Tag: Green Bay Packers

Lions snap Thanksgiving losing streak in 23-20 win over the Bears

DETROIT — It was a win that tasted good, literally. After the Lions edged the Chicago Bears, 23-20, quarterback Jared Goff and a few of his teammates got to eat from the CBS victory turkey.

“In your NFL career you have these bucket lists, holding the Lombardi is obviously No. 1, but eating the turkey after the Thanksgiving win is up there too,’’ Goff said. “That’s something I’ll never forget. It was actually pretty good, the stuffing was good.’’

It wasn’t a typical win for the Lions who have been blowing out opponents this season. Didn’t matter to the Lions who have started a season 11-1 for the first time in franchise history.

It was their 10th straight win and third in the division. That’s what matters.

“Ultimately that was a good win against an opponent that has fought every week. This is the third game in a row – division game – that those guys have brought it over there,’’ coach Dan Campbell said. “We did what we had to do to win, we’ll clean up the other stuff that cost us some points. I’m not worried about that, but I will take this W and I’m not going to lose sleep over it.’’

The Lions dominated the first half and took a 16-0 lead into the locker room. Then the tables turned and the Bears found some offensive juice in the second half.

Detroit never lost the lead, but early in the fourth quarter a touchdown pass from Caleb Williams to Keenan Allen tightened up the score to 23-13. Then a 31-yard touchdown pass to D.J. Moore with 5:36 left put the Bears within 3 points, 23-20.

Questionable clock management at the end – the Bears still had a timeout left – and all of a sudden, it was over and the Lions won. It was the sixth straight loss for the Bears (4-8).

Five reasons the Lions won:

ONE: The Lions defense in the first half held the Bears to just 53 yards, two first downs and zero points. Already decimated by injury, defensive linemen Josh Paschal and Levi Onwuzurike were injured and out of the game. Still the defense found a way to just hold on. Campbell loved the way Za’Darius Smith, D.J. Reader and Al-Qaudin Muhammad stepped up on the line. 

TWO: The dynamic RB duo did not disappoint. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs combined for 228 scrimmage yards. They were especially effective in the first half when the Lions had 144 rushing yards. No touchdowns for either one. Gibbs fumbled – an uncharacteristic move – and lost the ball on the Bears’ 6-yard line in the second quarter. A touchdown there would have changed the game.

THREE: Jared Goff had a solid day, but the Lions were just 2-of-5 in the red zone. In the first half they were forced to settle for three field goals when they stalled out inside the 20. “It wasn’t our best performance in the red zone, we’ve got to do better. We’ll learn from it,’’ said Goff who was 21 of 34 for 221 yards, two touchdowns and a 100.2 rating.

FOUR: Tight end Sam LaPorta caught a pair of touchdown passes. “I feel like this is the healthiest he’s been in a while during the season. He’s in good shape and he really brings it. Sometimes, I don’t want to say you take it for granted, but you forget all that he does for us. He really helps us in the run game as well as what you see in the pass game. …He makes the offense better,’’ Campbell said.

FIVE: Perhaps WR Jameson Williams will mostly be remembered for hurdling over Kevin Byard on a 15-yard run in the third quarter. It was an amazing leap that blew up Twitter,  but not surprising when you consider Williams won two state championships in the 300-yard hurdles in hIgh school. However, in the fourth quarter, Williams caught a 3-yard pass and then was penalized for taunting which cost the Lions 15 yards. It was not a smart move and Williams knew it. “That’s already cleaned up. We’re good. As a matter of fact, Jamo got in front of the team a minute ago, unsolicited, and wanted to apologize to his teammates,’’ Campbell said. “That’s big, man. It’s all good.’’ Williams finished with five catches for 28 yards and two runs for 18 yards.

INJURIES: Campbell said he is most concerned with the knee injury to LB Malcolm Rodriguez but he offered no specifics. … Defensive linemen Josh Paschal (knee) and Levi Onwuzurike (hamstring) also left the game with injuries, but the coach doesn’t think they are as serious. … CB Emmanuel Moseley, who was expected to be active, tweaked something in pre-game so was held out.

UP NEXT: Green Bay Packers at Lions, 8:15 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5.

Injuries could be issue as Lions look to snap Thanksgiving losing streak

ALLEN PARK — It’s Thanksgiving week which means the Detroit Lions are cramming six days of preparation into three. 

