Lions QB Jared Goff confident going against Raiders on Monday night

Goff’s 3 thoughts on Crosby, Gibbs and JMo

ALLEN PARK — Jared Goff, like the rest of the Lions, is not in panic mode because they lost a game — and lost it badly — to the Ravens on Sunday.

The Lions are still 5-2, remain in first place in the NFC North and just have to get back on track against the Oakland Raiders (3-4) on Monday Night Football.

Some fans are quite agitated, but not Goff.

“It’s a rollercoaster outside of our building at times, for every team in the League. It’s no different for us, but in here, it’s pretty ‘steady Eddy’ and ready to respond this week,’’ Goff said on Thursday.

The quarterback said they will learn more about themselves on Monday night.

Five thoughts from Goff:

1. The Raiders defense has been solid in taking away chunk plays. There’s a reason for that. “I think they do a good job of rushing, obviously. We’ve talked about  Maxx (Crosby) a few times,’’ Goff said. “Obviously, him rushing the passer, as well as a few of their other guys that can rush the passer. And they’re good on the backend too, so they’re good at limiting that stuff. It’s going to be our job to try to find them in different ways and see if we can get more than other teams have.”

2. While most of the Lions didn’t play well in the loss, rookie RB Jahmyr Gibbs stepped up and showed that he’s quickly maturing into a solid NFL running back.”He can catch the ball in the backfield, we can hand it to him, he can do all sorts of things. He’ll get another big workload this week I would imagine with David (Montgomery) still out. And yeah, it’ll be good,’’ Goff said. Goff said Gibbs is very smart, a quick learner and they’re excited to see him continue to grow.

3. Goff said he just has to keep working with WR Jameson Williams who was targeted six times against the Ravens, but didn’t make a catch and had at least two drops. “It’s so early in his career and his development. I just keep working, keep working with him, building that trust with him and getting on the same page,’’ Goff said. “He’s working his tail off at practice and has done a great job trying to get better every week and I expect to see his development continue.” Williams’ speed is his biggest asset and early on, Goff had to adjust for that speed when passing to him but the two are more comfortable now. “I think I’m past that now where I know his speed and we’ve got a good rapport in that way. But yeah, it’s just getting on the same page with everything and, again, it’s just so early in his career and his development that it’s just reps, it’s just reps, it’s just time and it’s a matter of time before everything starts to click for him in our offense.”

Lions Dan Campbell shoulders blame for loss to Ravens; promises team will be ready to face Raiders

It will be back to fundamentals in practice this week

ALLEN PARK — The disappointment of the 38-6 loss at Baltimore will motivate coach Dan Campbell and the Lions to be ready to face the Las Vegas Raiders on the upcoming Monday Night Football. On Monday, Campbell took 100 percent of the blame for not having the team prepared and promised they will be ready for the Raiders.

“I think what’s disappointing is, losing itself really stings, but the fact we were never even in that game that’s what burns. That’s the burn of it, that more than anything. You just want to know you’re in the fight and when you weren’t that’s a real bitter pill,’’ Campbell said at his Monday press conference.

The Lions were down 14-0 in the first quarter to the Ravens and 28-0 at the half. Detroit’s defense couldn’t handle quarterback Lamar Jackson and the offense could never get in a rhythm. 

“You see what it is, when you step back and you look at a number of performances that were very much sub-par across the board it’s not a coincidence. I did not do a good job of getting them ready. I did not,’’ Campbell said. 

“They did everything right over there, we did everything wrong. As good as they played on that side, which they earned that win, we certainly helped them and served it up on a platter for them,’’ the coach added.

Campbell said there’s a need to get back to fundamentals prior to facing the Raiders (3-4) who lost, 30-12, to the Bears on Sunday. He elaborated: “Our one-on-one work, our technique work, good-on-good, one-on-one pass rush, one-on-one man-to-man coverage, one-to-one getting open on routes, our releases, our handwork.

“You hope you got enough fundamentals through camp and you know what, you have to go back to it,’’ he said. “I know that’s where I can help with a little more intensity and urgency which I can deliver myself. I can help these guys, I know I can.’’

Every game is important because it’s the next but Campbell threw in another bit of caution on Monday.

“All I know is we’ve got to bounce back, that’s the most important thing. At the end of the day we’re 5-2, and where we’re going to have a problem is if we back it up with another loss,’’ Campbell said. “To me there’s a ton to learn off this tape for myself, to the coaches and for these players. But we’ve got to own it.’’

NOTES: Safety Kerby Joseph is out of concussion protocol after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit late in Sunday’s loss.. … RB Mohamed Ibrahim dislocated his hip in the game, was taken to Baltimore-area hospital where he was put under anesthesia to put it back in place. He was back at the Lions facility on Monday, but Campbell said he’s in pain and will not be able to play for a while.

