Tag: chicago bears

Five things to watch as Detroit Lions face the Ravens; plus prediction

Characterizing the Lions’ Monday nighter at the Ravens as a revenge game might be a bit much, but don’t be fooled the Lions have not forgotten the 38-6 shellacking at Baltimore in 2023. 

“Physically they wore us out, physically they beat us up,’’ coach Dan Campbell said. “That’s hard when we worked the way we worked, detailed our scheme is one thing. But physically when they go in and out-performed us physically, that’s what we took from it.’’

Two years later much has changed for both teams who have started the season 1-1.

The Lions have not had luck winning at Baltimore, but they are coming off a solid performance in a win over the Chicago Bears.

“ I want to go in this place and know that we can continue to get better against a really good team, at their place, knowing what kind of team they are and what their identity is. Because I know our identity,’’ Campbell said. “That’s going to – let’s give ourselves a chance at the end of the day to win this one. That’s the whole point, man. And it’s going to take all three units being on top.”

Five things to watch: 

ONE: Not surprisingly, Jared Goff and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown have found success in the first two games, especially in Sunday’s win over the Bears when they connected for three touchdowns and a total of 115 yards. The Ravens’ passing defense is ranked 31st in NFL allowing 298 passing yards per game. It’s a stat that could be deceiving since there have only been two games.  “Listen, it’s an art form. So, if you love art – which I’m not saying I do or I don’t – but it’s awesome to watch,’’ Campbell said. “They’ve got such a rapport with each other and they trust each other immensely. The way that he runs his routes and he’s so crisp and he’s so detailed and his body demeanor screams to Goff, it helps him anticipate the throws. And they’ve just got so much time on task, he knows exactly what he’s going to do and (Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown) Saint knows exactly where the ball’s going to be before he’s out of the break.’’

TWO:  The Lions must contain mobile QB Lamar Jackson. Last week he was held to two runs for 13 yards but passed for four touchdowns and 224 yards. This will be the third straight week the Lions have faced a mobile QB. “It does help to have faced two mobile quarterbacks,’’ Campbell said of the Bears’ Caleb Williams and the Packers’ Jordan Love. Lamar is the catalyst of the Ravens’ offense. He’s special but the Lions defense played well in the win over the Bears. They’ll need to bring that again this week. “What does Lamar do well? Everything. What does he not do well? Nothing. I mean he could beat you all different ways. Run game, pass game, pass game he could do it in the pocket, out of the pocket,’’ defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said.

THREE: Ravens running back Derrick Henry averaged just 2.1 yards per carry for a total of 23 yards in the win over the Browns. On the other hand, WRs Zay Flowers, DeAndre Hopkins and Devontez Walker will provide a challenge for the Lions’ secondary. They combined for four touchdown catches last week. “It’ll be a good challenge, but I’ll tell you, we’re excited for this challenge. We recognize this opponent, we respect what they’re about, and we’re looking forward to this, going out there at their place on Monday night,’’ Campbell said. “So this is going to be fun, man. This is one of those, this is why you do it.”

FOUR: It’s key to get  off to a good start. In that miserable loss in 2023 the Lions were down 28-0 at the half. Sheppard said it’s important to get a stop on the Ravens’ first drive.: “For me it sets the tone for the day. Now, it doesn’t dictate the outcome of the day because you could have a first three-and-out and not get off the field the rest of the game,’‘ Sheppard said. “That’s not good. But, to me it sets the tone. And me as a defensive guy, I want to be out there first and set the tone for the day. So when we’re called to do that, we need to go do that and let the offense know they feed off us, we feed off them, you saw it last week. It was a three-headed monster we had.’’

FIVE: Look for a bigger role for rookie WR Isaac TeSlaa who has had just two catches in two games but they both were highlight-reel one-handed grabs. One for a touchdown in Week 1 and the other — a 29-yarder — to set up a TD against the Bears.  “People say he has great hands, I don’t necessarily know that he has great hands, I haven’t seen his left hand yet,’’ said Scottie Montgomery, Lions assistant head coach/WRs. “… Probably two of the more impressive catches that I’ve seen.”

PREDICTION: Lions 28, Ravens 24

MONDAY: Lions (1-1) at Ravens (1-1), 8:15 p.m.

UP NEXT: Cleveland Browns at Lions, 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28.