On Thursday they will try to snap a seven-game Thanksgiving losing streak when they face the Chicago Bears (4-7). 

“Nobody likes losing, I don’t want to lose. I don’t want to lose a game, I don’t think any of us do. But it’s more so it’s about a division opponent at home, the next one in front of us, more so than we don’t want to lose the Thanksgiving game,’’ coach Dan Campbell said on Monday. “We don’t want to lose, period.’’

At the same time, winning on Thanksgiving makes dinner a little tastier. That’s something that center Frank Ragnow longs for. He was drafted by the Lions in 2018 and has never won a Thanksgiving game.

“I’d really like to enjoy Thanksgiving. Usually in the past years it’s been like I don’t really want to talk to my family, all upset about everything. I’d really like to enjoy Thanksgiving and put on a show for the crowd,” Ragnow said.

“It’s such a special unique thing to Detroit, and need to capitalize on it and make it as special as it is,” Ragnow said. “I think we’ve all got that in the back of our mind.”

The coach said this week is about rest, recovery and mental work. The team had a walk-through on Monday with another planned on Tuesday.

Injuries could be an issue for Thursday after the Lions were banged up following Sunday’s 24-6 win at Indianapolis.

Campbell said decisions on some of the injured could come down to the wire. He’s most concerned about the availability of LT Taylor Decker (knee), WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (knee), Carlton Davis III (knee, thumb) and WR Kalif Raymond (foot). 

None of them would have practiced on Monday, per the estimated practice report.

RB David Montgomery (shoulder) and DT D.J. Reader (illness) also would not have practiced. 

The good injury news is that CB Terrion Arnold (groin), who didn’t play on Sunday, would have had a full practice.

Lions look for more offensive efficiency in 2nd half of season

Dan Campbell, Jared Goff agree it’s an area of focus

ALLEN PARK — Walking off the field after the comeback win in Houston on Sunday, quarterback Jared Goff had a few words for coach Dan Campbell: “We’re just different.”

Campbell  agrees. The Lions are 8-1, own the best record in the NFC and show no signs of impending disaster despite a slew of injuries on defense. It’s a good place to be in, they know it and they’re fighting to maintain the same level of play.

“Every team is different, my notion is that the adversity we’re built for is different than every other team in the league,’’ Goff said on Wednesday. “I think I said it after the game, it truly is. There are a lot of good teams in our league but it would be hard-pressed to find some who have been through what the core group of this team has been through.’’

The 1-6 start of the 2022 season comes to mind.

Any game like that (in Houston) where you dig yourself in that big of a hole, knowing we’re built for that and built to come back in those instances,’’ Goff said.

What is the word for that type of resiliency? Oh yes, grit.

That does not mean there isn’t work to do.

Campbell said that offensive efficiency is one area of growth he’d like to see in the second half of the season. He’s seen efficiency in spurts but not consistent enough.

“ I’m not even talking about where you’re scoring touchdowns every time. You just want to get out there knowing you’re converting first down, first down, first down. Does that lead to a field goal or did you have to punt, but at least you’re moving the football because that gets us in a rhythm,’’ Campbell said on Wednesday.

He said some of that is the fundamentals.

“Don’t try to do too much early, let the game come to you and if we convert the next first down that gives us another three or four plays, convert the next one, get another three or four opportunities,’’ Campbell said. “Pretty soon we gain our momentum and we’re really good about that. I think that, in general, just getting our flow back a little bit. It’s not something I’m concerned with, but I feel it’s an area that I feel like we can improve and will improve.’’

Goff agrees with his coach. He had his worst game of the season throwing five interceptions in the win at Houston.

The last three games, the Lions have won beating the Titans 52-24, the Packers 24-14 and the Texans 26-23.

“I think the Tennessee game was somewhat of an outlier, when we weren’t in the red zone we weren’t really moving the ball down the field. Green Bay conditions and whatnot and we weren’t able to be as explosive as we wanted to and obviously last week (at Houston) wasn’t as explosive as we wanted,’’ Goff said. “He’s absolutely right. It starts this week for us.’’

It’s a good week to get the offense on a roll, playing Jacksonville (2-8) on Sunday at Ford Field. The Jaguars own the NFL’s worst total defense allowing 390 yards per game — 129 rushing and 261 passing.