Lions Dan Campbell credits Ravens, says 38-6 loss was self-induced

Five reasons the Lions were embarrassed; with injury updates

Until Sunday at Baltimore, the Lions prided themselves on playing complementary football. The 5-1 record was a result of solid play by all three units. If needed one would step up when the other faltered. Under Dan Campbell they were poised no matter the situation.

It was all different on Sunday when the Ravens pounded the Lions, 38-6, in a smackdown that no one saw coming. The Ravens were a slight favorite but most expected a close, hard-fought game. Not a total embarrassment.

“It’s self-induced. Those guys played well, they kicked our ass. It’s a credit to them. Lamar (Jackson) beat us, he hammered us with his arm. He threw the ball extremely well, he ran when he needed to and we did not handle it well,’’ Campbell said. “Our energy was good which was crazy but our detail and discipline which has been so good over the last 4-5 weeks was not good enough. 

“Self-induced that was a combination of a lot of different things. Just like we win as a team, we lose as a team and that was one of those,’’ the coach added.

The offense’s first two series were three-and-outs while the Ravens scored touchdowns on their two possessions. It’s a hard recipe to overcome. Baltimore led 28-0 at the half.

“Offensively we never got in a rhythm early. They were playing with house money, you get up by a certain portion in that game then they’re kind of doing whatever they want to do,’’ Campbell said. “They’re out of their tendencies because why not.’’

So now the Lions are 5-2, still in first place in the NFC North, and they’ve got an extra day to prepare for the Las Vegas Raiders who they will play on Monday Night Football on Oct. 30 at Ford Field.

Campbell said last week this team would go through a rough patch and the true test would be how they handle it. He echoed the same thought after the loss.

“You don’t want these (losses) to happen, when it does it re-centers you, it refocuses you. And that’s all I know. I don’t want it to happen, nobody wants it to happen,’’ Campbell said. “Nobody likes to look over there and watch them having a great time because they kicked our ass. Nobody thinks that’s fun. I know that motivates me for next week and that motivates our team. … The shame would be if we don’t use this to get better for next week and it bleeds over into the Raiders. That would be the ultimate shame.’’

Five of the many reasons the Lions lost:

1. Lamar Jackson had a career day. He was scary good, but it was, at least in part, because the Lions’ defense appeared clueless. Campbell said it was execution rather than gameplan. “The combination of not getting much pressure and having to cover a long time, we didn’t handle it well,’’ Campbell said. Ravens’ pass catchers were typically wide open. They allowed 10 explosive plays of 20 yards or more (eight of them in the first half). Jackson finished 21 of 27 for 357 yards and 3 touchdowns plus nine carries for 36 yards and a rushing touchdown. The Lions were down 28-0 at the half, so if you’re searching for a silver lining, the defense gave up just 10 points in the second half.

2. Jared Goff didn’t get much time to operate since the defense couldn’t get the Ravens off the field. When he did, he didn’t look like the Goff we saw in the first six games. The Lions’ only score came on a 21-yard touchdown run by Jahmyr Gibbs in the fourth quarter. After just 97 net yards in the first half, they improved in the second half finishing with 337 yards. Goff was 33 of 53 with 284 yards and one interception.

3. This loss just can’t be pinned on one guy or one unit. It was not due to too many turnovers or an abundance of penalties. “That was a combination of a lot of different things. Just like we win as a team, we lose as a tema and that was one of those,’’ Campbell said. Yes, they missed RB David Montgomery and CB Jerry Jacobs but those absences are no excuse. Let’s call it “uncomplementary football.” Just bad. Really bad. Still, it’s not the end of the season.

4. Wide receiver Jameson Williams was not the reason for the loss, but he showed no signs of progress. He was targeted six times and didn’t make a catch. He dropped at least two. One deep pass late in the game hit him in the facemask. 

5. With David Montgomery out, rookie Jahmyr Gibbs was the top guy. He scored his first NFL touchdown on a 21-yard scamper and finished with 11 carries for 68 yards and nine catches for 58 yards. “I thought he took a step forward today,’’ Campbell said, adding that the more he plays the better he will get. 

NOTES: Mo Ibrahim, who injured his hip in the third quarter returning a kick, had surgery at a Baltimore-area hospital and will spend the night there. It was his first NFL snap. … Kerby Joseph led the defense with 10 tackles. He took a helmet-to-helmet hit late in the game by Odell Beckham Jr. and went into concussion protocol. No penalty was called. … WR Kalif Raymond left the game late but it was just cramps. Campbell said he’ll be fine. … The Lions defense never sacked Jackson while Goff was sacked five times. … LB Malcolm Rodriguez started at fullback. Campbell said they’ve been intrigued by him and wanted to find another way to use him. He hasn’t played much on defense, but is a key on special teams.

NEXT UP: Raiders (3-4) at Lions (5-2), 8:15 p.m., at Ford Field on Oct. 30. Las Vegas lost to the Bears, 30-12, on Sunday.