Tag: Ben Johnson

Five things to watch as Lions look to take NFC North title with win over Vikings; plus prediction

The Detroit Lions’ goal of winning the NFC North title is within reach and will become a reality with a win on Sunday at the Minnesota Vikings.

It would be their first division title since Jan. 2, 1994, and guarantee a home playoff game. It’s a present that can’t be wrapped and put under the tree. It would be everything to coach Dan Campbell, his staff, the players and actually the entire city of Detroit that has been hoping for a winner.

“We are a young team and most of these guys weren’t born the last time we won a division,’’ Campbell said. “I think they also understand how special it would be. You’re telling me we could be a division winner for the first time in 30 years for an organization, that’s special. Whatever perspective you take, it’s still special. That’s the message and they understand that.’’

Quarterback Jared Goff said they have to concentrate on the game at hand against a team that has lost three of its last four games, the last one in overtime to the Bengals.

“A win gets us the division and we understand, we understand, we get it. I think I’ve said this before, but we don’t carry the weight of the last 30 years here, we don’t. It’s the 2023 Lions and we’re different than last year’s team and the year before and 30 years before that,’’ Goff said. “So, we’re trying to make our mark this year and we have a chance to do it this week. But yeah, it’s been a long season, we’ve had some success and hopefully can get it done.”

The Lions (10-4) , who haven’t made a postseason appearance since 2016,  have lost nine straight playoff games going back to the 1991 season. Their last playoff win was on Jan. 5, 1992. It’s pathetic  to say the least.

Detroit will face the Vikings (7-7) again in the season finale on Jan. 7. In-between they play at the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday, Dec. 30. Sunday is not their only shot to win the division, but it is a good one. They just have to win it.

Five things to watch:

1. Once again Jared Goff needs to step up. He had five touchdowns against zero picks last week in the win over the Broncos. It’s an awesome ratio. Can’t expect those numbers every week but something in that range would help a lot. Campbell said his message to Goff this week is to continue to let it fly. Look for the speedy Jameson Williams to see more action, 

2. The Lions must deal with the Vikings defense which is either max coverage or max pressure. “A lot of teams do that down in the red zone, but (Vikings defensive coordinator Brian) Flores has kind of taken that to a new extreme. At any time, at any moment. It’s been fun this week trying to dissect their defense. They do a lot and it’s hard, but our staff’s done a nice job trying to narrow down some things that we can key in on potentially, but he’s got a new wrinkle each and every week that we’ll have to be able to adjust to,’’ offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said.

3. Last year Vikings WR Justin Jefferson had a career-high 223-yard game against the Lions. “After missing eight games this year, he returned last week and is still getting his footing. “There’s nothing easy about it,’’ Campbell said. “I mean, I think – I know this, we can’t let him have 200 yards again. I mean, that’s the most obvious. So, we’re going to have to have some answers. He’s getting back in the flow. The other day he’s – you can start to see that he’s getting back and he’s going to be even better this week.’’ Minnesota QB Nick Mullens is expected to make his second straight start.

4. Get off to a good start so running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery can keep getting touches. “I mean (Gibbs has) been electric really since he stepped on the field for us. I don’t know if I’ve necessarily seen anything out of the ordinary. I know he had the one 30-yard run last week, but I don’t think any of us were surprised by it,’’ Johnson said. Vikings 13th against the run  (giving up 98.6 yards per game) while the LIons have the second-best rushing game in the NFL averaging 140.9 yards per game. Here’s a fun stat: Montgomery and Gibbs each have two 20-yard touchdown rushes this season. The last time the Lions had two players with multiple 20-yard touchdown rushes in a season was in 1936 with Hall of Famer Dutch Clark and Ernie Caddel. And here’s another one: The Vikings have allowed just one run of 20-plus yards all season. 

