David Montgomery – Lions Lowdown

Five reasons the Lions wrapped up the season with a 19-16 win at Chicago

The season finale meant something to coach Dan Campbell and it showed when they came back for a 19-16 win at the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

Campbell’s words all week were not empty. He challenged his guys to play like it mattered and they listened.

“Good win by the guys, proud of them, that’s the way to finish. I didn’t expect anything different out of them just knowing the guys we had, but nonetheless I’m still proud of them,’’ Campbell said.

“It’s not the easiest thing – you get eliminated, it’s hard for some guys, you’re back out in the elements with a team that’s already clinched. But our guys fought from the beginning, we were up two scores, they came back, our guys didn’t bat an eye and we were able to finish it out. It was one of the best games we played as far as complementary football,’’ the coach added.

While it’s never good to finish the season out of the playoffs, the win gave them a 9-8 record for the season. It was their fourth straight winning season.

“I believe that things happen for a reason, right, wrong or indifferent. When something like this happens I believe it’s going to be for the best. It’s up to Brad (Holmes) and I to make it for the best,’’ Campbell said.

Five reasons the Lions won:

ONE: The run game made its return after missing in action for a few weeks and, like Campbell said early in the week, that is everything. Jahmyr Gbbs carried 19 times for 80 yards while David Montgomery picked up 42 yards on 8 carries. Gibbs also had 3 catches for 33 yards including a touchdown. Campbell said the offensive line really showed up and they were without RT Penei Sewell.

TWO: The defense played lights out, keeping the Bears off the scoreboard until early in the fourth quarter. This game meant something for Chicago which was aiming for the NFC’s second seed but they appeared to sleepwalk through the first three quarters. They had no answers for the Lions defense until they scored on a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The Bears were held to 69 total yards in the first half and 270 overall.

THREE: Jared Goff had a real rhythm going from the first two drives when they had to settle for field goals. He kept it going throughout. One of his passes was tipped which led to an interception late, but the offense came back and set up a 42-yard game-winning field goal as time expired. Goff was 27 of 42 for 331 yards, one touchdown, one interception and he was sacked twice. WR Amon-Ra St. Brown finished with 11 catches for 1394 yards.

FOUR: Dan Campbell was at his best on play-calling. He was steady, not too cute and it worked. He knew the strengths of his guys on the field and made it work.

FIVE: While the Lions had nothing to play for, you wouldn’t know it. They were out to win and it showed. It’s never good to end a season out of the playoffs, but it is good to show some real fight and signs of life in the season-ending game.

Five things to watch as Lions face Vikings in Christmas Day matchup; plus injury updates

Dan Campbell’s most memorable Christmas kids when he was younger was underwear – tidy whities – from his dad.

A win over the Vikings on Christmas Day is at the top of his wish list this year.

The LIons (8-7) are coming off two straight losses and still have a very slim chance of making the playoffs while the Vikings (7-8) have won three straight and are out of the postseason discussion.

His message to the team on this shortened week is to move forward.

Wide receiver Jameson Williams paints a picture of the locker room,

“Nobody is disappointed I don’t know – everybody’s head is high, we’ve still got a chance. Nobody is in there with a sad face, everybody is happy we get a chance to go to work and do something that we love doing,’’ Williams said.

“It’s not all about the bigger picture that everybody else makes it about. Some people play this game because they love the game. It’s not about the money or pleasing fans or pleasing anybody. As I’ve been looking around and analyzing everybody’s head has been high. We still feel like we got a shot at this,’’ he added.

Five things to watch:

ONE: Run the damn ball. In the first meeting the Lions managed just 65 rushing yards (3.3 yards per carry). It’s one reason they lost. They have lost all six games when they have rushed for less than 100 yards. It happened again on Sunday in the loss to the Steelers. It’s not on Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery – all 11 players on offense are responsible. “Everybody’s got to be on par. One time it’s one player here, whether it’s in the O-line or at another spot, it’s not just there. The backs are involved, receivers, tight ends. So, we just kind of took turns with – whether it was some of the combinations or we’re not honoring the ID, or maybe it’s not the right read,’’ Campbell said referring to the loss to the Steelers.

