Tag: Alex Anzalone

Five things to watch as Lions look to improve playoff chances with win over the Rams

With playoff chances on the line again, the Lions hope to tap into the success they found in the win against the Dallas Cowboys last week when they face Matthew Stafford and the Rams in Los Angeles on Sunday.

A win would give the Lions (8-6) a 72-percent chance of making the playoffs while a loss would drop that percentage down around 30 percent. Huge difference.

The Rams (10-3) are seeking to win the NFC West over Seattle (10-3) and San Francisco (9-4).

Against the Cowboys, the Lions played some of their best complementary football this season. 

“Man, we were all  just clicking at the right time. It was like if something went against us, we lost a little bit of momentum, man, the other unit picked it up,’’ coach Dan Campbell said. “They shut it down. So, they score over there, we score. They score, we score. We fizzle out, defense gets a takeaway or gets the stop. They make a play, special teams, we get it to the 45. There’s a return to the minus-45, those are huge. That’s when – all the other stuff doesn’t matter. When you can do that in a game, that’s how you win games in this League.”

The last time Detroit and the Rams met was to open the 2024 season. The Lions pulled out a 26-20 overtime win. In January 2024, the Lions squeaked out a 24-23 playoff win in Detroit.

It’s an interesting recent history. Another chapter will be added on Sunday.

Five things to watch:

ONE: The Lions defense had three takeaways in the win over Dallas, they need to work some of that magic again.  “We were able to disrupt what they were doing, and it paid huge dividends. It got us three takeaways, or really two. Had a lateral that was huge. So, we’ve got to do that again,’’ Campbell said. “The front is just as important as the backend. These guys will understand what they’re getting ready to face. We know this is an outstanding quarterback, he’s got weapons, and they’re versatile. And like I said, very good coaching. We’ve got to find a way to get takeaways, you’ve got to do it. We’ve got to do it again.”

TWO: Prevent Matthew Stafford, the odds-on favorite for the League’s MVP, from throwing explosive passes downfield. Easier said than done as he will try to manipulate the Lions defense. “But at some point, if you just sit there and he’s baiting you, if you don’t move, he’s going to throw it. So, you’ve still got to move, it’s just understanding, you could be – he could be trying to move you here a little bit, he could be trying to manipulate you,’’ Campbell said. “You’ve got to play your keys, and look, we’ve got to get to him upfront. We’ve got to cause some disruption.’’

THREE: The linebackers once again must help out the beat-up secondary. Brian Branch is out for the season and Kerby Joseph won’t play following a setback in his recovery.  That makes linebacker Jack Campbell, Alex Anzalone and Derrick Barnes keys to the defensive success. “They’re big, and they’re one of the reasons – all of those guys were a factor, but man, we put a lot on our backers the other day. Some of those coverages we were playing a lot of, and that puts an enormous amount of stress on your linebackers,’’ Campbell said. “… So, the guys are going after the football and it shows, it pays dividends. You go after the football, you see what you hit, you make a concerted effort. One of your teammates gets him wrapped up, the other one comes in there and takes the ball away. Bite the football. And we’ve got to do it again, we have to.”

FOUR: A big deal has been made this week about the rematch between Stafford and Jared Goff. Both are in the upper echelon of NFL QBs this season — Stafford leads the NFL with 35 touchdown passes while Goff is second with 26. . Goff has made the best of the situation with a rebuilt offensive line. “He doesn’t blink. He doesn’t blink. I mean there’s times where he’s getting his butt kicked, he just gets right back up. That’s one of his strengths, he’s mentally tough,’’ offensive coordinator John Morton said.  “And his preparation is the key to our success, just like everybody. I mean our guys, they do a great job, our coaches do a great job preparing everybody. But when you’ve got a guy like that, it’s pretty special. And when things don’t go right and through his preparation, he sees certain things and gets to it just like he did a couple weeks ago. And it’s helped us. It’s helped us a few times. But run and pass, he always gets us in the right play.’’

