dan campbell – Page 59 – Lions Lowdown

Wildcard playoffs: Lions face Rams at 8 p.m. on Sunday at Ford Field

Dan Campbell says Lions are ‘scarred to perfection’

Looking for Detroit’s first playoff win since Jan. 5, 1992, the Lions as the No. 3 seed, will face Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams in the first playoff game at Ford Field.

Take a deep breath. This could be a good one. Mark your calendar for 8 p.m. on Sunday.

“We’ll put in a good game plan, but as far as to get to this point, this team’s ready,’’ coach Dan Campbell said after the 30-20 win over the Vikings on Sunday. “They’ve been through it all, and they’re battle-tested, they’re scarred to perfection and we will be ready.”

In Dan Campbell’s first season (2021), the Lions lost to the Rams, 28-19, to drop to 0-7 for the season. That’s the only time the two teams have met since they swapped quarterbacks – Stafford for Jared Goff – prior to the 2021 season.

These Lions are much different two years ago with running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs replacing D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams. Sam LaPorta (if he’s healthy to play) could add a spark as a rookie. Defensively, the Lions are much different with pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson and rookies Jack Campbell and Brian Branch, along with a host of others who have developed. Veterans C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Alim McNeill returned to action Sunday which Campbell called perfect timing.

With the on Sunday, the Lions finished 12-5 and never lost back-to-back games. They’ve got flaws (hello, secondary) but the defense pressures quarterbacks, especially lately, and Goff has an arsenal of weapons with a high-powered offense that has set all kinds of franchise records.

The Rams (10-7) didn’t play their starters, including Stafford, on Sunday and beat the 49ers, 21-20. After a slow start to the season at 2-4, the Rams have won seven of their last eight and four straight games.

Stafford, who won a Super Bowl in his first season with the Rams, has thrown 24 touchdowns against 11 interceptions this season. They did not make the playoffs last season.

The Lions haven’t been to the playoffs since the 2016 season when, with Stafford as quarterback, they lost at Seattle in the wildcard game. They’ve lost nine straight playoff games. The Rams and Lions have never met in the postseason.

Five reasons why Lions bounced back with 30-20 win over Vikings

DETROIT — The Detroit Lions bounced back on Sunday from a devastating loss the previous week at the hands of NFL referee Brad Allen.

They took their lead from coach Dan Campbell who said they would move forward and not drop their shoulders and dwell on the loss at the Cowboys.

The Lions played tough in a 30-20 win over the Minnesota Vikings to boost their record to 12-5 and prepare them for a playoff game against Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams at 8 p.m. on Sunday at Ford Field.

“After what we did last week – it was a tough loss – and we come in this week, mentally locked in, ready to roll, right mindset,’’ coach Dan Campbell said. “It was a back-and-forth game, but I thought all three phases complemented each other and really came out to finish the season off the right way and get a win.’’

The Lions took an early 7-0 lead and never fell behind.

The win meant that throughout the season, the Lions never lost back-to-back games

“We bounced back, I feel like that’s one of our qualities, that’s one of the things about us that I think makes this group special is that it is a resilient group, they’re able to overcome adversity, snap back and they’ve done that again,’’ Campbell said. “You’ve got to have the right players. We have the right players and the right coaches.”

Five main reasons the Lions won:

1. Once again the defense was fired up and was led by Aidan Hutchinson who didn’t take a play off. Vikings QB Nick Mullens was sacked four times, twice by Hutchinson who has five sacks in the last two games and 10.5 for the season. “We’re getting to the quarterback, we’ve been getting to him for 3 or 4 weeks. (Hutchinson is ) a guy who’s relentless, but he works his craft, he’s got a quick first step, he’s an explosive athlete but he constantly is working his hands, his body, his lean and his torque,’’ Campbell said. “Every day he gets a little better.’’ Hutchinson produced his fifth career game with 2.0-or-more sacks, passing DE Ezekiel Ansah (4) for the most 2.0-sack games by a Lions player through two-career seasons.

2. Jared Goff led an efficient passing game. No interceptions, no fumbles. He finished 23 of 32 for 320 yards and two touchdowns including a 70-yard scoring play to Amon-Ra St. Brown. He got protection, was only sacked once. After a three-and-out opening series, the Lions scored touchdowns on the next two drives with their savvy combination of rushing and passing.

3. The secondary got a boost from the return of veteran C.J. Gardner-Johnson who had not played since he tore his pec in Week 2. He intercepted Mullens late in the game, had four tackles and a pass defense. The unit still has much work to do. Vikings WR Justin Jefferson could not be contained and finished with a dozen catches for 192 yards and a touchdown. He had 141 yards against the Lions two weeks ago.

4. No turnovers by the Lions. Campbell has preached this all season and they seem to be improving.

5. When officials announced No. 70, Dan Skipper, eligible, the crowd roared. The offensive lineman has found a measure of celebrity after the referee’s bad call at Dallas last week. In the third quarter, Skipper caught a 4-yard pass which drew more applause. Campbell emphasized this week that they had moved on from the debacle at Dallas. This was a team that looked like it had an eye on the future.

INJURY UPDATE
Tight end Sam LaPorta left the game in the second quarter with a knee injury and did not return. “It’s probably not as bad as it looked, but it’s not good news,’’ Campbell said. “We’ll know more (Monday). I know it looked awful, it’s not as bad as that. But it doesn’t mean it looks good in the immediate here to have him for a game.’’

Campbell said it’s about the same situation for WR/returner Kalif Raymond who also left with a knee injury.

Lions Dan Skipper reports eligible and draws loudest cheers in win over Vikings

Campbell credits head official for way he handled game

DETROIT — Have you got your Dan Skipper jersey yet?

Skipper, the Lions offensive lineman, drew many of the loudest cheers at Ford Field on Sunday during the Lions’ 30-20 win over the Vikings.

“I thought the crowd was great,’’ coach Dan Campbell said.

It goes back to a week ago and the debacle in Dallas when referee Brad Allen said Skipper reported – when he didn’t – which negated a 2-point conversion by Taylor Decker who did report. You know the story.

So several times during Sunday’s game Skipper reported eligible, the official announced it and the fans went wild. They love the guy and it seems like they love Campbell for not shying away from the controversy.

“I thought it was great, he reported, he was loud and I thought he made it very clear,’’ Campbell said.

Skipper even caught his first pass of the season, a 4-yard reception in the third quarter.

“We didn’t put that in for the crowd. We knew we were going to need him and it could possibly go there and it went to him,’’ Campbell said.

The coach credited head official Brad Rogers who had worked the Lions’ training camp last summer.

“He’s done a great job. He was great, I thought he handled everything very well,’’ Campbell said. “That’s not easy to come in after what happened in Dallas and you’re going to be the guy at our game. He’s a pro. He was great with communications.’’

Quarterback Jared Goff also mentioned Rogers.

“That was fun hearing the crowd every time (Skipper) reported. It wasn’t intentional by us, but I think the head official Brad was having some fun with it too. It was kind of funny,’’ Goff said. “It wasn’t funny last week.’’

UP NEXT: Lions vs. Rams in wildcard playoff at 8 p.m. on Sunday at Ford Field.