David Montgomery – Page 19

Lions coach Dan Campbell makes gutsy calls to earn 41-38 win over Chargers

Dan Campbell has guts and the team to make him look smart. In a 41-38 win at the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, the Lions converted four of five fourth-down attempts.

None was bigger than a fourth-and-2 on the Chargers’ 26-yard line with 1:47 left and the game tied. Jared Goff found an open Sam LaPorta for 6 yards and the first down. Then after three-kneel-downs, Riley Patterson kicked a 41-yard field goal with no time remaining for the win.

That call was the definition of gutsy. It was pure Campbell whose team is now 7-2 and still atop the NFC North.

“I wanted to finish with the ball and so I trusted our guys. I trust (Jared) Goff. Going into that situation, there could be a lot of time left (if) you kick a field goal. I wanted to finish with the ball in our hands,’’ Campbell said. “I liked were we were at offensively. We were playing good, Goff was in a good spot. I thought it was the right thing to do.’’

He didn’t really have to defend himself, since the call resulted in the win but the media asked him repeatedly about it.

“To each his own. Some say it’s a boneheaded move, some say it’s not. I made the decision and I stick by that decision,’ Campbell said.

Goff, for one, loved the call.

“We love when he puts us in those positions to make those plays. He’s got balls of steel and today he showed it,’’ Goff told CBS.

Campbell said he thought he might melt into his seat on the long plane ride back to Detroit. He got what he wanted out of his team.

“I wanted us to play fast, physical and violent and truly compete,’’ Campbell said. “I did feel that way in all three phases.’’

Other than the coach’s gutsiness, five reasons the Lions won:

1. Give credit to offensive coordinator Ben Johnson for finding what worked. When it appeared the Chargers’ defense had all the answers, Johnson pulled more plays out of his bag of tricks – at least enough to win. He had a healthy crew and knew how to push the buttons. Goff had seven different pass catchers with at least two receptions a piece.

2. Running backs David Mongomery and Jahmyr Gibbs are a perfect combination and finished with a total of 193 rushing yards. They give the Lions a run game they haven’t had since perhaps the Barry Sanders era. “This is part of the vision coming alive – those two back there, the two-headed monster, they both deliver something different, they’re both very unique and they’re dangerous, both of them,’’ Campbell said. “It’s good to see that. Gibbs continues to grow and it’s great to have David back, he played at a high level.’’ Montgomery had a dozen carries for 116 yards and a touchdown. Gibbs had 14 carries for 77 yards and two touchdowns along with three catches for 35 yards. Even more amazing is they did it against the Chargers defense which had allowed just 89.8 rushing yards per game.

3. Jared Goff is not sure he’d like to play a shootout every week, but he managed in this one. The California native finished 23 of 33 for 333 yards and two touchdowns and a 122.4 rating. He never appeared rattled. No mistakes, completed 69.7 percent of his passes. Campbell has said it before and he said it again after the game, “We’ve got a quarterback.” In the NFL that is absolutely huge. Of course he got some help. Amon-Ra St. Brown had eight catches for 156 yards and a touchdown. “He’s a stud,” Campbell said of St. Brown.

4. The defense allowed the Chargers to gain 421 net yards which was not exactly the goal going in. However they got key stops at times to give the offense a chance to win. “Defensively we played really good early and they started getting us in the no-tempo,’’ Campbell said. “We have to clean up the composure a little bit and get the call, get lined up and just play ball. That will all be stuff we correct.’’ Early in the fourth quarter, the Chargers got the ball to the Lions’ 1-yard line and the defense stuffed them for five plays (including a penalty) before allowing a touchdown on fourth-and-goal at the 1. The Chargers converted all three fourth-down attempts and half of their third-down attempts.

5. The offensive line is healthy with Jonah Jackson and Frank Ragnow returning after being injured. They protected Goff big-time. “Not only were there no sacks, but I never got hit,’’ Goff said. “… It typically doesn’t happen against a good defensive line.’’ He did say he fell to the turf a few times but blamed himself for that.

NEXT UP: Chicago Bears (3-7) at Lions, 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 19, at Ford Field.

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

Lions coach Dan Campbell said Saturday’s cross-country plane ride to Los Angeles should be good for his players who will be able to put their feet up and relax after a tough week of practice.

Coming off the bye, the Lions (6-2) will face the Los Angeles Chargers (4-4) who have won two straight and are coming off a Monday night win over the Jets.

This game, which starts at 4:05 p.m., also marks the start of the second half of the season which obviously is key to the Lions’ playoff hopes.

“Now, we’re not guaranteed six more wins playing the way we played in the first half. We have to get better, we have to,’’ Campbell said. “Every year there are teams that are jockeying for these spots, what happens is some of these teams that look pretty good right now begin to fall and some of these other teams will start rattling off some wins. We have to improve and I believe we can. We still have not put a complete game together will all three phases in one game.’’

Quarterback Jared Goff, who is one reason the Lions have won six games, agrees with Campbell that the Lions have room for improvement.

“I think there’s a lot of meat on the bone, both for offense and defense,’’ Goff said. “I’m sure they’d say the same thing where we feel like maybe the Carolina game was a complete game, but other than that, I don’t know if we’ve really had one, and how do we get closer to that as the season comes to an end? And no reason to not start this week and try to put together a complete game this week as well.”

Five things to watch:

1. The Chargers defense has held opponents to just 89.8 rushing yards per game. The Lions have to find a way to get through. They will benefit from the return of RB David Montgomery, who has missed two games, and the maturation before our eyes of rookie Jahmyr Gibbs. The Lions average 131.4 rushing yards per game so something has to give.

