David Montgomery – Page 15

Divisional round: Five things to watch as Lions host Bucs; plus prediction

For the Detroit Lions, the next game is the biggest game even if a Super Bowl berth is only two wins away. The Lions face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Divisional Round at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Ford Field. The winner moves on to play the winner between the 49ers and Packers in the NFC Championship game on Jan. 28.

For Lions coach Dan Campbell focus is the key. The Lions, who are 6-point favorites, cannot overlook the Bucs who they beat 20-6 in Week 6.

The coach seems to have gotten that message across this week.

“They know we only have three left here and then you get a bye— after two— and then you get the third one (the Super Bowl). So there’s only three left here, but it all starts with one,’’ Campbell said on Friday. “That’s really the process all year no matter where you’re at — if you lost one, won five in a row, now you’re in the playoffs. Man it’s all about the one in front of you. You have to stay focused on that. Everything we’ve got – full focus on this game.’’

He needs them to do their job one more time for their 14th win this season.

“For any of the butterflies of the first playoff game ever for a lot of guys, got the monkey off your back. Well now you’re in your second playoff game, you ‘ve got experience in that, you understand the environment, you understand what our house is going to be like, which is electric which should give you a surge of energy,’’ Campbell said. “I think this is good, but it’s all focus on one.’’

Five things to watch:

1. A huge difference last week was preventing the Rams from scoring on three trips to the red zone. And, the Lions offense scored on all three trips inside the 20. Numbers like that will go a long way in winning most games during the postseason and really any time. While the Lions excel in the red zone, the Bucs are third best in the NFL in red zone defense. Something’s got to give. “They pressure, pressure but once you get in third down they calm things down and they do what they do and they’re really good at it especially when you get in there really tight,’’ Campbell said. “They’ll play a couple coverages and they don’t care if you know what it is, they’re better at it than you are and they’ve done a great job of it.’’

2. Quarterback Baker Mayfield and his two wide receivers, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, can be a handful. It’s tough to judge his performance in the wildcard win over the Eagles, because Philadelphia’s defense was awful. He was 22 of 36 for 337 yards and three touchdowns. “We’ve got a find to squeeze this in on Baker,’’ Campbell said. “If you let him sit back there and play with rhythm and a hitch, it’s dangerous because he will get it up to his guys and he’s going to give them a chance to make a play. (Mike) Evans is an issue, we can’t let him go off.’’ In their first meeting the LIons held the Bucs to just two field goals.

3. In the first meeting on Oct. 15, Jahmyr Gibbs was out with an injury and David Montgomery left the game early with a rib injury. The Lions managed just 40 rushing yards. It won’t be easy to run the ball since the Bucs have the NFL’s fifth best rushing defense allowing 95.3 yards per game. “They load the box up. They really condense you in there and so it’s hard. It’s tough sledding and we did not rise to the challenge well enough as a whole unit. So, whoever we had up last time, we fell short of our standard and the good news about where we are as an offense is we can shift and we can flow, and that doesn’t shut us down entirely,’’ Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said. “If we can’t run the ball, then we have other ways to attack the defense as well. So, fortunately that was the case the first time we played them. We are still built on the run though. I think our guys upfront, they relish the opportunity to do that, and we’ve got really good backs that we need to get the ball, so hopefully we can have a little more success than the first go around.”

4. Jared Goff has been playing his best football to end the season and was a huge reason the Lions won their first playoff game in 32 years. The fans made it known they loved him with their Jar-ed Goff chants and he returned the love completing 22 of 27 (81 percent) for 277 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions. “He’s at his best when his back is against the wall. Now, it hasn’t been against the wall but he’s doing well. That’s something that has always impressed me,’’ Campbell said. “When things don’t look good or we’re not moving the ball or you have a couple turnovers and you feel like the world is coming in on you. He’s at this best coming out of that.’’

5. The Lions have outscored opponents 111-78 in the first quarters, including jumping out to a 14-3 lead in the first quarter against the Rams last Sunday. Detroit scored on its first two drives. The defense would like the fans to do their part like they did against the Rams. “It is a joy to be able to play at home in front of these guys. And they did a hell of a job assisting us. I don’t know if you noticed, but the two timeouts, I think that had to do something with the crowd noise and him not being able to hear,’’ defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said. “And the quarterback (Matthew Stafford), he knows how Ford Field is, so I’m sure he was expecting that, but man, it was outstanding. It was outstanding. And look forward to it this week.”

