Tag: Green Bay Packers

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.

Five reasons the Lions pulled off a 44-30 win over the Cowboys

DETROIT — After a disappointing loss to the Packers on Thanksgiving, the Lions bounced back in a huge way with a 44-30 win over the Cowboys on Thursday night at Ford Field.

With the victory, the Lions (8-5) kept their playoff chances alive. The Cowboys (6-6-1) had their three-game win streak snapped and saw their playoff hopes dwindle.

In the last three years Detroit is now 15-0 following a loss. 

“The intensity, the urgency. The guys don’t ever get frazzled, they don’t get panicked, they just go to work,’’ coach Dan Campbell said. “They did it again.’’

The Lions never fell behind, leading 20-9 at the half and keeping their foot on the gas.

They played complementary football with the offense scoring 44 points, the defense coming up with big plays when it mattered most including forcing three turnovers and special teams pitched in too. Jake Bates kicked three field goals (another was blocked) and kick returners gave the offense good field position throughout and the opposite for Dallas.

“Everything was big and the guys really stepped up. We did, we played complementary football that above all is what really makes a difference,’’ Campbell said. “That’s what good teams do. It doesn’t matter how good your offense or defense is if you’re not able to help each other out when you need it with one of the phases it makes it tough and we were able to do that.’’

Five reasons the Lions won:

ONE: The offensive line helped give Goff more protection than he had a week ago. They weren’t perfect – Trystan Colon and rookie MIles Frazier alternated at left guard in place of the injured Kayode Awosika. Dan Skipper provided much help as the sixth lineman. Having Amon-Ra St. Brown back was huge (6 catches 92 yards).  “St. Brown is what we are, where he goes, we go,’’ Campbell said. He wasn’t sure St. Brown’s ankle would be well enough to play until Wednesday. Goff was 25 of 34 for 309 yards and a touchdown. He was sacked just once.

TWO: Running back Jahmyr Gibbs ran for three touchdowns while David Montgomery added another. The Dallas defense just didn’t have an answer for them. Gibbs converted a third-and-8 in the third when he caught the ball near the sideline, stopped and deked DaRon Bland out of his cleats to get extra yards for first down. It was a thing of beauty. Gibbs had 7 catches for 77 yards and a dozen runs for 43 yards, while Montgomery ran 6 times for 60 yards and had one 13-yard catch.

THREE: The defense came up with big plays when needed. First snap of third quarter Derrick Barnes intercepted Dak Prescott and two plays later Goff connected with rookie Isaac TeSlaa for a 12-yard touchdown. Prescott passed for 376 yards and a touchdown, threw a pair of interceptions and was sacked five times. Al-Quadin Muhammad sacked Prescott three times.

FOUR: The Lions were 3 of 8 on third downs, but often they were moving the ball so well they didn’t get to third down. Campbell opted for field goals on a few drives instead of going for the TD on fourth down. No fourth-down attempts.

FIVE: Play calling on both sides was more effective. Jameson Williams finished with 7 catches for 96 yards. It was an all-around better effort. The Lions looked more like the team from weeks ago when they were ranked as one of the best in the NFL.  “We challenged a number of our guys and they really showed up for us. That team (Dallas) is hot – it was a hot team coming in here. That’s a potent offense,’’ Campbell said. “Was it perfect? No. We still have some stuff that wasn’t good.’’

NEXT UP: Lions at Los Angeles Rams, 4:25 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14.

Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard demands more from the lackluster pass rush

ALLEN PARK — Early in the season, the Lions defense helped carry the load. Lately, not so much. The Lions have lost three of their last five games heading into Thursday night’s home matchup with the red-hot Dallas Cowboys.

The line’s pass pressure has been lacking in recent weeks. And while sacks are not everything, the pressure has been limited too. In the Thanksgiving loss to Green Bay, Jordan Love was not sacked and Alim McNeill accounted for the Lions only quarterback hit. Winning at the line of scrimmage is critical. It’s not happening.

Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard takes some of the blame but he demands more from his players – all of them.

“I don’t think we’ve affected the quarterback to play any style these last couple of weeks.  I don’t care what kind of style you’re going for. The guys understand that,’’ Sheppard said on Monday. “Again, that starts with me. You’ve got to win one-on-ones, no sh–. Yeah, you have to win one-on-ones in this league. I also have to find ways to try to maximize what we do have at our disposal and put these guys in the optimal position to be able to win, give them tools to win. It’s our job to eliminate any gray, any hesitation in play and it’s their job to go out and execute.’’

The defense has just two sacks in the last three games. Against the Giants, Aidan Hutchinson’s sack helped win the game in overtime. It was the only sack in the game.

All of the woes do not fall on Hutchinson’s shoulders. It’s not a one-man defense and he is usually double-teamed. He has 8.5 sacks in the first 12 games. His production is down a bit from last season when he had 7.5 sacks in five games before he broke his leg.

“What I know is I have a high-level, one of the best, if not the best, EDGE rushers in this league,’’ Sheppard said. “He knows, just like we know, people are going to plan for him, that’s why he is one of the best and he has to combat that. It isn’t a one-man show. Other people have to win.’’

Sheppard said the key to turn pressure into sacks is to just finish.

“A lot of too-close, almost-happening, still in November going into December where that absolutely won’t be tolerated,’’ Sheppard said. “Being close isn’t good enough. You have to make that play and that’s coverage and rush — they marry each other.

“There’s no dominant defensive secondary in this league without a good pass rush, there’s no good pass rush without some type of coverage happening on the back end,’’ Sheppard added. “Our guys understand that and we have to find a way to mesh and gel those at the highest level this week against one of the top, if not the top, offense in the NFL right now.’’

Coach Dan Campbell said they have to improve on details, discipline and fundamentals.”We’ve got to get better. It can’t just be you’re going to win off talent or things of that nature. It was really more about pointing out all the things that have nothing to do with talent, which really are the details, the discipline, and the fundamentals,’’ Campbell said. “So, we’ve just got to be a little more on point there. We can, everybody’s got to do their job. And that’ll help, that’ll go a long way.”

UP NEXT:  Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1) at Detroit Lions (7-5), 8:15 p.m. on Thursday.