Ford Field – Lions Lowdown

With renewed sense of urgency, Lions coach Dan Campbell says answer is to get back to work

ALLEN PARK — Dan Campbell’s message to his team on Monday was simple: Go back to work.

After the 41-34 loss at the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, the Lions saw their playoff hopes dwindle. Still they have a chance to get a playoff berth. First they have to win their three remaining games – Steelers at Ford Field on Sunday, at the Vikings on Christmas Day and at the Chicago Bears on Jan. 4. Or, as Campbell sees it, first they have to beat the Steelers.

“Go back to work. That’s the message. Don’t worry about the what ifs, we have to win so be it,’’ Campbell said on Monday. “…We want to win this one. Keep putting the work in, the focus, the detail and trust the guy next to you is going to do his job You do your job, do it the best you can do it and let’s find a way to win a game.’’

After starting the season 4-1, the Lions (8-6) have alternated wins and losses. Never losing two in a row, but never winning two straight either.

Campbell’s message has been consistent throughout – clean up the errors and go back to work.

“There again, I know this, you say it a number of times, you have to say it a different way, you have to show it a different way,’’ Campbell said. “You never know, the way you say it may be the difference this time or how you get that point across. You keep changing it up, you try to address things in a different way.

“I do believe we’ll get it cleaned up, I do believe we’ll correct those errors. Then it’s up to some of these other guys just because it didn’t happen to you you’ve got to learn from that rep too that’s across the board,’’ ‘added the coach.

After watching film, Campbell said the loss on Sunday came down to three series in the third quarter offensively and defensively.

“That’s what bit us. Basically three touchdowns in 12 plays on defense then 9 plays for 6 yards total in that third quarter stretch,’’ he said. ‘That was tough. There were a number of errors we had, some technique fundamental things that we have to get cleaned up that you can’t get away with a team like that.

“You do anything on any one of those series offense or defense and it changes the dynamic of that game. That’s not good. That’s what bit us. There again, we clean it up and move on,’’ Campbell added. “I know this we’ve got the right guys, we’re a resilient team, we’ve got to win.’’

UP NEXT: Steelers at Lions (8-6), 4:25 p.m. on Sunday at Ford Field.

Lions look to clean up mistakes, get back on track to face Commanders

ALLEN PARK — Coming off a disappointing loss to the Vikings, the message is clear for what the Lions need to do to get back on track Sunday against the Commanders.

“I just want to see us play our brand of football for 60 minutes — our style. I want to see us line up with the urgency, the intensity, I want to see the focus, I want to see the finish on the football – offense and defense,’’ coach Dan Campbell said on Wednesday. “I want to see our playmakers making plays within the scheme, within the system, I want to see our coaches coaching at a high level, I want us playing and coaching on a championship-level.’’

Then there is the kicker.

“More importantly, I want to play a helluva lot better than we did last week. We need to amp this thing up, clean this thing up. Let’s play disciplined football for 60 minutes. It doesn’t have to be perfect, I’m not looking for perfect, let’s clean some of this stuff up,’’ the coach added.

The team has not lost back-to-back games since October 2022, Campbell’s second season. They are a half-game out of first place in the NFC North.

While Minnesota played well, the Lions made it easier for them with too many penalties and miscues.

“I think the biggest deal was that it was very hurtful watching the Lions beat the Lions, ‘’ said Scottie Montgomery, assistant head coach/wide receivers. “… The portion that you really have to look at getting cleaned up as soon as possible is the small details that did not show up in practice — a penalty here, a penalty there. Correctively that’s not on the players, that’s not on the coaches, that’s on the collective whole of what we’re doing. We have to be better there.’’

Immediately after the loss, Campbell noted he was not in panic mode. That may be the biggest key to limiting back-to-back losses. That, and a talented roster and coaching staff.

“It’s kind of who we are, just finding a way to bounce back and be resilient, and playing well after losing a game or not playing well and responding the right way or practicing the right way today like we did today,’’ Goff said on Wednesday. “It’s all who we are and what we’re built for.’’

Montgomery said it’s hard to come back in the building after a tough loss. And Campbell and his mentality are key win or lose.

“I think the biggest deal with Dan is he’s consistent with who he is. The expectations are not created by the outside world, they’re created by his own standards,’’ Montgomery said. “As you look at him and get into the week we’re right back to work. At the same time we do have an understanding of the urgency and what we need to get done. I think he’s very urgent in the way he attacks things. He doesn’t let guys sit on it for a day or two.’’

David Shaw, passing game coordinator, also credits the attitude from the top.

“Coach Campbell is as good as there is, we always turn inward — what can we do better? Coach says it all the time, he starts with himself — what I can do better and everybody else,’’ Shaw said, “Let’s all come together and be better versions of ourselves than we were the week before. We don’t shy away from criticism, because if you want to get better you have to take that criticism.