5. Lions can’t let pressure get to them and it doesn’t seem likely. While last week the key word is urgency Goff said it really hasn’t changed. “Still urgent, still understanding what our goal is, what our mission is and not much has changed,’’ Goff said. “I think last week – it’s not the worst thing in the world to sometimes get your ass kicked a little bit like we did in Chicago. So, it created that and it continues on.”

INJURIES: DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson (pectoral), FB Jason Cabinda (knee), CB Jerry Jacobs (hamstring), TE Brock Wright (hip) are out; LB Derrick Barnes (shoulder) is doubtful.

PREDICTION: Lions 27, Vikings 17. Winning the division has been the goal since Day One of training camp. Can’t see Detroit letting the opportunity slip away.

Five things to watch as the Lions attempt to bounce back against the Broncos

The playoffs in sight for both teams, the Denver Broncos visit the Detroit Lions on Saturday night at Ford Field.

The Lions (9-4) are coming off a loss at Chicago, while the Broncos (7-6) have won six of seven, including Sunday’s 24-7 win over the Chargers.

This game was moved to primetime for what’s on the line and it should be intense especially with the two coaches going head to head. Lions coach Dan Campbell played for Denver’s Sean Payton and was an assistant to him while with the New Orleans Saints. To say more is on the line is an understatement between the two coaches who know each other so well.

Campbell doesn’t think it’s an advantage for either one. He said it evens out.

“I think he has a pretty good idea about what we want to do and our process, just like I do his being in there. And so, look, he’s not going to shy away from being who they are and what has gotten him to this point,’’ Campbell said. “They’re going to lean on those. However, he’s going to have the wrinkles, he always does. And I just – I bring it back, man he is – in this profession, in games, he’s a stone-cold killer. So, that’s why I say – he’s going to be looking for it. And we’re going to be prepared for it. But we think very much the same way, so we’re looking forward to this. 

“This is going to be an outstanding matchup. This is a good team. They’re playing really good football. They’re playing smart, clean football. And that’s why they’re winning,’’ Campbell added.

Five things to watch:

1. While not all of the offensive woes are the fault of quarterback Jared Goff, he needs to play a clean, error-free game to get the offense rolling like it was early in the season. With losses in two of the last three games, the offense has sputtered. “I wish there was one thing you can put your finger on, but there’s not. It’s just plain execution and doing what we’re supposed to do, and it starts with me leading that charge and getting us back on track,’’ Goff said.

2. The Broncos excel at takeaways which has been an issue for the Lions who are not good at it. “We emphasize it, we drill it. Unfortunately, over the last four weeks we haven’t done a good enough job with our ball security, and we know this team is feast or famine,’’ offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said. “When they get the takeaways, they capitalize on it and they’re winning ball games because of it. And so, we’re highly aware of it. We’ve got to do a better job protecting the ball this week than we have the last four games. They aren’t just good in their takeaways, I think the other thing that stands out to me the last eight weeks, they’re the No. 1 third-down defense in the NFL. So, they’re doing a great job stopping offenses when they get them into that situation, so we’ve got to be on point here on third down this week.”

3. Lions offense and defense need to play a solid third quarter. The Lions have outscored opponents in every quarter except the third where it’s not even close. Opposing teams have 84 third-quarter points against the Lions, while Detroit has scored just 46 points in that stretch. “It’s frustrating as much as it is for everyone else, it’s very frustrating for us,’’ Goff said. “And we’re very aware of it and we know we have to continue to be aware of it and continue to try to find ways to be more productive in the third quarter and that’s everybody and I wish there was one thing that, again, that you could point to as the reason why, or one thing that fixes it, but there isn’t. It’s just plain execution, it’s plain focus, it’s plain doing our jobs a little bit more consistently in that quarter.”

4. The defense could have its hands full with quarterback Russell Wilson who can run the ball when needed. “I know he picks his chances when he does want to run and you really see it on third down and in the red zone, which most quarterbacks do anyway. But he has that ability to escape. I mean they have some read-zone plays in there for him which I would utilize his legs too,’’ Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said. “He’s not just a statue back there. He’s able to make some plays with his legs and you see that happen in the games.” Wilson has thrown 23 touchdowns against just eight interceptions, but four of the eight picks have come in the last two games. 