INJURY UPDATE: WR Kalif Raymond (knee) is out; TE Sam LaPorta (knee) and LB James Houston (ankle) are questionable.

PREDICTION: Lions 31, Bucs 17. The Lions are the better team since they first met.

Five things to watch as Lions seek playoff win against Rams; plus prediction

The Lions will run onto the Ford Field turf on Sunday night with the NFC North Division banner hanging above them. Getting to the playoffs is an achievement, but it is not enough to make it for this bunch.

The young Lions (12-5) face a Los Angeles Rams (10-7) bunch that won the Super Bowl just two years ago.

Lack of playoff experience for his guys is not a concern for Lions coach Dan Campbell. One reason is the Lions have become NFL darlings of sorts, playing in five primetime games this season and emerging with a 4-1 record in those. So he feels his team is well prepared.

“I know we are. I’m not worried about that, the stage, all of those things because we’ve dealt with that for a while now and I feel like we’re prepared for that,’’ Campbell said. “It’s going to come down to all the same things it does in every game for us, it’s going to be the fundamentals.’’

Mistake-free football wins playoff games. He doesn’t want his players to press to make a play go the other way.

“You’re trying so hard to make a play that you get out of position, or you put a teammate out of position and it puts a strain on everybody around you and all of a sudden, everything breaks down. That’s what we’ve got to stay – just stay focused on that,’’ Campbell said.

“You want to make a play so bad you jump out of your gap and then all of a sudden, they hit you on a run. So, those are the little things, man. Just stay true to what we’ve done and what’s gotten us to this point,’’ the coach said. “We’ve won 12 games for a reason, we’re where we’re at for a reason, let’s do it again.”

The last Lions’ playoff win was on Jan, 5, 1992 – before most of these players were born.

They have a chance to leave a legacy and it starts on Sunday night.

Five things to watch:

1. Matthew Stafford, well known in Detroit, has not slowed down in his 15th NFL season. “He’s a good player, that’s it. We have good players too. It’s good player against good player so let’s go,’’ Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said. Stafford, who has some help with wide receivers Cooper Kupp and breakout rookie Puka Nacua, is rested after sitting out Week 18. This season Stafford threw 24 touchdown passes against a dozen interceptions. He’s back home where he spent his first 12 NFL seasons, but he’s such a pro that emotions should not be a factor once he takes the field.

2. Don’t underestimate the Rams’ rushing attack. The Rams have won seven of their last eight games and in those eight, they have averaged 137.6 rushing yards per game. Running back Kyren Williams is the big threat, averaging 5 yards a carry and good for a dozen rushing touchdowns and three receiving. Something will have to give with the LIons owning the NFL’s second-best rushing defense allowing just 88.8 rushing yards per game. Williams and Nacua can be a handful for defenses by escaping tackles. “I want to make sure it’s emphasized and show clips. Listen, look at these guys, just because (Williams) is a small statured guy he has a strong lower body, same thing with Puka, a strong lower body,’’ Glenn said. “Everybody I talk to, that’s the No. 1 thing I saw is don’t be surprised on how these guys break tackles and it shows up on tape.’’

3. Jared Goff’s playoff experience should pay dividends. He played in six playoff games with the Rams, winning the NFC Championship in overtime at New Orleans and a loss in the Super Bowl, losing 13-3 to the Patriots. While some of his teammates don’t have playoff experience that is not a concern. “We’ve played in a lot of big games, a lot of them. And a lot of these guys have played in big games in college, and yeah we’ll be ready, we’ll be ready,’’ Goff said. “I don’t worry about that for a second. We’ve got a lot of primetime experience under our belt at this point and understand the magnitude of it.”

4. Running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs have to be on their game. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson wasn’t pleased with the run game in the final two games. “Through the second half of the season, really since the bye week, we’ve been trending in the right direction,’’ Johnson said. “The last two games was not what we wanted. Last week we were mistargeted and our communication was off too much.’’ He said one possible fix is less complexity in the game plan.

