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
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