Tag: David Montgomery

Lions continue to roll, knocking off division-rival Packers, 24-14

Five reasons Detroit won its sixth straight game

Throw the Lions a challenge – like pouring rain, wind and a slippery field — and they do not flinch. They march forward because that’s what they do.

The conditions were nasty at Lambeau Field on Sunday where the Lions played their first outdoor game of the season. No problem. 

Detroit dominated the Green Bay Packers, 24-14, in a key NFC North battle.

“I’m not shocked one bit that we came out here and played pretty good football out in the elements,’’ coach Dan Campbell said. “We’re built for this. Just because we play indoors it doesn’t matter. We can play anywhere — we can play in the snow, play in the rain, play in the mud, that’s just us. We’re built to win, man.’’

 The Lions remain atop the NFC North and are 2-0 in division games. It was their third straight road win at Lambeau, the first time that happened since 1986-88.

Detroit  took a 17-3 lead at the half after a pick six by Kerby Joseph and never looked back.
“You can’t brush over the things you’re not doing well. Just because you got a win you’ve got to make sure we’re identifying those things we have to get cleaned up because we’ll get exposed,’’ Campbell said. “There are things all over this tape, there are things we have to clean up in a hurry across the board and we will.’’

Five reasons the Lions won:

ONE: Jared Goff was his normal, calm, amazing self despite the wind and rain that pelted the field at Lambeau. He finished 18 of 22 for 145 yards, 1 touchdown and a 109.3 rating. It was his fifth straight game without throwing an interception. “I’ve just grown so much mentally and physically, as you get older you learn when to take the chances and when not to,’’ goff said. “I know I’ve said this before but I just feel like I’m playing pretty disciplined and trying to take care of the ball and get in our playmakers hands. There’s a couple I’d like back today.

TWO: Running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs continued their dominance with a combined 138 rushing yards. A slick field? Not a problem for these guys. It was Gibbs’ third straight game with a touchdown and his fourth in the last three games. 

THREE: The defense could have dropped their shoulders and  packed it in after safety Brian Branch was kicked out of the game in the second quarter for a helmet-to-helmet hit. They did not. Safety Kerby Joseph had a pick six and Packers QB Jordan Love moved the ball (411 total yards) but couldn’t score going one of four in the red zone. With 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter when it looked like the Packers might get into the endzone, Detroit’s defense made a fourth-down stand and got the ball back.

FOUR: Red zone dominance. The Lions were two of four in the red zone which is a dropoff from their two previous wins but still good enough to win. The  Lions were 5 of 5 in the red zone against the Titans and 1-0 against the Vikings.

FIVE: Green Bay’s mistakes were so costly. That includes 10 penalties costing 67 yards compared to just five for Detroit. Brandon McManus missed a 46-yard field goal. Love has thrown at least one interception in each game this season. The Packers fumbled three times but were able to recover them.  Early in the week Dan Campbell said he thought the game would come down to a key mistake late in the game. Instead it was the Packers’ mistakes throughout.

UP NEXT: Lions (7-1) at Houston Texans (6-3), 8:20 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 10. The next matchup for the Lions and Packers is at Ford Field, 8:20 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5.

Aside from grass stains, 5 things to watch as Lions face Packers at Lambeau

Lions coach Dan Campbell can’t wait to get to Lambeau Field on Sunday for a big divisional game with the Green Bay Packers (5-2) who have won four straight and his Lions (6-1) who have won five in a row.

“How exciting this is, to be able to play these types of games, these big-time games, environment, division game on the road, at a place that’s – it’s one of those things that God created, it’s where football began a little bit,’’ Campbell said.

“So anyway, we’re looking forward to this. We’ll be in the elements, which is great. This is like one of those – you hope for this. I think we’ll be all-white, so we’ll have the grass stains and everything rolling, man, it’s going to be good old football, the way it’s meant to be played. So, excited, great opponent, but our guys are fired up, man, they’re looking forward to this,’’ the coach added.

Rain is in the forecast for Green Bay which could add a little mud to the grass stains.

