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Jared Goff, offense find rhythm as Lions topple Seahawks, 42-29

DETROIT — Dan Campbell preaches complementary football which he hadn’t seen consistently from his team this season even though they won two of the first three games.

That changed for the Detroit Lions on Monday night. The offense caught fire and the defense came up with a few big plays enabling the Lions to snap their three-game losing streak to the Seattle Seahawks with a 42-39 win at Ford Field.

In the first three games, the defense played well and the offense played just good enough.

On Monday night, Jared Goff played nearly a perfect game and he had plenty of help to bring the Lions record to 3-1.

“We knew this was coming offensively. Everybody did. You can’t worry about this and that, you can’t start panicking, you just work and clean everything up,’’ Campbell said. “… We worked and it showed. We found our rhythm.’’

Goff was 18 of 18 for 292 yards and two touchdowns. And he caught a touchdown pass from Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Campbell said he knew Goff played well but didn’t realize he was near perfect.

“I gave the game ball to somebody else, I feel awful,’’ Campbell said. “I knew he played really well. You could feel it. He found his rhythm early, I thought he was seeing the field,played with rhythm.”.

He gave game balls to WR Jameson Williams and CB Kerby Joseph.

“Everybody on that offense stepped and found a rhythm today,’’ Campbell said.

Five reasons the Lions won:

ONE: Goff earned a quarterback rating just shy of perfect. He also became the first quarterback in NFL history to attempt 10 passes in a game without throwing an incompletion.

“I don’t think I’ve ever done it. I know I did it in the first half last week. I was aware of it then. I was kind of aware of it today about middle of the third quarter. I couldn’t think of one. Then I threw the one out of bounds that ended up being offensive pass interference. I was like does that count? (It didn’t.) It was a good day,’’ Goff said.

The Seahawks had entered the game with a 3-0 record.

“That defense had done a good job up to this point and we were able to get after them,’’ Goff said.

TWO: Another first for Goff was a touchdown catch. “I think that’s my first one ever all the way back to 7 years old,’’ he said.

The play, that’s been around for a couple years, is called Alcatraz and Goff has no idea why.

On a second-and-goal from Seattle’s 7-yard line, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown passed the ball to Goff in the end zone.

“We’ve never gotten into the right situation to get it called,’’ Goff said. “I think we have called it but if it’s not the right look I get out of it. But that was the right look.’’ It put the Lions up by 14 points.

THREE: Wide receiver Jameson Williams had just two catches but one was for 70 yards and a touchdown. His speed just was too much for Seattle’s secondary and he high-stepped into the end zone. As a tribute to Calvin Johnson, to celebrate Williams dunked the ball over the goal post.

“He’s a one-play touchdown guy, I know he strikes fear in every team we play. They’re going to see that and start getting more fear,’’ Goff said. “He’s a stud.’’

He received a game ball not just for his two catches but Campbell said they noticed his key blocks throughout the game.

FOUR: Running backs David Montgomery and Jaymyr Gibbs combined for three rushing touchdowns. Montgomery’s longest play came on a short pass — his only catch in the game – that he turned into a 40-yard gain by spinning and breaking tackles along the way.

“This guy, unbelievable, he is. I would never not block for that guy ever, because the play is never over with him,’’ Campbell said. “He’s tough, he’s relentless, he’s resilient, everything you’d want in a back.’’

Montgomery finished with a dozen carries for 40 yards and a rushing touchdown.

Gibbs had 14 carries for 78 yards and a pair of rushing touchdowns. His 20-yard scamper in the first quarter set up the Lions first touchdown.

FIVE: The Seahawks ran 78 offensive plays and by late in the game the defense might have been dragging a bit. But late in the fourth quarter they came up with a huge goal-line stand. Seattle had the ball, first-and-goal, at Detroit’ 3-yard line and they were stopped four times and turned the ball over on downs. And then with a minute left Kerby Joseph intercepted Geno Smith in the end zone to put the game away. The Seahawks finished with 516 yards and Smith passed for 395. But with the game on the line, the defense came up big.

BONUS: A dozen penalties is too many. Campbell knows that but he was not pulling out his hair.