FIVE: Dan Campbell has improved at calling the offense and getting the ball to RB Jahmyr Gibbs to run or his increasing role as a pass catcher. “He’s certainly filled some of those targets and catches for us, and he can just do so much. And it’s kind of like he’s just scratching the surface on his route running ability and what he can do out in the backfield,’’ Goff said. Campbell said Gibbs gives them a lot of flexibility. ”I’ve said this before, the more that we ask him to do, the better he gets and the more he can do. But he allows us to do a lot, so he’s a good player. He’s a good player and he’s only getting better,’’ the coach said.

LIONS INJURIES: OUT — S Kerby Joseph, DB Brian Branch, G Christian Mahogany and S Thomas Harper. QUESTIONABLE — LT Taylor Decker, WR Kalif Raymond, G Kayode Awosika, RB Sione Vaki and TE Shane Zylstra.

RAMS INJURIES: WR Davante Adams is questionable.

PREDICTION: Lions 28, Rams 27

Five reasons the Lions topped the Bengals for 4th straight win

It was smooth sailing for the Lions in Cincinnati, until the Bengals offense found a bit of life in the second half.

Down 28-3, the Bengals came back in the second half scoring 14 straight points on two touchdown passes from Jake Browning to wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Then another touchdown late in the fourth on a pass to Tee Higgins.

It wasn’t enough. The Lions won their fourth straight game with a 37-24 victory in Cincinnati late Sunday afternoon. In all four wins the Lions have scored 34 or more points.

“That’s a good win. We’ll take that. Do we have things to clean up, was it perfect? No, it wasn’t. But man we did what we needed to do,’’ coach Dan Campbell said. “I thought our guys were ready to compete, we fought. Once again we played complementary football. That’s what great teams do. We always find a way. I thought our defense came out hot, they set the tone for the game.’’

Campbell preaches complementary football every week and they provided it for him agains Sunday.

“When we need help the offense responds, we go all the way down the field, flush it out and open it back up again,’’ Campbell said. “I’m proud of the guys, that’s a good win.’’

Five reasons the Lions won:

ONE: Turnovers. “When you really start getting good at them, you start hunting for them. Our guys are hunting for them, they become contagious,’’ Campbell said. “This is the first time since I’ve been here that we’re getting them in bunches early in the year.’’ Bengals QB Jake Browning was intercepted three times, and the Lions scored following two of those. Credit Amik Robertson, Kerby Joseph and Alex Anzalone with interceptions. Linebacker Derrick Barnes sealed the win with a sack and safety with less than 2 minutes left. The defense came out on fire and made Browning’s life miserable early. Aidan Hutchinson’s strip sack early in the fourth was recovered by the Bengals. Hutchinson also had a safety negated on a penalty and was pressuring Browning all day.  

TWO: Jared Goff was sacked twice in the first half. One was a sack-fumble, recovered by the Bengals. It wasn’t all on Giovanni Manu, who was starting in place of the injured Taylor Decker, at left tackle, but Decker was missed. Campbell said Manu had ups and downs in his first NFL start. Goff had gone 3 straight games without being sacked. But credit the Bengals defense for sacking him twice more in the second half. Goff led the offense to a 14-3 half-time lead and after the Bengals closed the gap to 28-17, Goff led a five-minute drive resulting in a 12-yard touchdown pass to rookie WR Isaac TeSlaa. Goff finished 19-23 for 258 yards and three touchdowns. 

THREE: RB Jahmyr Gibbs scored on a 20-yard pass play from Goff. He is the first Lions player to produce four rushing TDs and one receiving TD through the first five games of a season since Jahvid Best in 2010. Gibbs has scored a TD in six-straight games against AFC opponents. He had 12 carries for 54 yards and two catches for 33 yards.