“ I think (rain) evens the playing ground across the board, really. It can neutralize rushers, it can neutralize speed, change of direction, but at the end of the day, here’s what you do know, whoever can get their feet in the ground and don’t slip, those are going to be your best players on Sunday in the elements, and we have some of those guys, a lot of them,’’ Campbell said. “So, we’re looking forward to it. Look, they play on that grass, they understand what it is, and it won’t be new to them either and they’ve got plenty of good players. So, I just think it’s great, it’s a throwback to football and it’s good.”

Five things to watch: 

ONE: Packers quarterback Jordan Love is officially questionable with a groin injury that limited him in practice this week after injuring it last Sunday. He could be a gametime decision. Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said he’s prepared whether Love plays or if Malik Willis gets his third start. “ We don’t know who’s going to play, but we will have a plan for both of those guys. And the offense is not just totally different offense for those guys, we just know what they both bring to the table,’’ Glenn said. “The only thing that you will see is probably more run oriented with Malik than Jordan, and we’ll have a plan for that.”  Love is more interception prone — he has nine against 15 touchdowns — and has been picked off at least once in every game. Willis in a limited role has thrown three touchdowns and zero interceptions.

TWO: The Lions have given up an average of 148.5 rushing yards in each of the last two weeks. It doesn’t get easier trying to stop Packers RB Josh Jacobs. “lThere’s a tick-up on how they’re operating as far as the violence and the physical nature of the game because of who they have running the ball,’’ Glenn said. “So, it’s going to be a challenge for us and we have to do everything we can to make sure we stop that because if you let that happen, that’s not good for a defense to allow a team to run the ball and then be able to have the play-action passes that they have with these receivers that they have. So, we have to do a good job in that aspect.” Jacobs has been limited this week with an ankle injury.

THREE: Campbell said the game could come down to one mistake. The turnover battle will be key and the Lions and Packers are the top two NFL teams in takeaways. The Lions have 15 (four of them in the 52-14 win over the Titans), the Packers have 19. Detroit has the advantage in giveaways with only five on the season which is tied for fourth in the NFL. Goff has gone four straight games without an interception. The Packers have a dozen giveaways. Jordan Love has thrown nine interceptions with at least one in each game. Willis, in a limited role, has thrown three touchdowns and zero interceptions.

FOUR: The Lions have averaged an insane 43 points in the last four games. Can the offense be stopped? Bill Belichick doesn’t see that happening. He explained it to Jared Goff on the SiriusXM show “Let’s Go” this week.  “Honestly it’s impossible, I think, for a defense to really stop your offense, there are too many weapons. The offensive line’s too good. Blitzing is not the answer. Not blitzing is not the answer. In playing you guys, to me it would just be hang on and try to create as many long drives and as many long situations as possible. But that’s hard because you have so many explosive players and you do such a good job at distributing the ball.” Jared Goff joined Belichick and Jim Gray on their Sirius XM show, “Let’s Go” this week.

FIVE: Resilience must be a part of the Lions’ GRIT equation. It’s a trait they seem to have in abundance. Aidan Hutchinson lost for the season? The defense finds a way to win and moves forward. Jameson Williams suspended again? The team scores seven touchdowns without him. Hutchinson is not the only key guy to be sidelined with injuries, there are plenty and the Lions keep winning. “I haven’t been a part of a team built this tough from top to bottom,’’ said Scottie Montgomery, assistant head coach/running backs.

LIONS INJURY UPDATE: DL Josh Paschal (illness), LB Malcolm Rodriguz (ankle) and DT Brodric Martin (knee) are out; DL Mekhi Wingo (ankle) and RB Sione Vaki (knee) are doubtful. Note: WR Jameson Williams is suspended for this game.

PACKERS INJURY UPDATE: S Evan Williams (hamstring) is out; C/G Josh Myers (wrist) is doubtful; QB Jordan Love (groin), RB Josh Jacobs (ankle) and CB Jaire Alexander (knee) are questionable.

PREDICTION: Lions 45, Packers 35

Six Lions score TDs, as Detroit rolls over Titans 52-14, improves record to 6-1

DETROIT — It didn’t matter that the Tennessee Titans had only managed one win, the Detroit Lions were primed for a battle on Sunday. When it was over — heck even at the half — there was no doubt the Lions were not overlooking the Titans (1-6). 

In the end, it was a solid 52-14 butt-kicking on Sunday at Ford Field. It’s the first time since 1956, the Lions have started a season 6-1.

