Tag: Ben Johnson

Super Bowl preview? Five things to watch as Lions welcome Bills

In what could be a Super Bowl preview, the Detroit Lions (12-1) host the Buffalo Bills (10-3) at Ford Field on Sunday.

It’s a good angle but not one that the Lions are emphasizing.

“The head coach said it best early this week, we have earned a spot in the tournament based on what we’ve done thus far. We still need to win the division, we still want to get the No. 1  seed, and everything will play out from there. But that’s all way too far out in the future right now,’’ offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said.

While the Bills, who lead the AFC East, are coming off a loss to the Rams, the Lions have won 11 straight despite having 13 defensive players on injured reserve.

No excuses, the Lions just march forward and keep winning.

“This whole year has felt like he’s preparing this club for these type of moments. Not just these type of moments but moments like fourth-and-1 where we were all excited when it happened and when it went down because we understand what we’ve been prepared to do,’’ Lions running backs coach Scottie Montgomery said.

“Coaches, players, administration, everybody we’re on the same page so we understand what’s going on. We’re happy to be in these moments and our guys understand the reason this is a big game is because they’re in it. That’s one big part – it wouldn’t be a big football game if we weren’t playing at a certain level,’ he added.

Coach Dan Campbell said the Lions need to be playing their best football.

“You don’t know what it’s going to take to beat the team that you’re getting ready to play. You don’t know what that’s going to be. We know that this is a good football team, I don’t know what it’s going to take. We know that Green Bay is a damn good team. We did just enough, but you don’t know what it’s going to take with the rest of these teams down the line and you don’t know exactly who’s going to be in, you don’t know – and so are you willing to say that it’s good enough right now? I’m not,’’ Campbell said. “I don’t want to take that chance, so we have to clean some things up and we will.”

Five things to watch:

ONE: The Lions running game was not up to standard in the win over Green Bay. Running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs had one of their less productive games but it is not all on them. “You’re going to get four or five opportunities in a game where everything is blocked correctly – everything the perimeter, center, the interior – those have to be explosives. I’m not saying that happened this week but we have got to continue to make sure it happens,’’ running backs coach Scottie Montgomery said. “Then when there’s a 4-yard run you have to be able to get 5.’’ 

TWO: The defensive line welcomes back four who have been injured which will help in pressuring quarterback Josh Allen and  stopping running back James Cook. Alim McNeill, Levi Onwuzurike, Josh Paschal and D.J. Reader are all a go for Sunday.  “We’re going to put a lot on our defense this week. Our defense and special teams are going to play a critical factor in this game,’’ Campbell said. “So, yeah, it’s critical, but it’s going to take all three phases here and I expect our defense to play well.”

THREE: Lions secondary faces challenge in Josh Allen who has completed 64.1 percent of his passes and thrown just five interceptions against 23 touchdowns. Allen’s mobility is also something to watch. “I think they have an offense to where, man, they are distributing the ball to a number of different people, and I know they’re going to get some people back this week who are a huge part of their offense, so that’s going to be something we have to be ready for, also,’’ Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said. “But, man, this quarterback, he’s an MVP-caliber guy, there’s no doubt about that, and we know that. But we’re going to go out there and do everything we can to stop what he’s trying to do. It’s going to be a tough challenge and we know it.”

FOUR: Quarterback Jared Goff has kept the offense running smoothly so far and needs to keep going against the Billls. Goff and Ben Johnson work closely each week to help develop the game plan. “The things that he’s most comfortable with usually work on game days, so we want to give him a lot of liberty early in the week, ‘Hey, I think we can get a post if we do this or that.’ And we’ll try to find a way to make that an alert for him if we can call it against the right coverage,’’ Johnson said. “So, it’s just, call it an hour every day over the course of the week. We’ve got a good process right now from Monday to Sunday that we just keep pressing the reset button every week. We can’t get tired of it. But he’s doing a great job of that.”

FIVE: Lions must continue success on third downs.They’re ranked fourth best in the NFL while the Bills third down defense is near the bottom at 25th. In the win over the Packers, Detroit was four of five on fourth downs, they may be just as aggressive on Sunday while waiting for some key defensemen to heal up and get back in the game. 

LIONS INJURY UPDATE: LB Trevor Nowaske (concussion) is out. All others, who are not on injured reserve, are cleared.

BILLS INJURY UPDATE:CB Rasul Douglas is out. OL Tylan Grable, S Damar Hamlin, TE Dalton Kincaid, TE Quintin MOrris, S Taylor Rapp, DE Dawuane Smoot, LB Baylon Spector and DE Casey Toohill are questionable.

PREDICTION: Lions 35, Bills 31

Aside from grass stains, 5 things to watch as Lions face Packers at Lambeau

Lions coach Dan Campbell can’t wait to get to Lambeau Field on Sunday for a big divisional game with the Green Bay Packers (5-2) who have won four straight and his Lions (6-1) who have won five in a row.