FOUR: RB David Montgomery was playing in his hometown of Cincinnati where he was a quarterback in high school. He’s still got the arm. On a wildcat play from the 3-yard line, he tossed a touchdown pass to Brock Wright. He also ran in from the 8-yard line to score. Sunday marked the 14th time that teammates had reached the endzone in the same game. All in all, a good homecoming. He finished with 18 carries for 65 yards. Campbell called Montgomery one of the team’s heartbeat guys, saying everyone respects him and roots for him.

FIVE:  The Lions defense was solid in the first quarter. They let up on the Bengals’ last drive of the first half which resulted in a field goal. However, Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase and Browning connected for a pair of touchdowns in the second half. With just three minutes left, Browning connected with Tee Higgins for a touchdown. 

BY THE NUMBERS: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown had 8 catches for 200 yards. He has passed Brett Perriman (5,244) for the fourth-most receiving yards in franchise history. .… TE Sam LaPorta caught 5 passes for 92 yards and a touchdown. … It was the 14th time that Montgomery and Gibbs have each reached the endzone in the same game. … Goff has tied an NFL record by completing 70 percent of his passes in six-straight road games. … LB Jack Campbell led defense with 11 tackles and a forced fumble.

UP NEXT: Lions (4-1) at Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20 p.m. on Sunday, Oct 12.  The Chiefs (2-2) play the Jaguars (3-1) on Monday night football.

Lions training camp notes: Rookie WRs continue to impress; Anzalone is back

ALLEN PARK — Two Lions rookie wide receivers — Isaac TeSlaa and Dominic L0vett — have been turning heads through the first six days of training camp. 

Saturday wrapped up with a 30-yard pass to TeSlaa from Hendon Hooker for a potential touchdown. The fans in the stands loved it.

Earlier Lovett, who was double-covered, made an amazing catch during team drills. 

Those were the highlights, but there were more impressive plays from the two.

“I would say both of them mentally have done a pretty good job. They picked it up pretty good, Scottie (Montgomery, wide receivers coach) is doing a heckuva job with him,’’ coach Dan Campbell said prior to Saturday’s workout.

“They’re getting all the reps, the mental, the walk-through and they take it on the field. I would say Lovett has popped more early out on the field, but I thought TeSlaa had a really good day (Friday). I can see the uptick now with him so he’s got to stack another good day but that was good to see and that was the first day of pads,’’ the coach added.

TeSlaa, who grew up a Lions fan in Hudsonville, Mich.,  was drafted in the third round out of Arkansas, while Lovett was a seventh-round pick out of Georgia.

One or both have a shot at making  the 53-man roster, especially if they can contribute on special teams.

“They’re doing good. I think we’re excited to see these young guys come in. The offense isn’t the easiest. We have a lot of moving parts but they’re doing a great job of getting the whole offense, getting an idea of the offense, going out there making plays,’’ wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown said.

As a veteran he said he tries to answer they questions and give them tips and reminders.

“At the end of the day I want them to play fast, don’t worry too much about being a rookie, trying to  impress the coaches, just go out there and play,’’ St. Brown said.

NOTES: Linebacker Alex Anzalone practiced for the first time since the start of training camp. He was sitting out with a hamstring. He is seeking a contract extension which is not done and he didn’t want to speak to the specifics.

— Martha Firestone Ford attended practice with her daughter Sheila Ford Hamp, principal owner and chair. Loud thanks were yelled from the fans when their golf cart stopped in front of the bleachers. 

— With the Hall of Fame game just days away, Campbell wants to see his rookies in game action. “I think all of those guys need to play in the game or games. I think our young guys, I see them playing in this game. Am I going to say it’s written in stone? No, I’m not. But I’d like to play those guys,’’ Campbell said. The Hall of Fame game on Thursday, July 31, in Canton, Ohio, is the first of four preseason games.

— Campbell was pleased with the first padded practice on Friday. “Loved the energy, we’ve got a lot to clean up but it was good. I thought they went back and forth, we got a little better on both sides of the ball which is what you’re looking for,’’ Campbell said on Saturday morning.

(UP NEXT: Lions have a day off on Sunday and then continue training camp on Monday.)