Tag: dan campbell

Lions bounce back and edge Saints in a nail-biter; 5 reasons they held on to win

After taking what seemed like a commanding 21-0 lead midway through the first quarter, the Detroit Lions opened the door and let the Saints back in.

It was edge-of-the-seat time late in the fourth quarter, before the Lions held on for a 33-28 win at the Superdome when Jared Goff connected with Josh Reynolds for 12 yards to convert on third-and-9 with 1:09 left.

The Lions jump to 9-3 and remain atop the NFC North. They were coming off a tough Thanksgiving loss to the Packers and once again showed their resilience. They have not had back-to-back losses in 13 months.

“I think the teams that are able to respond after you lose a tough one, to me, it’s not easy to gain confidence in losses, but I think you have to be able to do that. You understand your own errors, you understand what you have to clean up and then you don’t want to lose that way again or  like that again or from that again,’’ coach Dan Campbell said. “We bounced back, I’m not surprised knowing the guys we have, the coaches in that locker room, the players we have. I’m not surprised.’’

That 21-0 lead in the first quarter set the pace early.

“We had some things that we wanted to do particularly offensively and defensively for that matter, and we had a good feel of it, they made some adjustments which we thought they would. Then it comes down to one player here, one player there, we’re an inch away from breaking another one. It was a chess game going on … 

Five reasons the Lions won:

1. A strong start was huge – a touchdown on the first drive on a 2-yard run by David Montgomery, then an interception by Brian Branch led to a Sam LaPorta touchdown and then a third TD, a 25-yard catch by Amon-Ra St. Brown. The 21-point lead with 7 minutes left in the first quarter was huge especially because the Saints defense was stingy after that quarter. “We had some things that we wanted to do particularly offensively and defensively for that matter, and we had a good feel of it. They made some adjustments which we thought they would,’’ Campbell said. “Then it comes down to one player here, one player there, we’re an inch away from breaking another one. It was a chess game going on.’’ The coach said they ran the ball intentionally on the first five snaps to re-establish confidence on the offensive line which was coming off a shaky game.

2. All week, and actually for two weeks, the Lions have wanted to cut down on turnovers and have the defense create them. Bingo. Derek Carr was intercepted by Branch on his first snap. And then later Tracy Walker recovered a snap fumble. The Lions have work to do but Jared Goff did not throw an interception and the offense did not give the ball away.

3. Rookie tight end Sam LaPorta had a career day with nine catches (on nine targets) for 140 yards and a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, on the Lions final drive, he caught the ball on a third-and-7 to keep the drive going and the ball away from the Saints who were just down 5 points. He became the first tight end in NFL history to produce 55 receptions, 550 yards and 6 touchdowns through 12-career games.

4. Goff controlled the game and made timely plays. He wasn’t perfect and he has certainly played better but when the Saints were breathing down their throats he remained poised and in control. On the final drive, when they had to hold onto the ball, Goff converted a third-and-7 with a pass to LaPorta and then a third-and-9 with a pass to Josh Reynolds. “That’s our guy, that’s what he does, the line was protecting well today,’’ Campbell said. “LaPorta, to be honest I feel like we were getting separation. LaPorta was showing up and Reynolds made a heck of a catch in the critical moments our offense finished it out for us.’’Goff  finished 16 of 25 for 213 yards and two touchdowns. The Lions set a single-season record by producing 325-plus total net yards for the 12th-straight game and Goff obviously has played a major role in that. 

5. The defense made a few key plays, but they have plenty of work to do after giving up too many explosive plays. Defensive lineman Bruce Irvin in his first game with the Lions had a big-time sack. Romeo Okwara had another. They looked tough early in the game but faded and let the Saints back in. It was a win and that’s all good, but much work to do especially on defense. 

BONUS: Wide receiver Jameson Williams had a highlight touchdown on a reverse end-around early in the fourth quarter. His speed was on full display and he dove into the end zone for a nice flourish. “It’s something that’s been in the laboratory cooking for a while, it felt like it was the right time to call it up,’’ Campbell said. “He executed it great, the thing was well blacked, he did a great job keeping his eyes on it, the rest was up to him. It was pure gasoline around the edge, it was a heck of a play.’’

