it can cover up for this other player’s deficiency and vice-versa. That is how the whole organization works (including) the coaching staff in all three phases.’’
He credited Morton and basically all the offensive coaches for feeding him information before and during the game. Campbell repeatedly said he knows he has to improve and he will.
He got WR Jameson Williams more involved which is huge. Among NFL wide receivers Jamo is ranked third in receiving average (17.6), third in yards-after-catch/reception (7.8 ) and fifth in receiving first-down percentage (85.2 percent).
Campbell, who wore reading glasses on the sideline, also threw Dan Skipper on the field to act as sixth offensive lineman. The line had perhaps their best game of the season, opening up the run game for Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery who averaged 6.8 yards per run.
The Lions became the sixth team in NFL history to produce a road game with at least 320 net passing yards, three passing touchdowns, 225 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Catch that? Sixth team in history.
Campbell wouldn’t look too far into the future, but plans to make the calls on Sunday night against the Eagles.
“Sometimes you have to move some things around, you’ve got the right people. It’s just about putting people in different spots and all of a sudden man you clicked and it fit right in place and then you’re humming,’’ Campbell said. “I think that’s some of it — we’ve got the right staff, we’ve got the right players. So yesterday was a step in the right direction.’’
Campbell has a vision of what he wants from the offense and the best way to get it is to call the plays himself. It’s pretty simple.
Or maybe it was the glasses …
UP NEXT: Lions (6-3) at Philadelphia Eagles, 8:20 p.m. on Sunday Night Football.
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