“I have to watch tape but I can tell you just about everyone that I saw Carlton (Davis) is battling, that’s a good receiver he’s on, that guy is a physical receiver and Carlton is physical. We played ball,’’ Campbell said. “I’m not discouraged about that one bit. I’m just not. There’s things we have to clean up. … We can’t survive 12 penalties every game but we needed to be physical.’’

UP NEXT: The Lions have a bye week which will give them time to heal a bit. It’s a banged-up group. “We played some physical opponents these first four weeks. So I do think it’s coming at a good time,’’ Campbell said. “And it’s good to get to 3-1 with this bye, we rest up, heal up and then we make a big push.’’ They play at the Cowboys on Oct. 13.

Five things to watch as Lions face undefeated Seahawks; injury update, prediction

Wearing basic black, the Detroit Lions will look to snap their three-game losing streak to the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night at Ford Field. Detroit has lost to Seattle for three straight seasons, including a 37-31 overtime loss last September.

The all-black alternate uniforms were last a Lions wardrobe staple from 2005 to 2007 when they were worn twice a season. They have a certain appeal to players and fans too but it will take more than cool-looking black duds to defeat the Seahawks.

The Seahawks (3-0) have outscored opponents 73-43 starting the season with three straight wins. The Lions (2-1) would like to extend their win streak heading into the bye week.

Campbell said there are no higher stakes in this matchup.

“I told the team, ‘Everything’s about one this week. It’s about one and that’s today, one day. It’s about one rep, it’s one week, it’s one game, it’s one win and just focus on that.’ I think we have to get back to honing our craft a little bit. We’re going to do some one-on-ones and pad them up early and then take them off, but just so we get back in the – you start getting in the game plan for weeks and you start focusing so much on the plan. Sometimes you forget about the fundamentals,’’ Campbell said. “You don’t mean to, it just kind of – so this is a way to refocus ourselves, get back to the craft of what we do, the one-one-ones, running routes, covering, one-on-one pass pro in protection up front with the backs, tight ends, all of that. So, that’s the focus.”

Five things to watch as Lions face the Seahawks:

ONE: The Lions’ offense is still catching up to the defense and special teams three games in. While it scored 20 points in the first half in the win over the Cardinals, it was held scoreless in the second half.

Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson expects more of his group and said they have yet to play a 60-minute game on offense. “The first half (in Arizona) certainly felt more like things that have been going our way in the past, but I guess that second half, when you turn on the tape, I think there were plays to be had and we just didn’t capitalize on it,’’ Johnson said. “…. Fortunately, our defense and special teams have been playing really, really well. I know it’s coming, we’re just too talented of a group to not have more production and more points than what we’ve had and so it’s just a matter of time before we break through.”

TWO: It isn’t lost on Jared Goff that Seattle’s pass defense is the best in the NFL. “They’ve got good players, they’ve got good schemes. (CB Devon), Witherspoon, just flies around, he’s a great player. I think (CB Riq) Woolen’s been a great player for a long time,’’ Goff said. “They’ve got a lot of good players over there, man. They’re really well-coached, you can tell, and they play hard.”

THREE: The Lions defense will be making adjustments due to the season-ending injury to DL Marcus Davenport and the injury to Derrick Barnes. DL Josh Paschal gets the call to fill in for Davenport. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said the similarity between the two is they are both able to rush with power. “Obviously, Davenport’s the longer guy so he has a couple more tools that he can use than Paschal, but Paschal is more squatty, to the ground, so he’s able to use his spin moves and things like that to win,’’ Glenn said. “But they both have advantages between each other that they can go out there and be successful.”

Glenn said someone has to step up to fill in for Barnes and the linebacker room has plenty of talent.

“Things change, players change, defense changes at times depending on who you have as players, and we have to do everything we can to figure out what guy’s going to play that role and what defense can we play to go out there and be successful,’’ Glenn said.

