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Lions’ QB Jared Goff eases into the MVP conversation with dazzling stats

He earns NFC offensive player of week for win at Bucs

ALLEN PARK — It’s not all about the stats, but Lions quarterback Jared Goff has put up huge numbers in the last 16 games. In that stretch the Lions are 13-3.

So far this season, they are 5-1, in first place in the NFC North and prepping for another tough road game at Baltimore on Sunday.

Goff, the NFC offensive player of the week for the win at the Bucs, is easing into the NFL MVP discussion.

Here’s why:

In the last 16 games, Goff has thrown 37 touchdowns against just four interceptions, completing 65.46 percent of his passes for 4,152 yards. The team went 13-3 in that stretch.

This season in six games (5-1), he’s thrown 11 touchdowns, three interceptions completing 69.5 percent of his passes for 1,618 yards.

“I don’t know what MVP is or isn’t these days but I know this, he’s playing at a very high level, he’s making the throws that are there and seeing the field. He’s exactly what we need and he’s doing exactly what we’re asking him to do,’’ Lions coach Dan Campbell said on Wednesday. “I’ve said this before. He is an evolving quarterback, he’s developing, he’s been developing and he keeps getting a little bit better. ‘’

Tanner Engstrand, the Lions’ passing game coordinator, is more specific on Goff’s growth and sees him playing at a “very fast” level mentally.

“He’s seeing the defense pre-snap, he’s having an idea of what needs to happen, what he’s expecting. I think there’s a lot of diagnosis that’s going on pre-snap that’s putting him in the position to have that success post-snap,’’ Engstrand said. “And he’s throwing the heck out of the ball. The accuracy right now is really really good and the decision making process is at a high level.’’”

It helps that Goff, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2016, had the same offensive coordinator Ben Johnson for two years and has been with Campbell for three.

“It’s a lot of hard work, obviously. But typically, when the team’s playing well, it makes my job a hell of a lot easier and defense is giving us short fields, O-line’s protecting really well and I’ve got receivers downfield making plays,’’ Goff said Wednesday. “So, all that comes together, and I do my part and it makes it a lot easier for me.”

Campbell said it’s a credit to Goff and the coaches that he’s growing and playing so well in his seventh season as a starter.

“He’s in a good way, our line is protecting the heck out of him and you give him just a minute, he can see it, he can throw it and our receivers make the play,’’ the coach said.

NOTES: Campbell said the team has been through a meat grinder in recent weeks so instead of a typical practice on Wednesday, they had a walk-through and put emphasis on the mental part of the game. … Due to no practice, the injury report was estimated. RB Craig Reynolds (hamstring/toe), who carried the load Sunday, would not have practiced. With RB David Montgomery (ribs) out for Sunday, they will be thin at running back. However RB Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) and DB Brian Branch (ankle) — neither one played Sunday — were listed as limited participants. Campbell said on Monday both were trending in the right direction.

Detroit Lions prove to be road warriors; Dan Campbell says it’s a mindset

Franchise record for road wins is 6 set in 1961

No one has called the Detroit Lions “road warriors” for years, actually decades.

That appears to be changing this season. Already the Lions are 3-0 on the road — at Kansas City, Green Bay and Tampa. They stand at 5-1 overall as they prepare to head to Baltimore on Sunday.

“I think every team that I’ve been a part of as a player and a coach, when – that has had success, that’s a winning team – first of all, you’ve got to be able to win on the road. I do think there’s a confidence about it, there’s a – and you have anticipation,’’ coach Dan Campbell said on Monday following the 20-6 win at Tampa Bay.

“You look forward to it and I think that’s what – kind of where we’re at. I think that going on the road and it’s just you against them, their crowd, the – I think we kind of thrive off of that and I think that’s a mindset and I think that’s where it starts,’’ the coach added.

The most road wins for the franchise is six, which happpened in 1961, when they were 6-0-1 on the road and 2-5 at home. They did not make the playoffs that season.

The Lions have only won five road games in five seasons, going back to 1930 when they were the Portsmouth Spartans. They had five wins in 2017, in 2011 (made the playoffs with a 10-6 record), in 2000, in 1993 (made the playoffs with a 10-2 record) and in 1953 when they won the NFL Championship.

When Campbell was questioned about the road success on Monday, he said: “Well, first of all, they’re not really road games. That’s what it feels like anyway. We’ve got significant fan support on the road right now.’’

At Tampa Bay, estimates were that 20,000-25,000 Lions fans occupied the stands. They were loud and appreciative and stayed around after it was over.

Campbell spent three seasons playing for the Dallas Cowboys who have a fan base that travels well, but he said it was never like what he’s seeing from Lions fans.

“There’s kind of a takeover here. It feels that way. … You walk out and it’s a sea of blue. And then by the time the third quarter hits, you can hear them because we get up, we’re making plays and, I said this last night, their offense is out there and I swear they’re about to go to silent cadence at their own home because it’s loud,’’ Campbell said. “I’m like, I think I would tell our guys to go silent cadence if it was this loud. And man, that’s something else. I mean, seriously, this is pretty awesome.”

Of course, it isn’t just showing up that earns the Lions the road wins. They beat the Chiefs, the defending Super Bowl champs, and the division foe Packers before facing a tough Bucs bunch.

The defense is playing outstanding in the four straight wins and quarterback Jared Goff has led the banged-up offense to score at least 20 points in all six games so far.