“We did come out to fight and that’s what we expect. I felt that we were going to be ready and it’s like I told them, that’s what champions do,’’ coach Dan Campbell said. “You come out, you don’t care what time of day it is, what the records are, what the surface is, you come out and handle your business and we did that.’’

Six different players scored touchdowns. Jared Goff threw for just 85 yards and three touchdowns. “I’ll take it,’’ Goff said. 

Special teams was huge with a Kalif Raymond punt return for a touchdown and other solid returns. And the defense came up with huge plays.

“We did not play our cleanest ball, we really didn’t. However when you have four takeaways on defense and you’re 5-for-5 in the red zone and you have the returns that our special teams unit had – punt return and kick return – you can get a lot of production, things sway your way,’’ Campbell said.

The coach regularly talks about complementary football with all three units playing key roles. That’s exactly what happened against the Titans. 

Detroit was not looking to break franchise records, Campbell had them prepared to fight and win.

“It’s really just about the one that’s in front of us. I don’t feel like we’re going for the next record. We’re just playing ball, we’re trying to play as clean as we can, we’re trying to be as productive as we can,’’ Campbell said. “The players they’re urgent about it, accountable to it and they want more.’’

Five of the reasons the Lions won:

ONE: Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator, is the best in the business. The Titans had only won one game, but their defense had played well. Obviously Johnson just picked it apart. He didn’t need Jared Goff to be a superhero, he had plenty of options and used them. Backup QB Hendon Hooker got valuable playing experience in the fourth quarter. Six different players scored touchdowns. “Ben, he can draw up anything for anybody. He puts us in the best position every week. It’s so cool he’ll talk about something over and over in a week and coverages and what we’re expecting. You get to the game and it’s like this is exactly what he said it’s going to be,’’ WR/returner Kalif Raymond said. Detroit was without WR Jameson Williams, who was suspended by the NFL, but they have enough depth on offense to score 52 points without him.

TWO: Can’t imagine that many teams have had better field position all day. Kahil Dorsey had a 72-yard kickoff return and Kalif Raymond had 5 punt returns for 190 yards including a 90-yard touchdown return. Those short drives set up well for the Lions and they made the most of them, going 5-of-5 in the red zone. Give special teams coordinator Dave Fipp a game ball too. He had his group ready like he always does. 

THREE: Campbell pointed out early in the week that turnovers had been an issue for the Titans. The Lions took advantage of that weakness. QB Mason Rudolph was intercepted twice in the first half. And in the second half two Titans’ fumbles were recovered by the Lions. Detroit has had 10 takeaways in the last three games. Campbell said it’s something they emphasize by doing a takeaway circuit everyday in practice. “The interceptions will come and if the ball carrier is loose with it naturally those will, but the ones you have to work on are the punchouts —  the attention to it, find it, locate it,hit it, get it out, grabbing the front of the ball, pulling, stripping,’’ Campbell said, adding it’s contagious. Kerby Joseph and Trevor Nowaske intercepted quarterback Mason Rudolph while Amik Robertsn forced a fumble that was recovered by Carlton Davis in the third. Then in the fourth, Robertson again forced a fumble which was recovered by Isaiah Thomas.

FOUR: Running back Jahmyr Gibbs broke loose for a 70-yard touchdown scamper early in the game and he was just getting started. He and David Montgomery continued to work their rushing magic. They finished with a combined 160 rushing yards. As an added dimension, Montgomery threw a touchdown pass to Sam LaPorta late in the first half to give the Lions a 35-14 edge at the half. Goff said they’d been working on that play for a few years and it was the right time to use it. Montgomery also opened the scoring on a 7-yard rushing touchdown. 

FIVE: The Lions banged-up defense hung in there after they got off to a bit of a slow start. The game was tied 14-14 early in the second quarter and then they held the Titans scoreless the rest of the way. Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez injured an ankle early and could not return. Like his linebacker teammates he’s a Swiss Army knife kind of guy and was missed. The defense came up with a huge goal-line stand late in the first half. They still miss Aidan Hutchinson and could definitely use some pass rush help before next Sunday. (Hutchinson was watching the game from a Ford Field suite and got the biggest applause of the day when he was shown on the jumbo-tron.)

UP NEXT: Detroit Lions (6-1) at Green Bay Packers (5-2), 4:25 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 3.