5. The offensive line, which looks to be healthy once again, has to protect Goff. The Broncos sacked Chargers quarterbacks six times last week. Ragnow has missed the last two games which has affected the line’s performance. He’s expected to return.

INJURIES: LT Taylor Decker (back), DT Benito Jones (neck), FC Frank Ragnow (knee, back, toe) and WR Josh Reynolds (back) are all questionable.

PREDICTION: Lions 27, Broncos 24.

Five things to watch as Lions host Falcons; plus prediction

ALLEN PARK —  No excuses for the Lions coming off a loss. They’ve watched the tape, learned their lessons, now it’s time to put them to work.

The Atlanta Falcons (2-0) visit Ford Field at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

“We know the opponent coming in, this is a physical, violent team coming off two wins, playing pretty good football right now,’’ coach Dan Campbell said. “Certainly we’ve got our hands full, we have to be on top of our game to try to get a win here at home.’’

The loss to the Seahawks took a toll on the Lions physically. A handful of starters could be sidelined. Time for the next man up.

Five things to watch:

1. Stopping the Falcons’ dual-pronged run attack — Campbell expects them to run at least 30 times — will be key. In the first two games Detroit has allowed 85 rushing yards per game which ties them for eighth in the NFL. But they haven’t faced Falcons’ running backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. Robinson has 180 rushing yards and 75 receiving yards in the first two games. It’s not a one-man show.  “Now that guy (Allegeier), he’s about running through your face,’’ Campbell said. And so, it’s a one-two punch, totally two different styles and we’ve got to be ready to adapt quickly with the way they do it.’’

2. On the opposite end, the Lions offense must generate more of a rushing offense than in the first two weeks when they’ve averaged 110 rushing yards per game which is in the middle of the pack. Of the Lions five offensive touchdowns, two have come on the ground by back David Montgomery who is doubtful with a thigh bruise. Look for rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who has 14 carries in the first two games, to pick up many more reps. “He’s not a fragile back. … He’s a rookie, he’s learning, he’s gotten better every week, he’s gotten better every game and he’ll continue to get better the more reps he gets,’’ Campbell said. Look for more touches for running back Craig Reynolds and, perhaps, fullback Jason Cabinda.

3. Turnovers were the story in the overtime loss to Seattle. The Lions offense had two critical errors — an interception thrown by Jared Goff and a fumble by Montgomery. Another fumble as the clock ran out at the half made no difference. At the same time, the defense has just one takeaway — an interception by Brian Branch — in the first two games. It’s a situation that must change if the Lions want to give themselves a chance.

4. The pass rush has been an issue, While there was some pressure put on Seattle’s Geno Smith, he was sacked just once. In Week 1, Patrick Mahomes was not sacked.  “We’ve got to do a better job with our pass rush and that’s us as coaches trying to scheme guys into doing things,’’ defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said. “That’s players also, just executing their job, so that’s one thing that we have to get better at and also, when you look at the pass defense, man you’ve just got to win and we’ve got to make sure we put guys in positions to win.”

5. Take advantage of the home crowd. Ford Field was electric on Sunday and would expect the same this week. Players and coaches noticed, and they were appreciative. Cornerback Cam Sutton said they need that same noise factor in every game at Ford Field this season. Got that?

INJURIES

OUT: LT Taylor Decker (ankle), S Kerby Joseph (hip), CB Emmanuel Moseley (knee/hamstring), RG Halapoulivaati Vaitai (knee).

DOUBTFUL: RB David Montgomery (thigh).

QUESTIONABLE: WR Josh Reynolds (groin) and WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (toe).

PREDICTION: Lions 24, Falcons 21. Detroit plays well with its back against the wall. Even with injuries expect to see resilience and a home win.