TWO: Stop the run. The Lions defense has had a miserable time stopping the run. In five of the last six games they’ve allowed more than 100 rushing yards and they lost four of those five. “As you guys know, the rush and coverage always go together. And we have not worked in unison for a number of plays. We’ve gotten hit on a number of plays,’’ Campbell said. “Some of that is – we play a certain style, right? And then if you feel like you’re not executing there, then you try to give some help in areas. Well, I kind of mentioned this last week, when you do that, then you expose yourself and others. And that happened a little bit (Sunday), we tried to play with a lighter box, and then we got hit in the run game. Some of them we missed some tackles that showed up. Where we fit, who the support player is, that showed. It’s obviously – it’s too much, man, it’s not sustainable.’’

THREE: Quarterback J.J. McCarthy has been ruled out with a hairline fracture in his hand. Max Brosmer, who has played in five games with one start this season, will get the nod. He’s completed 66 percent of his passes with 0 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. “If you give him time to see it he can throw it, he’s got receivers to throw to. I know that,’’ Campbell said. “The guy is accurate and so I think it really falls in line with anybody we play at this point. We have to disrupt him and we can’t let the run game get going. They’re going to lean on him, they’re going to use the run game because it will alleviate a ton of pressure and if we let them open the flood gates it’s going to be a long day for us.

FOUR: In the previous game the Vikings sacked Goff five times. Obviously adjustments have to be made. “We know in totality we have to be better, that’s us as coaches, we have to execute better. I go back to the game where we made so many mistakes all over the map, we’ve got to eliminate the errors,’’ Campbell said “Our backs are going to have to protect, they know that so is the O-line and so are the tight ends at times, chip and nudge. Sometimes you have to beat the rush with your receivers. And Goff has to roll. It takes everybody.’’

FIVE: Goff rarely has a bad outing. He needs another strong showing. “There’s going to be a ton put on Goff. He’s going to have a lot on his plate. He always has a lot on his plate. Nothing’s new there,’’ Campbell said. “But these guys present a lot of problems, a lot of challenges, it starts there. We have to play fast, we’ve got to play fast, we have to make sure we communicate – everybody is doing the same things.’’

LIONS INJURIES: OUT – Avonte Maddox and Giovanni Manu; QUESTIONABLE — Amon-Ra St. Brown, Taylor Decker, David Montgomery, Trystan Colon, Marcus Davenport, Khalil Dorsey, Tom Kennedy, Christian Mahogany, Alim McNeill, Al-Quadin Muhammad, Amik Robertson

VIKINGS INJURIES: OUT — J.J. McCarthy, T.J. Hockenson, Ryan Kelly and Jordan Mason.

PREDICTION: Lions 27, Vikings 24.

Five things to watch as Lions face Steelers in must-win game; plus injury updates

In a must-win game, the Lions, which have been a resilient team all season, once again need to bounce back after last week’s loss at the Rams.

Detroit hasn’t lost back–to-back games in three years, but in this stretch they also haven’t won back-to-back games.

To have a shot at a wild-card playoff berth the Lions must win their final three games starting with Sunday’s matchup against the Steelers at Ford Field. Then they hit the road at the Vikings on Christmas Day and then at the Chicago Bears on the final weekend.

They have shown glimpses of complementary football — like in the win over Dallas — but inconsistency is an issue. It’s frustrating to Campbell and the whole team.

With the defense giving up 30 or more points in the last three games, the offense’s margin for error is miniscule.

“When you struggle to run the ball, then to keep up or to stay ahead of them, you have to be perfect in the pass game. We have no margin for error to not have a completion, or miss on a shot play, or give up a sack,’’ Campbell said. “Like, we don’t have that. And that’s very difficult if you’re asking that of your pass game in today’s game and the League, the way it’s set up. So, it does, it puts a lot of strain on you.’’

Campbell said it all goes hand-in-hand.