“How exciting this is, to be able to play these types of games, these big-time games, environment, division game on the road, at a place that’s – it’s one of those things that God created, it’s where football began a little bit,’’ Campbell said.

“So anyway, we’re looking forward to this. We’ll be in the elements, which is great. This is like one of those – you hope for this. I think we’ll be all-white, so we’ll have the grass stains and everything rolling, man, it’s going to be good old football, the way it’s meant to be played. So, excited, great opponent, but our guys are fired up, man, they’re looking forward to this,’’ the coach added.

Rain is in the forecast for Green Bay which could add a little mud to the grass stains.

“ I think (rain) evens the playing ground across the board, really. It can neutralize rushers, it can neutralize speed, change of direction, but at the end of the day, here’s what you do know, whoever can get their feet in the ground and don’t slip, those are going to be your best players on Sunday in the elements, and we have some of those guys, a lot of them,’’ Campbell said. “So, we’re looking forward to it. Look, they play on that grass, they understand what it is, and it won’t be new to them either and they’ve got plenty of good players. So, I just think it’s great, it’s a throwback to football and it’s good.”

Five things to watch: 

ONE: Packers quarterback Jordan Love is officially questionable with a groin injury that limited him in practice this week after injuring it last Sunday. He could be a gametime decision. Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said he’s prepared whether Love plays or if Malik Willis gets his third start. “ We don’t know who’s going to play, but we will have a plan for both of those guys. And the offense is not just totally different offense for those guys, we just know what they both bring to the table,’’ Glenn said. “The only thing that you will see is probably more run oriented with Malik than Jordan, and we’ll have a plan for that.”  Love is more interception prone — he has nine against 15 touchdowns — and has been picked off at least once in every game. Willis in a limited role has thrown three touchdowns and zero interceptions.

TWO: The Lions have given up an average of 148.5 rushing yards in each of the last two weeks. It doesn’t get easier trying to stop Packers RB Josh Jacobs. “lThere’s a tick-up on how they’re operating as far as the violence and the physical nature of the game because of who they have running the ball,’’ Glenn said. “So, it’s going to be a challenge for us and we have to do everything we can to make sure we stop that because if you let that happen, that’s not good for a defense to allow a team to run the ball and then be able to have the play-action passes that they have with these receivers that they have. So, we have to do a good job in that aspect.” Jacobs has been limited this week with an ankle injury.

THREE: Campbell said the game could come down to one mistake. The turnover battle will be key and the Lions and Packers are the top two NFL teams in takeaways. The Lions have 15 (four of them in the 52-14 win over the Titans), the Packers have 19. Detroit has the advantage in giveaways with only five on the season which is tied for fourth in the NFL. Goff has gone four straight games without an interception. The Packers have a dozen giveaways. Jordan Love has thrown nine interceptions with at least one in each game. Willis, in a limited role, has thrown three touchdowns and zero interceptions.

FOUR: The Lions have averaged an insane 43 points in the last four games. Can the offense be stopped? Bill Belichick doesn’t see that happening. He explained it to Jared Goff on the SiriusXM show “Let’s Go” this week.  “Honestly it’s impossible, I think, for a defense to really stop your offense, there are too many weapons. The offensive line’s too good. Blitzing is not the answer. Not blitzing is not the answer. In playing you guys, to me it would just be hang on and try to create as many long drives and as many long situations as possible. But that’s hard because you have so many explosive players and you do such a good job at distributing the ball.” Jared Goff joined Belichick and Jim Gray on their Sirius XM show, “Let’s Go” this week.

FIVE: Resilience must be a part of the Lions’ GRIT equation. It’s a trait they seem to have in abundance. Aidan Hutchinson lost for the season? The defense finds a way to win and moves forward. Jameson Williams suspended again? The team scores seven touchdowns without him. Hutchinson is not the only key guy to be sidelined with injuries, there are plenty and the Lions keep winning. “I haven’t been a part of a team built this tough from top to bottom,’’ said Scottie Montgomery, assistant head coach/running backs.

LIONS INJURY UPDATE: DL Josh Paschal (illness), LB Malcolm Rodriguz (ankle) and DT Brodric Martin (knee) are out; DL Mekhi Wingo (ankle) and RB Sione Vaki (knee) are doubtful. Note: WR Jameson Williams is suspended for this game.

PACKERS INJURY UPDATE: S Evan Williams (hamstring) is out; C/G Josh Myers (wrist) is doubtful; QB Jordan Love (groin), RB Josh Jacobs (ankle) and CB Jaire Alexander (knee) are questionable.