FOUR: In leading the Seahawks to three wins, Geno Smith has completed 74.8 percent of his passes (compared to 66 percent for Goff. “Geno plays really good football. This scheme is good for him. It allows him to get up there, they do some no huddle and he can see what the defense is doing, get the best play available, calm, cool, collected, and as the game goes on, the longer you keep him in it, let them play with their rhythm,’’ Campbell said. “Geno’s going to find it and there’s been some confusion, different areas, first three games where they’ve hurt teams, gotten big plays to (DK) Metcalf. So, we have our hands full but we’re looking forward to it. Our place, Monday night, our guys are ready to go, they’ll be ready to go.”

FIVE: The Lions defense is ranked fourth in the NFL in rushing defense but expects more of a challenge from running backs Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker. “(Walker) is very explosive, he’s dynamic with these jump cuts, he has a really good stiff arm, so you have to be able to run through tackles and understand that’s how he operates as a runner. We have to gang tackle, and that’s both of those guys,’’ Glenn said. “And I know you guys know about us, everything’s still make sure we stop the run and try to make a team one dimensional. So, it’s going to be a challenge. It’s going to be a challenge to stop both of those guys.”

LIONS INJURY UPDATE: C Frank Ragnow (pectoral) is out; DB Brian Branch (illness) is doubtful; CB Ennis Rakestraw (hamstring) is questionable; S Ifeatu Melifonwu moved to IR; others including TE Sam LaPorta will play.

SEAHAWKS INJURY UPDATE: DE Leonard Williams, LB Boye Mafe, DT Byron Murphy II, LB Uchenna Nwosu are out; LB Jerome Baker is questionable.

PREDICTION: Lions 28, Seahawks 24

Calvin Johnson to be inducted into Detroit Lions ring of honor on Monday

Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson will be inducted into the Pride of the Lions ring of honor at halftime during Monday night’s Detroit Lions game against the Seahawks at Ford Field.
Coach Dan Campbell, who was Johnson’s teammate for two seasons, has a behind-the-scenes perspective.

“I’ve said this I don’t know how many times, but I’ll continue to say, I think what’s unique about Calvin — I was fortunate to play with him, it wasn’t very long and he was a pup — when you have the ability that guy has, the things God gave him, and then he gives everything he’s got, he worked at his craft, he was an unselfish player, he was a great teammate,’’ Campbell said on Saturday.

“It’s no wonder he’s a Hall of Famer. Those guys, they’re kind of rare, very rare. I just think he was the total package as a player, as a teammate, as a person and it speaks volumes for the team, the organization to have him back in the fold, to be able to honor him because he deserves that, he’s earned that,’’ Campbell added. “He’s a helluva dude.”

Johnson, who played for nine seasons, holds numerous Lions pass receiving records including: career receptions – 731, receiving yards – 11,619, receiving touchdowns – 83, most receiving yards in a single game in regulation – 329. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and voted to the first team All-Pro three times.

He set the NFL record for most receiving yards in a season (1,964) on Dec. 22, 2012, while playing with broken fingers. In that loss to the Falcons, Johnson finished with 225 yards on 11 catches.

In the book, “Game of My Life Lions” (written by me), Johnson said that was definitely his most memorable game. He needed 182 yards to break Jerry Rice’s record, but there wasn’t a ton of pressure because one game remained.

His first catch that day was a 49-yard bomb from Matthew Stafford.

“Coming off the first reception, right off the bat early in the game, I went to the sideline, don’t know who I was talking to, my coach, he might have said we don’t (have to) worry today,’’ Johnson said in the book.

After the record-breaking catch, he found his father on the sidelines and presented him with the football.

Nicknamed ‘Megatron’ he also holds a number of NFL receiving records including most receiving yards in a single season – 1,964 yards (2012), fastest to 11,000 receiving yards (127 games), most consecutive games with at least 10 receptions (4), most 100-yard receiving games in a single season (11, tied with Michael Irvin), most seasons with 1,600 yards receiving – 2 (tied with 3 others).

Johnson retired in 2016 and has been frequently seen at Ford Field games for the past few seasons.. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

It’s fitting that Johson’s honor comes on Lions homecoming weekend. He’s expected to have 92 former Lions join him on the field for his induction at half-time. They include old-timers like Greg Landry and Eddie Murray; long-timers like Jason Hanson and Robert Porcher; and some of Johnson’s teammates like Golden Tate, Stephen Tulloch and Glover Quin.