INJURY UPDATE: Center Frank Ragnow left in the second quarter with a knee injury and didn’t return. Campbell said he won’t have more information until Monday.

NEXT UP: Lions (9-3) at Chicago Bears (4-8), 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10. The Bears will be coming off a bye. The Lions won their first matchup 31-16 on Nov. 19.

Five things to watch as the Lions face the Saints; plus prediction

It’s not all about the gumbo in New Orleans.

The Lions (8-3) are coming off a tough Thanksgiving loss to the Packers, while the Saints (5-6) will try to snap a two-game losing streak when they face each other at the Superdome on Sunday.

It will be a homecoming of sorts for Lions coach Dan Campbell who was a tight end for the Saints in 2009 and served as an assistant coach there from 2016 through 2020.

“It was a winning organization, still is, but (in) my time there, things were run right, they were done right and there was a winning attitude, winning atmosphere and that’s what it was all about,’’ Campbell said. “It’s just special and that’s why it will always be special. To be able to go back and play there makes it special.”

The coach loves New Orleans’ shrimp gumbo, but this is a business trip with higher goals. The Lions, still atop the NFC North, remain a confident and hungry bunch.

“I don’t feel like that (hunger has) dwindled away or drifted. That’s been there. And I think if anything, we understand the areas of improvement, where we must improve and it’s ball security. And that’s everybody,’’ Campbell said. “… I like where they’re at. I don’t feel – I feel like it’s a team that’s ready to go, ready to work. So, I feel like we’re where we’ve been. We’re good. We just (need to) eliminate some mistakes here.”

Extra ball security drills were a part of practice this week after three lost fumbles on Thanksgiving.

With an eye on the playoffs, every one of the six remaining games is crucial.

Scottie Montgomery, assistant head coach and running backs coach, said he’s learned more about this team over the past few weeks.

“They’re like their head coach, they’re tough as hell. Resilient, just when people get ready to count them out there’s going to be another fight … I’ve not been on a team quite like this before,’’ Montgomery said. “This team has a different level, we used the team grit for a lack of better word sometimes. This team is like their head coach, tough as hell. Smart and detailed and disciplined. At the end of the day, the team that makes the fewest mistakes and the little people are tough, you’re going to win.’’

Five things to watch against the Saints::

1. The Lions must hold onto the ball — no interceptions, no fumbles lost. It seems simple. This week they worked on ball control drills in practice – although it’s nothing new. It has been a point of emphasis. It was exemplified when they lost to the Packers on Thanksgiving with Jared Goff  losing three fumbles. “We’ll clean that up and we’ll be good to go from there. There are a couple plays last week where he’s holding onto the ball longer than we wanted to. And that’s – they had a good defense compared to our call as well, so that’s on me also trying to help him, so that number one gets open a little more for him and so it all plays a part,’’ offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said. “We all have a hand in it, but he’s certainly taken ownership of it and we’ll see some dividends paid here soon.”

2. Speaking of turnovers, Goff needs to play a clean game. He lost those three fumbles on Thanksgiving and while the Lions pulled out a win over the Bears the previous Sunday, it was tougher because he was intercepted three times. It was an uncharacteristic game for Goff who had just five interceptions in the first nine games. His confidence has not waivered and the coaches still have faith in him. “The ones that we’ve had over the last two weeks are not entirely his fault. Some of those interceptions, that’s the cost of doing business,’’ Johnson said. 

3. Detroit’s defense must step up to close games out. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said the defense did some good things against the Packers. “Scoreboard wasn’t it, because we lost. But when you go out there and you have two turnovers and you get a ball back, you have some fourth-down stops and you get the ball back, I mean those are things that our guys have to look at and be like, ‘You know what? We took the field.’ And our motto is man listen, that’s more TV time for us any time we take the field,’’ Glenn said. “And man, those are the positives that I try to make sure I talk about with our guys, so we can start looking at the fact that we want to start trending, so was everything great? No, it wasn’t. And we have some things we have to work on, we all know that. So each week, I mean that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to make sure we’re trending in this direction.’’