“We were humming pretty good a few weeks ago. We’re not that far away from it. … We’re not as far away as it looks but sometimes the hardest and most difficult part of what we do is to get that much better.

UP NEXT: Lions (5-3) at Washington Commanders (3-6), 4:25 p.m., Sunday.

Five things to watch as Lions face the Vikings; plus injury update, prediction

Fresh off the bye week, the Lions enter a crucial stretch of the season, starting with the division-rival Vikings on Sunday at Ford Field.

The Lions (5-2) hold second place in the NFC North behind the Packers (5-1-1) and ahead of the Bears (4-3) and Minnesota ((3-4). The Vikings have lost two straight and three of the last four with Carson Wentz at quarterback.

Coach Dan Campbell talked to the team this week about where everything is stacking up in the NFC.

“It’s very competitive, especially at this point in the season for one conference. But all I stated was, ‘Hey, this is where we’re at, this is where these teams are at, and this thing’s about to shake out within the month of November.’ … You’re going to start seeing some risers and fallers, and a lot of these teams are playing each other,’’ Campbell said. .”We’re one of them. So, it really is just handle your business, man. And the bottom line is, find a way to win your division. And we’ve got Minnesota coming in here, that’s No. 1. And then you worry about the next one after that.”

Campbell said external expectations are what they are.

“It’s not about expectations, it’s about our standards,’’ the coach said. “The standards are the standards, and it’s about us playing to those standards, and that’s the most important thing.”

Five things to watch:

ONE: J.J. McCarthy is expected to start for the Vikings on Sunday. The second-year quarterback has just two games of NFL experience but Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said regardless of time on task he’s a threat. Sheppard referred to the Vikings’ Week 1 27-24 win over the Bears when McCarthy threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran 14 yards for a score all in the fourth quarter for the comeback win. “Ultra competitor, a player like that doesn’t get drafted where he was drafted without a reason and I see the reason,’’ Sheppard said. “You turn on the Week 1 game and they were getting stymied in the first half, they came out in the second half and in a way he put that team on his back, he put that offense on his back and you saw how the guys galvanized around him. So that told me something about him.’’

TWO: While the secondary backups – the Legion of Whom – excelled in the win over the Bucs before the bye week, the secondary will look more familiar on Sunday with Brian Branch and possibly Terrion Arnold, Avonte Maddox and Daniel Thomas returning. Still Sheppard loved what he saw from the others. “I mean the names go on and on of the guys that went out and not only just played, not only held the line, but they’ve put some pressure on some of our starters now,’’ Sheppard said. “Like these guys came in and we probably played the best defensive game that we’ve played this year with a bunch of you call it ‘no name,’ whatever. I know these guys’ names, and I know who they are as people and I’m just glad that everybody else does now.”

THREE: During the bye week, the coaches looked at third-down percentage and how to improve it. The Lions rank 22nd in the NFL converting 37.7 percent of third downs. It’s not just third-and-long that is the issue. “I feel like there’s a lot of things we’ve actually missed on third-and-manageable. The mid-range third downs. So we’re where we want to be to have a shot at converting, it’s just we’ve got to get it done,’’ Campbell said. “And that really is collective, it’s all of us. There’s things that we can do to really help our guys and then it falls on them too. So, it’s collective, it’s the whole unit. And I know we talked about that and so look, we’re just going to keep tweaking it, we’re going to keep working on it and hopefully we get better this week.’’

FOUR: Defensively, the red zone play has been ranked in the bottom third of the league. “Statistically I kind of looked at some areas that I believe we should be better and will be better starting with the red zone. When you allow teams down there it’s huge that you limit points in those situations – the 4-point plays,’’ Sheppard said. “As far as when teams are in 7-point striking distance and you only give up a FG. We’ve definitely got to tick up there. Also third-and-11 plus we’re in the bottom 5 of the league.’’

FIVE: Jared Goff has faced Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores enough to know him but that doesn’t make it easier on the quarterback who said he sees some changes from last year.

“Well coached, fast, fly around, good hard-nosed players who play hard for him. It’s a good group,’’ Goff said. “… They want to penetrate, they want to get in the backfield, they want to get typically five or six guys rushing, one-on-ones on everybody. In that case, they run some pick games, they run some stunts, they do a little bit of everything. And they want to disrupt your timing and get in the backfield and it’s up to us up front and me to get the ball out and do everything right.”

LIONS INJURIES: Out — CB Kerby Joseph, RB Craig Reynolds, LB Malcolm Rodriguez; Questionable — LT Taylor Decker, CB Avonte Maddox, RB Sione Vaki and S Daniel Thomas.

VIKINGS INJURIES: Out — FB C.J. Hand, TE Josh Oliver, CB Jeff Okuday; Questionable _ LT Christian Darrisaw, RT Brian O’Neill, EDGE Andrew van Ginkel and DB Josh Metellus.

PREDICTION: Lions 35, Vikings 21

UP NEXT: Lions at Washington Commanders, 4:25 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 16.