Tag: Brian Branch

Five reasons why the Lions won a physical battle with the Falcons, 20-6

DETROIT — After a disappointing loss the week before, the Detroit Lions bounced back behind a violent defense and a smooth and rhythmic offense, to beat the Atlanta Falcons, 20-6, at Ford Field on Sunday.

“We played a physical, violent game. Our defense was outstanding. AG (defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn) did a helluva job and we looked like a hungry, hungry team. We looked like a hungry violent defense,’’ coach Dan Campbell said.

That’s his favored style, If not biting kneecaps, at least playing with a violent edge.

“We got takeaways, tackles, TFLs, guys were flying around the football, good coverage and we were around the quarterback a lot. I was proud of those guys,’’ Campbell said.

When they needed it most on offense, quarterback Jared Goff ran in from 3 yards out for a touchdown to give them a 20-3 lead in the fourth quarter.

That was a called play — not a scramble —  that Goff performed to perfection.

“Those always are going to mean more to Goff because he still thinks he’s a running quarterback,’’ Campbell said with his tongue planted in his cheek. “He doesn’t want anybody to forget that.’’

Funny stuff, but the touchdown was critical.

Here are five reasons the Lions (2-1) beat the Falcons:

1. The pass rush which seemed anemic (at best) in the loss a week ago, was running at full throttle. They finished with seven sacks by six different guys. Adrian Hutchinson, who hadn’t had a sack in the first two games, downed Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder twice in the fourth quarter. Hutchinson said he needed mental toughness to hang in there on Sunday. Even though he didn’t have a sack yet, he had pressures and Campbell never lost faith. “Any time Hutch rushes I think he’s going to get there, it’s the nature of the way he rushes, he’s high motor, he’s got craft about what he does, he’s not a one-trick pony,’’ Campbell said. “He’s got a couple of different moves and he’s got ability.’’ Others with sacks were rookie Jack Campbell, Charles Harris, Alim McNeill, Derrick Barnes and Benito Jones who got the sack party started.

2. No surprise that Jared Goff played well again, throwing one touchdown pass and running in for the other. He completed 22 of 33 passes for 243 yards. He also threw an interception at the end of the third quarter with the Lions holding onto a 13-3 lead. “That’s about as bad as I’ve thrown a ball in my career, just straight missed him,’’ Goff said. “How do I respond on the next drive, the next play, to be as best as I can. That’s where I think you’re truly judged.’’ In the fourth quarter, on Detroit’s next series, Goff led a seven-play touchdown drive. He responded and it helped seal the win.

3. The Falcons (2-1) averaged 170.5 rushing yards in their first two games. So there was little doubt about their game plan. Except they couldn’t break the Lions’ defense and finished with just 44 rushing yards. Highly touted Bijan Robinson had 10 carries for 33 yards. “I’m surprised they got away from it more. I thought, especially in the second half, get back to, that’s their foundation, that balanced run game,’’ Hutchinson said. “… I thought we did a good job stopping the runs we got, but not the game I expected.’’

4. Rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs got his big chance with David Montgomery sidelined. Gibbs carried 17 times for 80 yards, including four catches for 37 yards in the final touchdown drive. “We also knew it was going to take a while, we had to hang in there, have patience about it. I thought as the game went on, particularly there late, Gibbs started going,’’ Campbell said. “He started to find a little bit of his rhythm. He just needs … When the light really comes on, it’s going to come on. I could feel toward the end a couple of those runs, those back-to-back runs where you feel like here he goes, he’s starting to feel this. He’ll only get better with time and with reps.’’

5. Three more rookies – cornerback Brian Branch, linebacker Jack Campbell and tight end Sam LaPorta – continued to look like NFL playmakers in just their third game. Branch finished with a team-high 11 tackles, three TFLs and two pass defenses. He’s tough and violent, Campbell’s kind of guy. “He’s making big plays in critical moments as opposed to the other way,’’ Campbell said. “The more he plays the better he gets and the more he understands what we’re trying to do with him.’’ It’s kind of the same for LaPorta who has developed trust with Goff. He was wide open on a 45-yard touchdown that gave the LIons a 10-3 edge. “He’s a stud man. He does a great job. We had that play rigged up all week, we knew he liked it, he ran a great route and was able to throw it to him wide open,’’ Goff said. LaPorta is the only rookie tight end in the NFL to catch at least 5 passes in each of his first three games. Campbell had five tackles, one sack, one TFL and one quarterback hit. 

NEXT UP: The Lions (2-1) at the Green Bay Packers (2-1) on Thursday, Sept. 28. The Packers edged the Saints, 18-17, on Sunday. It will be the third game in 12 days for both teams.

Detroit Lions make a statement, knocking off Chiefs, 21-20, in opener

After the Kansas City Chiefs raised their Super Bowl banner, they met the new version of the Detroit Lions which strongly resembles the team that won 8 of 10 games to end last season.

On Thursday, the Lions got key plays all-around as they edged the Chiefs, 21-20, at roaring Arrowhead Stadium.