4. Campbell admitted he made a bad decision on the fake punt on Thanksgiving. The coach makes smart moves for the most part. The players have his back, he’s earned their respect but while he wants no mistakes on the field, he’s got to make sure he gives them the best possible avenues to achieve.

5. The Lions are not in panic mode coming off the loss to the Packers and near-loss to the Bears. They’ve had a long weekend to reset and recover. It’s possible we’ll see a few personnel changes. “I would say you look at everything. I think it’s – you do step back and you say, ‘Alright, is there somebody we need to get a look at in this position whether it be who’s currently a backup for us, somebody that’s been inactive or our vet squad,’’ Campbell said. “I mean we are constantly looking at that. We tell those guys all the time, ‘You earn your right to go out there and play and don’t ever think you’re just out here being a show team. That’s not what all this is. Yes, you’re giving a look, but you’re working your craft. And the better you get, the more you catch the eyes of everybody in this building.’ And then it makes you want to give them an opportunity to see what they’ve got. If it’s showing up in practice, well maybe it shows up in the game, so.”

INJURIES: LB Alex Anzalone (hand) is doubtful; LG Jonah Jackson (ankle/wrist) questionable; and QB Hendon Hooker (knee) is out.

PREDICTION: Lions 27, Saints 21. The Superdome is a tough place to play. Both teams will attempt to bounce back from losses. Edge to Detroit which has the better offense.

Lions RBs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery a perfect blend, like peanut butter and jelly

ALLEN PARK — Detroit Lions running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs go together like peanut butter and jelly.

“Some people like peanut butter, some like jelly, but a lot of people like them put together. That’s where we are with both of them,’’ Lions assistant head coach and running backs coach Scottie Montgomery said on Wednesday.

“That’s kind of where we are, I’m really happy with the development. It’s the kind of vision that (GM) Brad (Holmes) and Dan (Campbell) had. They’re doing a good job,’’ he added.

David Montgomery was signed as a free agent while Gibbs was drafted in the first round (a pick many skeptics did not like). Together the two have given the Lions a running game like they have not had in years. Many years.

And, the hope is that they’re just getting started with six games left in the regular season — including Sunday’s contest at the New Orleans Saints.

“This League is tough on backs, you get hit quite a bit. Part of the plan was when we got to December how fresh, how fast, how strong, how physical, could we continue to be,’’ Scottie Montgomery said.

When David Montgomery missed a pair of games in October due to injury, Gibbs made the most of his increased opportunities and has also become a better blocker.

Both have been healthy since the bye week and able to contribute in each game. The goal is not to split their touches 50-50 but to find the perfect blend each week.

“What Ben has done, he’s done a really really good job of making sure that they’re both really involved,’’ Scottie Montgomery said.

David Montgomery has 133 carries for 648 yards, 4.9 yards per carry and nine touchdowns, along with eight catches for 88 yards.

Gibbs has rushed 109 times for 566 yards, 5.2 per carry and 5 touchdowns, along with 41 receptions for 278 yards. In the first few weeks, he was slowly given more work and then proved he was capable.

“They’re both dangerous, they’re both really good backs. Hard-pressed to find a better duo in the League right now,’’ quarterback Jared Goff said. “Those guys are doing a helluva job, it’s fun to have them behind me and when I do have to check the ball down, being able to get it in their hands is a lot of fun too.’’

MOVES: The practice window for QB Hendon Hooker was opened when he participated in Wednesday’s practice. Hooker, a 2023 third-round draft pick, was coming off ACL surgery when drafted. Until now he’s been around the team, but has not been allowed to practice. … WR Tom Kennedy was signed to the practice squad, while WR Dylan Drummond was released.

WEDNESDAY INJURY REPORT: LB Alex Anzalone (hand) no practice; LG Jonah Jackson (ankle/wrist), RB David Montgomery (foot) and S Tracy Walker (shoulder) had limited practice.