“I just think there’s a mentality about it. I think our guys believe on the road you go out there that we should win, but they know they’ve got to earn it. … We’ve got to play a clean game. Usually what happens, you go out there and momentum shifts and you allow it to affect you and then you can’t ever get momentum back and then one thing leads to another, you turn the ball over, you’re getting stopped, you’re getting hit on explosives and we’re just not doing that,’’ Campbell said. “We’re not making these mistakes and the other teams are right now.”

The players love having such a Honolulu Blue presence on the road. They can hear them and certainly appreciate it. It’s reciprocal. Lions fans have been waiting for years to support a team with a vision, a team that has a bright future and, most importantly, wins games.

“I get texts all the time from friends, family and they refer to things – ‘Man, our receivers did a hell of a job today.’ It’s ‘our.’ And I feel like that’s where our fans are, ‘This is ours and our guys are doing this and our guys are –’ And that’s what it’s about,’’ Campbell said “That’s what it’s about.”

UP NEXT: Lions (5-1) at Baltimore Ravens (4-2) at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The Ravens are coming off a 24-16 win at the Titans on Sunday.

Five reasons the Lions keep their road record perfect with 20-6 win at Tampa Bay

Lions coach Dan Campbell wants a team that knows they can win anywhere at any time.

They did just that in an impressive effort in Detroit’s 20-6 win over the Buccaneers at Tampa Bay on Sunday for a fourth straight win.

With the win, the Lions start the season 5-1 for the first time since 2011. They hang on to first in the NFC North and are now 13-3 in their last 16 games. They own the NFL best streak and franchise record long streak of 20-plus points in 15 straight games.

While it’s not a record-setter, the Lions have won all three of their road games.

“We know If you want to be a good team in this league you have to win on the road. We know that. They understand that. I think they look forward to it, I think we enjoy playing on the road, there’s something about it,’’ Campbell said.

Like the road wins in Kansas City and Green Bay, fans in Honolulu Blue were noticeable in Tampa.

“When you have the fans that travel with us – I feel like every game there’s more and more that are showing up,’’ Campbell said. “We got into this game at the end, up two scores, Tampa’s offense was out there on the field and I feel like they’re about to have to go into a silent cadence at their own place. … I tell you our players and coaches notice it.’’

That’s when the fans were cheering “Let’s Go Lions” which was heard on the telecast.

Again, it was a team win. The defense held the Bucs (3-2) — a team that had been averaging 21 points per game — to a pair of field goals.

“For the defense to only give up 6 points is saying a lot,’’ Campbell said.

Five reasons the Lions beat the Bucs:

1. The defense came up huge. While they only had one sack (by Julian Okwara) they pressured quarterback Baker Mayfield all day long. Will Harris intercepted Mayfield on the Bucs’ second possession, setting up a field goal to get the Lions rolling. Detroit has not allowed an opponent to gain 100 rushing yards in any of the first six games. The Bucs were held to 46 rushing yards. Linebacker Alex Anzalone was everywhere, finishing with a team-high nine tackles and two pass defenses. “He just continues to play at a very high level, he is an extremely smart football player and he’s playing as physical as I’ve ever seen him and he’s playing at a very high level,’’ Campbell said. “I think you’d be hard pressed to find ‘backers playing better than him in this league.’’

2. The defense held the Bucs to 2-of-12 on third-down attempts. That’s a rate of 16.7 percent, down considerably from their 47.4 percent rate in their first four games. Detroit’s defense also didn’t allow a rushing first down. On the other side the Lions offense was at its best, converting nine of 16 third downs at 56.3 percent.

3. Tampa’s defense was tough to handle for quarterback Jared Goff and the offense early on. But Goff stayed patient and, even though RB David Montgomery left early with a rib injury, they kept running the ball with Craig Reynolds getting the bulk of carries. Goff was precise, finding 10 different pass catchers and finishing 30 of 44 for 353 yards and two touchdowns. It was his second straight game without an interception. “I thought Jared Goff had an outstanding day. I thought he helped us win the game on offense,’’ Campbell said. “That’s a damn good defense that we faced, we knew that coming in here, they made it hard on us.’’

4. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was key with 12 catches for 124 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown reception. He caught that ball on the 20, got a key block from Craig Reynolds and made his way down the sideline to the end zone. “He’s a big player for us, he’s a clutch player that shows up and always makes plays. He as consistent player as you’re ever going to find in this league,’’ Campbell said. “You can count on it, it’ll be there, he just does things right and he’s ultra-competitive. Just having him back (he was out last week) is huge and he didn’t disappoint today.’’

5. Jameson Williams is still being worked into the offense in just his second game back from an NFL suspension. In the third quarter, he dropped a ball that was catchable and then two plays later, Goff showed his confidence in the young receiver throwing deep to him. Wiliams didn’t let him down, catching the 45-yard touchdown pass. “I thought he did a great job turning on the gas and getting to the back pylon and I love that Goff let it go, he saw it, trusted it and ripped it,’’ Campbell said. “(Williams) did a good job tracking that ball and making a huge play. I think that’s going to help his confidence. That’s one. That was good … I’m happy for him.’’ In two games, Williams now has four catches for 55 yards in two games.

UP NEXT: The Lions (5-1) at the Baltimore Ravens (4-2) at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 22. The Ravens topped the Titans, 24-16, on Sunday.