PREDICTION: Lions 45, Packers 35

Six Lions score TDs, as Detroit rolls over Titans 52-14, improves record to 6-1

DETROIT — It didn’t matter that the Tennessee Titans had only managed one win, the Detroit Lions were primed for a battle on Sunday. When it was over — heck even at the half — there was no doubt the Lions were not overlooking the Titans (1-6). 

In the end, it was a solid 52-14 butt-kicking on Sunday at Ford Field. It’s the first time since 1956, the Lions have started a season 6-1.

“We did come out to fight and that’s what we expect. I felt that we were going to be ready and it’s like I told them, that’s what champions do,’’ coach Dan Campbell said. “You come out, you don’t care what time of day it is, what the records are, what the surface is, you come out and handle your business and we did that.’’

Six different players scored touchdowns. Jared Goff threw for just 85 yards and three touchdowns. “I’ll take it,’’ Goff said. 

Special teams was huge with a Kalif Raymond punt return for a touchdown and other solid returns. And the defense came up with huge plays.

“We did not play our cleanest ball, we really didn’t. However when you have four takeaways on defense and you’re 5-for-5 in the red zone and you have the returns that our special teams unit had – punt return and kick return – you can get a lot of production, things sway your way,’’ Campbell said.

The coach regularly talks about complementary football with all three units playing key roles. That’s exactly what happened against the Titans. 

Detroit was not looking to break franchise records, Campbell had them prepared to fight and win.

“It’s really just about the one that’s in front of us. I don’t feel like we’re going for the next record. We’re just playing ball, we’re trying to play as clean as we can, we’re trying to be as productive as we can,’’ Campbell said. “The players they’re urgent about it, accountable to it and they want more.’’

Five of the reasons the Lions won:

ONE: Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator, is the best in the business. The Titans had only won one game, but their defense had played well. Obviously Johnson just picked it apart. He didn’t need Jared Goff to be a superhero, he had plenty of options and used them. Backup QB Hendon Hooker got valuable playing experience in the fourth quarter. Six different players scored touchdowns. “Ben, he can draw up anything for anybody. He puts us in the best position every week. It’s so cool he’ll talk about something over and over in a week and coverages and what we’re expecting. You get to the game and it’s like this is exactly what he said it’s going to be,’’ WR/returner Kalif Raymond said. Detroit was without WR Jameson Williams, who was suspended by the NFL, but they have enough depth on offense to score 52 points without him.

TWO: Can’t imagine that many teams have had better field position all day. Kahil Dorsey had a 72-yard kickoff return and Kalif Raymond had 5 punt returns for 190 yards including a 90-yard touchdown return. Those short drives set up well for the Lions and they made the most of them, going 5-of-5 in the red zone. Give special teams coordinator Dave Fipp a game ball too. He had his group ready like he always does. 

THREE: Campbell pointed out early in the week that turnovers had been an issue for the Titans. The Lions took advantage of that weakness. QB Mason Rudolph was intercepted twice in the first half. And in the second half two Titans’ fumbles were recovered by the Lions. Detroit has had 10 takeaways in the last three games. Campbell said it’s something they emphasize by doing a takeaway circuit everyday in practice. “The interceptions will come and if the ball carrier is loose with it naturally those will, but the ones you have to work on are the punchouts —  the attention to it, find it, locate it,hit it, get it out, grabbing the front of the ball, pulling, stripping,’’ Campbell said, adding it’s contagious. Kerby Joseph and Trevor Nowaske intercepted quarterback Mason Rudolph while Amik Robertsn forced a fumble that was recovered by Carlton Davis in the third. Then in the fourth, Robertson again forced a fumble which was recovered by Isaiah Thomas.

FOUR: Running back Jahmyr Gibbs broke loose for a 70-yard touchdown scamper early in the game and he was just getting started. He and David Montgomery continued to work their rushing magic. They finished with a combined 160 rushing yards. As an added dimension, Montgomery threw a touchdown pass to Sam LaPorta late in the first half to give the Lions a 35-14 edge at the half. Goff said they’d been working on that play for a few years and it was the right time to use it. Montgomery also opened the scoring on a 7-yard rushing touchdown. 

FIVE: The Lions banged-up defense hung in there after they got off to a bit of a slow start. The game was tied 14-14 early in the second quarter and then they held the Titans scoreless the rest of the way. Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez injured an ankle early and could not return. Like his linebacker teammates he’s a Swiss Army knife kind of guy and was missed. The defense came up with a huge goal-line stand late in the first half. They still miss Aidan Hutchinson and could definitely use some pass rush help before next Sunday. (Hutchinson was watching the game from a Ford Field suite and got the biggest applause of the day when he was shown on the jumbo-tron.)

UP NEXT: Detroit Lions (6-1) at Green Bay Packers (5-2), 4:25 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 3.