2. Chargers’ quarterback Justin Herbert has gone three straight games without an interception while passing for six touchdowns in that span. He’s played at a consistent level throughout his career. “Any quarterback that’s had the consistency he’s had — No. 1 he’s got ability, he’s a smart guy, but man he’s got it – he’s wired right. He’s tough, he can read the field very well,’’ Campbell said. “I know they can put a lot on his plate – the runs, the checks,the audibles. And he’s highly competitive. Usually if you have all those traits it’s hard not to be a pretty good player.’’ Campbell also said that Jared Goff has those same traits.

3. Goff will be facing a defense that had eight sacks in the win over the Jets on Monday night with Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipuotu breaking through for 6.5 of those. “We’ve seen some good pressure players too, we just faced one before the bye in (Maxx) Crosby. He’s pretty good too,’’ Campbell said. “We’ve seen our fair share, (I) certainly like our tackles and like our O-line, but we’re going to have to have a plan for those guys.’’

4. After the offensive line played seven different formations in the first eight games due to injury, it appears all will be healthy for Sunday. Ironman Graham Glasgow, who has played at center and right guard could be the starter at right guard over Halapoulivaati Vaitai who is struggling to get fully healthy, Campbell said Glasgow has earned that right. “Certainly Graham has been productive for us and he has been productive at three different spots, LG, center and right guard before that,’’ Campbell said. “He’s a steady, reliable piece for us.” Ragnow, who missed one game, will be back at center and a healthy Jonah Jackson, who has missed three games, will be back at left guard.

5. Campbell and Chargers coach Brandon Staley are two of the more aggressive coaches in the NFL. Don’t expect that to change on Sunday. “I think you’ve got to play the way you feel. Certainly there are things he believes in, there are things I believe in, I don’t think that gets altered by either one of us, we’re going to do what we’re going to do,’’ Campbell said

BONUS: Wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones went through his first week with the offense It’s not a certainty that he will be active. Campbell will make the decision after talking to WR coach Antwaan Randle El and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. “I want to make sure he’s comfortable too, I do,’’ Campbell said.

PREDICTION: Lions 28, Chargers 24

Five things to watch as Lions face Bucs at Tampa Bay; plus, prediction

With a 4-1 record, good enough to lead the NFC North, Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell admitted this week that the team is having fun.

“You’re putting in the world and it’s paying dividends,’’ Campbell said.

The Lions are blowing up a few franchise records and not just winning games, but winning them convincingly. They’ve outscored their opponents 96-50 in the last three games. All wins, by the way. It’s the first time since 1997 that the Lions have won three straight games by 14 or more points.

The Lions have produced at least 350 total net yards in each of the first five games of the season for the second time in team history and the first since 1954.

They cannot let the foot off the pedal with Bucs (3-1) coming up on Sunday at Tampa Bay at 4:25 p.m. (The game was flexed from its original time of 1 p.m.)

“Tampa is playing good football right now, 3-1. I’ve coached with (Bucs coach) Todd Bowles at Miami, known him a long time. I think he’s an excellent coach. He’s doing a great job out there,’’ Campbell said. “Playing good defense, they’re committed to the run on offense. Baker (Mayfield)’s playing good football. They’re plus-seven in the turnover ratio, which has been big for them. They’re converting on third down. Defensively, they’re stingy in the red zone, so we’ve got our hands full.’’

Five things to watch:

1. Stopping the run has been a key to the defense. They’ve allowed a measly 342 yards through five games in team history since at least 1932. They can’t let up against Tampa Bay RB Rachaad White, the top rusher with 206 yards, averaging 3.3 yards per carry.

2. On the other side, Lions RB David Montgomery has been carrying the load and showing no signs of letting up. He’s the first Lions to rush for 100 yards and a touchdown in consecutive games since 2004. “He’s a stud. He’s a stud. He’s fit in just perfectly with us and does such a great job every day,’’ Jared Goff said. “And obviously, you guys see him on gameday, the stuff he does, but his leadership, his ability both in the run and the pass, his attention to detail in protection I think is pretty special for a running back.’’

3. Getting pressure on the quarterback is another key to the defense’s success. Defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson has 35 quarterback pressures in first five games which is tops in the NFL. They’ll have their hands full with Baker Mayfield who is the Bucs’ second leading rusher.

4. Jared Goff may be playing the best football of his career. He has total control of the offense, completing 69.8 percent of his passes with nine touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He’ll need his offensive line to come up big again against NT Vita Vea. “He’s one of the best players at his position in the League and can move the pocket, can push the pocket, can play well in the run game as well,’’ Goff said. “But yeah, he can get in the backfield and cause some problems.” Of course Goff has got a few good weapons like Amon-Ra St. Brown (who could play this week), WR Josh Reynolds who has stepped up this season and rookie tight end Sam LaPorta who is playing like a veteran with 25 catches for 289 yards and three touchdowns.

5. The Lions must play with the intensity that they’ve displayed in these first five games. This should not be an issue with Dan Campbell leading them. “I mean any time you win, it’s fun. It makes everything a little bit lighter. There’s a little more peace to it in the moment. … You want to just continue to try to stack them up and get better than you were and so it’s a good thing right now,’’ the coach said.

PREDICTION: Lions 31, Bucs 28. Tampa is coming off their bye so they’ve had more time to prepare. However, Detroit is on such a roll just can’t see a Lions’ loss.