Lions ‘elite’ QB Jared Goff draws praise then goes back to work

ALLEN PARK — Jared Goff’s performance in the win over the Bears was not a shock to anyone. That includes David Shaw, the Lions passing game coordinator.

“He’s worked extremely hard in his career, he works hard every single week, every single day. He pushed himself, he pushed his team, his teammates so they can go out and perform like that,’’ Shaw said on Thursday. “That’s his standard and it’s our job as coaches to give him the information and opportunity to play up to his standard. I’m glad he’s on my team.’’

While it’s Shaw’s first season with the Lions, he’s watched Goff play since high school at Marin Catholic while Shaw was head coach down the road at Stanford.

“He’s one of those guys that got better every single year. From freshman year to senior year at Cal was amazing,’’ Shaw said. “From rookie year to Year 3 was amazing. From Year 3 to Year 10, every year there’s another tool in the toolbox, everything is a little better — his decision-making and accuracy are at an elite level.’’

In the 52-21 win over the Bears on Sunday, Goff posted his fourth-straight game with a completion percentage of at least 75 percent with at least 25 passing attempts. That ties Tom Brady (2007) for the most consecutive games with a 75-percent completion rate (25 attempts per game minimum) in NFL history. In the win he completed 23-of-28 passes (82.1%) for 334 yards, five touchdowns and zero interceptions.  He logged his fourth-career game with at least 300 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and a passer rating of 150.0 which  ties for the fourth-most in NFL history.  He passed Bobby Layne (118) for the second-most passing touchdowns in franchise history. 

The Lions will need a high-caliber passing game against the Ravens who beat the Lions 38-6 at Baltimore in 2023, the last time they met.

“It really starts up front – I know we said that already, but those guys pass pro like that and it’s going to be tough to stop us. And they did a hell of a job, they really did, and I found open guys and it worked. And yeah, this Monday night, we would like to throw it again like that if we can,’’ Goff said on Thursday.

Of course he remembers that 2023 rout, but both teams are different now.

“Yeah, maybe some motivation value that we just kind of went in there and they took it to us. I think we’ve got a lot of respect for their team and their coaches and the way they’ve gone about their business for a long time, and I’d like to feel they feel the same way about us,’’ Goff said. “But we’ve got to go in there and prove it and show them that we obviously can hang with them and we’re a great team. And in that instance we didn’t, so certainly have a little bit to prove this week.”

 Shaw has faith in Goff.

“Jared Goff is elite. Whatever category that you put together of elite players he’s in that category,’’ Shaw said. 

UP NEXT: Lions (1-1) at Baltimore Ravens (1-1), 8:15 p.m. on Monday.

Lions versatile safety Brian Branch one of defensive standouts in win over Bears

ALLEN PARK — When Dan Campbell listed the outstanding defensive players from the 52-21 win over the Bears, safety Brian Branch was at the top of the list.

Branch had a standout game with a pretty nice stat line — he forced a fumble, had a sack and made six tackles.

On Monday, Campbell said Branch makes life much easier on the pages because of his versatility. 

“We bring it up all the time, he’s a safety that has cover ability like a corner, he can blitz like a linebacker and tackling and fill in the run gaps,’’ Campbell said. “There’s so many different things he can do. The guy is a major asset for us.’’

After Sunday’s game the Lions are 1-1, the Bears 0-2.

It was a huge bounceback for Detroit after a lackluster loss at Green Bay in Week 1.

“It showed us what we’re capable of doing. We know how good we are when we execute what coach Shep (DC Kelvin Sheppard) calls,’’ Branch said. “Coach Shep called a great ball game … Just moving forward we re-established our brand of football 

Facing Ben Johnson, Bears head coach and former Lions offensive coordinator, was down-played leading up to Sunday, afterward Branch wasn’t afraid to share his feelings.

“Really, all these games are personal, but this one we felt like we’d been betrayed from the staff to players,’’ Branch said. “And we love Ben, we still love Ben. He’s a great coach. He’s a great mastermind but, yeah, it was time to get after him.”

Branch explained they felt betrayed because Johnson went to an NFC North opponent.

The Lions won’t face the Bears again until the final game of the regular season. Date to be determined but likely Jan 3 or 4. 

INJURIES: Marcus Davenport left the game early with a shoulder injury. Campbell doesn’t have all the test results in yet, but he’s hoping he won’t be out too long.

UP NEXT: Lions (1-1) at Baltimore Ravens (1-1), 8:15 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 22.