“We expected to win this game. We came in here, we knew what we needed to do,’’ Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. We did that. Really, what it means is, that’s one.’’

Running back David Montgomery’s 8-yard touchdown run with 7:06 left tied the game and Riley Patterson’s extra point put the Lions up 21-20. Then Detroit’s defense took over and shut down Patrick Mahomes and the offense, not allowing a Chiefs’ third down in the second half (0-7).

With 2 minutes left, the Lions offense got the ball back, and with 3 rushing plays got a first down. Then all quarterback Jared Goff had to do was take a knee to run out the clock.

“It’s something we talk about is closing games out. With our offensive line and what we have offensively we need to be able to do that. It’s something we worked a lot on – situational football,’’ Campbell said. “Everybody knows the strength of our offense and it’s the O-line.

“Defensively before that, they showed up in a big way. We talked at halftime about cleaning up some of our communication errors,’’ Campbell said. “We needed a takeaway and we needed to be much better on third downs. We did that and we got a takeaway to the house and we were 0-7 on third downs in the second half. Then to close it down on that last drive.’’

This is Year 3 for Campbell and GM Brad Holmes and on Thursday they saw their vision for the team come to life and, perhaps better yet, it was nationally televised. That hype train that’s been running for months? Turns out, it was not just hype.

“This is a total team win,’’ Holmes said during a TV interview afterward.

Five keys to the win:

1. One of the best offensive lines in the NFL did not disappoint. The five starters are healthy and what a difference it makes. They opened up lanes for running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, along with giving Jared Goff time to find his receivers. The line is the strength of the offense and it came up huge.

2. Goff handled the pressure and kept his streak of no interceptions intact. “All week I thought he looked confident, calm and steady … I thought he played very steady today,’’ Campbell said. “He did what we needed to do to win this thing.’’ Goff was 22 of 35 for 253 yards including a 9-yard touchdown pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown.

3. Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson was everywhere. He’s credited with three quarterback hits and four tackles, but he pressured Patrick Mahomes early and often. It wasn’t all about Hutchinson, but that up-front pressure helped the secondary. Overall the defense was impressive. Mahomes is no slouch. He had never thrown an interception in an opening game. They were in his face and knocked him a bit off his game.

4. Rookies were a standout including nickel Brian Branch who intercepted Mahomes and then ran the ball back 50 yards a touchdown. On David Montgomer’s 8-yard touchdown run, rookie TE Sam Laporta made a key block; linebacker Jack Campbell made a diving pass breakup in the first half. And running back Jahmyr Gibbs carried seven times for 42 yards, including an 18-yard scamper, and caught 2 passes for 18 yards. It’s early but so far the draft class looks like a winner.

5. On the Lions’ second possession, Campbell called a fake punt on a fourth and 2 at Detroit’s 17-yard line. No one was expecting that, but Jalen Reeves-Maybin ran 3 yards up the gut to make it work. Gutsy call. This is not a stretch for Campbell who has fake punts in the team’s repertoire. This isn’t likely to be the only one this season. It’s another sign of how this team reflects Campbell’s aggressiveness, passion and grit. He said it’s just one win, but it looks like they’re just getting started. 

NEXT UP: Ford Field will be rocking when the Seattle Seahawks visit at 1 p.m. on Sept. 17.

Lions rookie S Brian Branch turns thoughts to Mahomes, K.C. Chiefs

ALLEN PARK — While the final preseason game is Friday at Carolina, forgive the Detroit Lions if they’re overlooking that game. Of course, it’s key for evaluations and could help determine who earns a roster spot.

Still the clock is ticking until the regular season opener at the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday, Sept. 7.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the gang are coming off a Super Bowl season, their second in four years. The Lions haven’t won a playoff game since 1993 – but that was the old Lions. This talented new bunch is looking to make a statement.

“I’ve been thinking about Mahomes since last week. I think I’m going to start watching film on them this week, just to see what their tendencies are,’’ rookie safety Brian Branch said on Wednesday. “They’ve got a great quarterback, we also go against a great quarterback here (Jared Goff(. I feel he’s prepared us, we’ll see.’’

Branch,  second-round pick out of Alabama, feels he’s improved and learned much since the start of training camp and the OTAs. He had an interception on Wednesday, the last day of training camp. During Tuesday’s full contact inter squad practice he made a handful of huge plays.

Branch said playing for the Crimson Tide helped prepare him for the NFL.

“Alabama has prepared me tremendously. Being at a school like that you’re not necessarily a pro but a ‘baby pro’ in a way you have to learn to do things on your own when coaches aren’t around,’’ Branch said. “Being used to that, I feel like it’s helped me take this to the next level.’’

Explosive running back Jahmyr Gibbs, his former teammate at Alabama, could give the Chiefs’ defense a few problems.

“Jahmyr is my dog. The stuff you are just now seeing I’ve been seeing at Alabama,’’ Branch said. “It’s not new to me, I know what he’s capable of doing. I expect big things from Jahmyr.’’

UP NEXT: The Lions play their final preseason game at the Carolina Panthers at 8 p.m. on Friday. Final roster cuts are due at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29.