“Offensively we can help the defense, and in turn the defense helps the offense, and then you gain a little confidence, you find your way,’’ the coach said.

Five things to watch:

ONE: The running back talent is there in Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, but they need help and didn’t get it in the loss to the Rams. It’s happened before and they came back and fixed it. “It’s a lot of technique stuff. The scheme is there, it’s good. We just have to make sure we use the right technique coming off the ball so we don’t get beat,’’ offensive coordinator John Morton said. “That’s the biggest thing, that’s the biggest thing. And then sometimes you’ve got to narrow down things so you can make sure you get all the right looks, the certain looks. Sometimes that’s good to be simple. But bottom line, it’s just coming off the ball and using the right technique and being disciplined.’’

TWO: Not all of the Lions woes fall on the shoulders of the defense but no question they need to upgrade their play. They remain confident they can finish the final three game stretch strongly. “Because we’ve seen it all here, collectively. As an organization, as a defensive unit, as a team. We’ve been at the lowest of low where everybody wanted all the players out, all the coaches out,’’ Sheppard said. “And we’ve seen the highest of high where you’re expected to win every football game and play at a high level and then everything in between that. So, we know there’s ebbs and flows, peaks and valleys within the course of a year. You just have to absolutely make sure you’re peaking during this time of the year.’’

THREE: Aaron Rodgers has come on strong at age 42. He’s gone four games without an interception and only seven all season — against 22 touchdown passes. He poses a problem for defenses because he gets rid of the ball so fast. “He’s not hitting the ground, so just focus on how I can affect the game knowing that,’’ Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said. “And these guys are very aware of that. Aaron Rodgers definitely is familiar with our personnel and people and he knows the guys that can affect him in that way. And I would imagine he has a plan. So, it’s not getting caught up in, ‘We need to hit Rodgers.’ Collectively again, as a unit – going into this game, understanding the task at hand. How do we collectively get this mission accomplished? And these guys are doing that thus far in the two days that we’ve been prepping.”

FOUR: With offensive line injuries Jared Goff has seen multiple fronts. He’s seen the pass protection evolve in recent weeks even with the rotation at left guard. It’s questionable if center Graham Glasgow or left guard Christian Mahogany will be available on Sunday. Campbell still wants to see more protection for his quarterback. “You’d love to come out of the season and say there’s no quarterback hits. Well, that’s not reality. But you’re always going to want more. And look, it’s not the easiest thing to roll guards in there,’’ Campbell said. “You get an injury, now it’s a new guard. And now it’s this one, (Trystan) Colon’s in, now (Miles) Frazier’s in. And so, that’s not easy. But I think we’re doing the right thing, and doing what we feel like is giving us the best chance at this point. It’s not perfect, but I think it’s where we’re at and what we need to do.”

FIVE: The defense giving up explosive plays has been an issue the last four games. It’s been a focus but it still a problem. “You see a lot of it’s generated off double moves, leverage, eye discipline, things like that. And then once again, schematically, what can I do to eliminate that? A lot of times if you get double moved and there’s nobody over the top, it’s a touchdown,’’ Sheppard said. “So, just understanding and telling these hard-headed guys that want to play man that, ‘Guys, it’s a time and place for it. But the tape says.’ That’s what I go off of, facts, which is tape in our business. The tape says it’s time to kind of alter a little bit. And that just doesn’t mean we’re going to turn into safeties over the top outfit. There are going to be certain techniques that change within the single-high stuff that can help these guys, and we think we’re all going to benefit from it.”

LIONS INJURIES: OUT — S Kerby Joseph (placed on IR), OL Giovanni Manu; QUESTIONABLE — LT Taylor Decker, C Graham Glasgow, G Christian Mahogany, DB Amik Robertson and OL Trystan Colon.

STEELERS INJURIES: OUT — LB T.J. Watt, G Isaac Seumalo, CB James Pierre; DOUBTFUL — LB Nick Herbig; QUESTIONABLE — LS Christian Kuntz.

PREDICTION: Lions 28, Steelers 24