5. Aaron Donald, future Hall of Famer as Campbell refers to him, is not a one-man band on the Rams’ defensive line. He doesn’t even lead the Rams in sack numbers. He has 8, same as Byron Young and one less than Kobie Turner with 9. “I still like our matchup. I love our O-line and we’ve seen a lot of good defenses this year. We’ve faced a lot of good guys, a lot of good fronts, and have accepted those challenges,’’ Campbell said. “So, this will be no different. This will be a big challenge, our guys accept it and it’s the strength of our team.”

PREDICTION: Lions 31, Rams 27. The Rams may be hot, but the Lions seem to be playing their best at the right time. Playing at Ford Field is a definite advantage.

Five things to watch as Lions face Vikings in regular season finale; plus injury update, prediction

It was just two weeks ago that the Lions beat the Vikings on Christmas eve. It seems longer.

That game clinched the NFC North title for Detroit. It was a huge deal.

Sunday’s rematch at 1 p.m. at Ford Field is another big deal for the Lions (11-5). While the Vikings (7-9), who have lost five of the last six, are just going home afterward, the Lions still have an outside shot at the No. 2 seed in the NFL playoffs. They need a win over Minnesota along with losses by the Cowboys and Eagles.

“You’d love to finish the season with a win, regardless of what’s in front of us after that,’’ quarterback Jared Goff said. “You want to head into the postseason with some momentum, and again, division opponent. They’re a tough team and it’ll be tough.”

You may have heard that the Lions are coming off a loss at Dallas in which they were robbed by referee Brad Allen who screwed up by not calling Taylor Decker eligible for the 2-point conversion. Fans are not over it and neither are many around the NFL who just don’t want to see any team lose in that fashion again. However, the Lions have to be over it. They’re taking their mindset from coach Dan Campbell who said he is full of controlled fury. He’s moved on and so have they.

Five things to watch:

1. While his sack numbers haven’t been as high as last year, Aidan Hutchinson has been getting pressures and getting close. At the Cowboys, he sacked Dak Prescott three times. Hutchinson could be on a roll. “You do all the hard work that you do and especially the way he plays, I mean he just, he’s relentless. He gives everything he’s got to win the rep every time and to almost, and almost, and almost get there and then you get there, and then you get there, and then you get there,’’ Campbell said. “I think that’s pretty satisfying, and I think it’s just – he’s always going to want more, but it makes you want to get more and every time you’re able to beat a double team or to beat a one-on-one a little bit faster, your confidence goes up and you gain experience doing it.” Collectively in the last game against the Vikings, the Lions collectively sacked QB Nick Mullens four times.

2. Vikings WR Justin Jefferson ate up the Lions defense two weeks ago. Expect some adjustments in the Lions’ secondary with the return of veteran defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Jefferson had six catches for 141 yards and a touchdown in that Lions win on Dec. 24. “He’s a difference-maker. He’s a dynamic player and we’ve got our hands full,’’ Campbell said. “But I do like our guys, man our guys are – I always believed they accept the challenge and they’re ready to go.”

3. The defense has been on a roll with takeaways — six in the last two games — which is crucial heading into the playoffs. “I just felt like that was the last little element there for us, defensively, and they’re on the come now. They’re showing up and we’re playing aggressive-style football,’’ Campbell said. “We’re going after the football, we’re getting after the quarterback. Everybody’s doing their responsibility and then our safeties are getting hands on the ball and when they do, they’re making the plays on them. So, and then just – there again, being able to get to the quarterback and get it out of his hand is showing up. So, I want to believe that’s here to stay. My history says it does.”

4. Keep the run game moving. In the first matchup, David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs combined for 146 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. While running backs coach Scottie Montgomery said the win is the thing, each of the guys could reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season. Montgomery is at 975 yards while Gibbs has 915.

5. Look for a few changes on the field with DT Alim McNeill possibly returning. FB Jason Cabinda is expected back. What you will not see is Campbell and the coaching staff getting a look at some of the younger guys for the future. Winning this game is the only thing, getting young players reps will have to wait.

INJURIES: WR Jameson Williams (ankle), TE Brock Wright (hip) and LB James Houston (ankle) are out; DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson (pectoral), DT Benito Jones (illness) and DT Alim McNeill (knee) are questionable.

PREDICTION: Lions 31, Vikings 17. It could be a bigger differential since the Lions still have hopes of a No. 2 seed and the Vikings are done.