Lions Dan Campbell on his continuing message to Jared Goff: Cut it loose

ALLEN PARK — Lions quarterback Jared Goff, coming off a 5-touchdown game in the win over the Broncos, will face new challenges against a tough Vikings (7-7) defense on Sunday. With a win, the Lions (10-4) would capture the NFC North title. 

Coach Dan Campbell said his message to Goff this week is the same. The coach is not bothered by the fact that six of Goff’s 10 interceptions have come against NFC North opponents. He doesn’t blame Goff completely for the turnovers.

“He’s done a good job and I think really the most important thing is, cut it loose. That’s the message, it’s not the other way,’’ Campbell said on Wednesday. “I go back to this, he’s one of the biggest reasons we’re sitting at 10-4. Right now it’s him playing loose and trust what your eyes see, play the progression and throw with conviction.’’

Campbell said it doesn’t mean bad things won’t happen if Goff lets it fly, but then they have to find a way to overcome it.

“We sure don’t want him tightening up and worrying about all of that. Just go out like he did last week, put the work in and cut it loose,’’ the coach said.

Goff ranks third in the NFL with most 20-plus yard passes with 59 – behind Brock Purdy and C.J. Stroud. He also ranks third in most 20-plus yard touchdown passes with 11, behind Tua Tagovailoa and Purdy who each have a dozen.

His five touchdown passes last week matches the franchise record and his own single-game career high. 

“That’s the farthest thing we’re from here is conservative and Dan sets the tone on that certainly for our whole team and his attitude,’’ Goff said. “We follow suit.”

In Week 15, Goff surpassed 25 passing touchdowns on the season becoming the first player in franchise history to throw for at least 25 touchdowns in consecutive seasons. He had 29 in the 2022 season.

Seahawks’ win over Eagles forces Lions to wait to clinch a playoff berth

Thanks to a last-minute Seattle Seahawks’ game-winning touchdown, the Detroit Lions will have to wait to clinch a playoff berth which would be their first since 2016. The Seahawks topped the Philadelphia Eagles, 20-17, on Monday night. It was the third straight loss for the Eagles (10-4).

The Lions (10-4) have three games left to solidify the NFC North title which has been their goal since the season started.

“We came into this saying we have got to win this division, that’s the goal, that’s what it is,’’ coach Dan Campbell said on Monday afternoon. “If something happens between now and then, hey that’s all good, but that is our focus.

“We talked about that this morning as a team. That was the focus when we entered it and that’s still the focus. We’re going to do everything we can to win this division and there’s nothing that’s going to be easy about it. We have to go out to Minneapolis and face the Vikings who are a very dangerous team and find a way to win it and get this division,’’ the coach added.

First the Lions play at the Minnesota Vikings (7-7) on Sunday at 1 p.m. Then they will face the Dallas Cowboys (10-4), who got rolled by the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 30. Then to wrap up the regular season they play the Vikings at Ford Field on Jan. 7.

The last time the Lions won a playoff game was Jan. 5, 1992, when they beat the Dallas Cowboys 38-6. Erik Kramer threw three touchdown passes, Barry Sanders scampered 47 yards for a touchdown and Cowboys’ QB Troy Aikman was sacked 3 times and threw an interception.

The Lions thought it was their year, but lost 41-10 at the Washington then-Redskins in the NFC Championship game when Sanders was held to 44 yards rushing. Kramer threw one touchdown, was intercepted once and fumbled three times (losing one). 

Since then the Lions have lost nine playoff games dating back to the 1991 playoffs. Eight of those have been on the road. They lost, 28-24, to the Green Bay Packers at the Silverdome in the 1993 playoffs. In that one Sanders had 169 rushing yards.

Dan Campbell: Lions won’t hold anything back in first of 2 games against Vikings

Also updates on injuries, roster moves

ALLEN PARK — The Lions won’t hold anything back when they face the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday for a chance to clinch the NFC North division title.

In a strange scenario, they’ll face the Vikings twice in the last three weeks with a trip to the Dallas Cowboys in-between. The final regular season contest is against the Vikings at Ford Field on Jan. 7.

Lions coach Dan Campbell said the Vikings are a different team offensively and defensively than last season when Detroit split with Minnesota.

“It’s a little bit of a fresh take on them somewhat. That’s a good thing. Our whole focus is this is the first one, so let’s dive into let’s put the best gameplan we can,’’ Campbell said on Monday. 

The Lions (10-4) are coming off an impressive 42-17 win over the Denver Broncos while the Vikings (7-7) lost  27-24 in overtime to Cincinnati on Saturday.

“We can’t worry about game 2. After this, after Dallas, we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it,’’ Campbell said. “We can’t hold anything back, this is it, everything is about finding a way to get this one – the best gameplan we can possibly put together.’’

The Lions could clinch a playoff berth if Seattle loses to the Eagles on Monday Night Football. 

That would be great with Campbell, but the Lions’ focus on winning the NFC North remains clear.

“For us, that’s all you have to worry about. Let’s clean up what we clean up. We cleaned up the things from the Denver game with the team today — this is where we have to get better, this is what we did well, this is where we continue to go,’’ Campbell said. “We’ll put together a great game plan for these guys and we’ll know what we have to do against Minnesota.

INJURY/ROSTER UPDATE

LB Derrick Barnes injured his shoulder in Saturday’s win but returned to the game in the second half. WR Jameson Williams was banged up too, but Campbell said both appear to be fine.

Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and fullback Jason Cabinda will open their practice window this week. Gardner-Johnson suffered a torn pec in Week 2. Cabinda has been on injured reserve since Week 3.

Also, Campbell said rookie QB Hendon Hooker will likely be moved to the active roster.

UP NEXT: Lions at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 24.