Tag: Jahmyr Gibbs

Five things to watch as Lions look to improve playoff chances with win over the Rams

With playoff chances on the line again, the Lions hope to tap into the success they found in the win against the Dallas Cowboys last week when they face Matthew Stafford and the Rams in Los Angeles on Sunday.

A win would give the Lions (8-6) a 72-percent chance of making the playoffs while a loss would drop that percentage down around 30 percent. Huge difference.

The Rams (10-3) are seeking to win the NFC West over Seattle (10-3) and San Francisco (9-4).

Against the Cowboys, the Lions played some of their best complementary football this season. 

“Man, we were all  just clicking at the right time. It was like if something went against us, we lost a little bit of momentum, man, the other unit picked it up,’’ coach Dan Campbell said. “They shut it down. So, they score over there, we score. They score, we score. We fizzle out, defense gets a takeaway or gets the stop. They make a play, special teams, we get it to the 45. There’s a return to the minus-45, those are huge. That’s when – all the other stuff doesn’t matter. When you can do that in a game, that’s how you win games in this League.”

The last time Detroit and the Rams met was to open the 2024 season. The Lions pulled out a 26-20 overtime win. In January 2024, the Lions squeaked out a 24-23 playoff win in Detroit.

It’s an interesting recent history. Another chapter will be added on Sunday.

Five things to watch:

ONE: The Lions defense had three takeaways in the win over Dallas, they need to work some of that magic again.  “We were able to disrupt what they were doing, and it paid huge dividends. It got us three takeaways, or really two. Had a lateral that was huge. So, we’ve got to do that again,’’ Campbell said. “The front is just as important as the backend. These guys will understand what they’re getting ready to face. We know this is an outstanding quarterback, he’s got weapons, and they’re versatile. And like I said, very good coaching. We’ve got to find a way to get takeaways, you’ve got to do it. We’ve got to do it again.”

TWO: Prevent Matthew Stafford, the odds-on favorite for the League’s MVP, from throwing explosive passes downfield. Easier said than done as he will try to manipulate the Lions defense. “But at some point, if you just sit there and he’s baiting you, if you don’t move, he’s going to throw it. So, you’ve still got to move, it’s just understanding, you could be – he could be trying to move you here a little bit, he could be trying to manipulate you,’’ Campbell said. “You’ve got to play your keys, and look, we’ve got to get to him upfront. We’ve got to cause some disruption.’’

THREE: The linebackers once again must help out the beat-up secondary. Brian Branch is out for the season and Kerby Joseph won’t play following a setback in his recovery.  That makes linebacker Jack Campbell, Alex Anzalone and Derrick Barnes keys to the defensive success. “They’re big, and they’re one of the reasons – all of those guys were a factor, but man, we put a lot on our backers the other day. Some of those coverages we were playing a lot of, and that puts an enormous amount of stress on your linebackers,’’ Campbell said. “… So, the guys are going after the football and it shows, it pays dividends. You go after the football, you see what you hit, you make a concerted effort. One of your teammates gets him wrapped up, the other one comes in there and takes the ball away. Bite the football. And we’ve got to do it again, we have to.”

FOUR: A big deal has been made this week about the rematch between Stafford and Jared Goff. Both are in the upper echelon of NFL QBs this season — Stafford leads the NFL with 35 touchdown passes while Goff is second with 26. . Goff has made the best of the situation with a rebuilt offensive line. “He doesn’t blink. He doesn’t blink. I mean there’s times where he’s getting his butt kicked, he just gets right back up. That’s one of his strengths, he’s mentally tough,’’ offensive coordinator John Morton said.  “And his preparation is the key to our success, just like everybody. I mean our guys, they do a great job, our coaches do a great job preparing everybody. But when you’ve got a guy like that, it’s pretty special. And when things don’t go right and through his preparation, he sees certain things and gets to it just like he did a couple weeks ago. And it’s helped us. It’s helped us a few times. But run and pass, he always gets us in the right play.’’

FIVE: Dan Campbell has improved at calling the offense and getting the ball to RB Jahmyr Gibbs to run or his increasing role as a pass catcher. “He’s certainly filled some of those targets and catches for us, and he can just do so much. And it’s kind of like he’s just scratching the surface on his route running ability and what he can do out in the backfield,’’ Goff said. Campbell said Gibbs gives them a lot of flexibility. ”I’ve said this before, the more that we ask him to do, the better he gets and the more he can do. But he allows us to do a lot, so he’s a good player. He’s a good player and he’s only getting better,’’ the coach said.

LIONS INJURIES: OUT — S Kerby Joseph, DB Brian Branch, G Christian Mahogany and S Thomas Harper. QUESTIONABLE — LT Taylor Decker, WR Kalif Raymond, G Kayode Awosika, RB Sione Vaki and TE Shane Zylstra.

RAMS INJURIES: WR Davante Adams is questionable.

PREDICTION: Lions 28, Rams 27

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 dig hole in division losing to Packers, 31-24; 5 reasons for the loss

DETROIT — Dan Campbell often talks about how games are won or lost on just a few plays. It was no different on Thanksgiving when the Green Bay Packers edged the Lions, 31-24 at Ford Field.

The coach can pinpoint two key plays that were costly.

“We played with the energy – really this game came down to fourth down and those critical moments we were 0-2 and they were able to capitalize on three of them,’’ Campbell said. “Those are the one or two plays that make a difference when you’re playing a really good team.’’

The Lions dropped to 7-5 and remain in third place in the NFC North. The Packers are 8-3-1 in second place. The first-place Bears (8-3) play at the Eagles (8-3) on Friday while the Vikings (4-7) play at Seahawks (8-3 on Sunday.

“Like I told the team, it’s frustrating, I know. We’ve got a lot to be thankful for even after a loss,’’ Campbell said. “We’ve dug ourselves a little bit of a hole, that’s the bottom line, we are in a little bit of a hole, but that’s just what it is there’s nothing more than that. All we’ve got to do is worry about cleaning up this then getting to the next game and winning the next one in front of us.’’

The Lions host the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night, Dec. 4, at Ford Field.

Five reasons the Lions lost:

ONE: How about some pass rush? Packers quarterback Jordan Love had all day back there. He wasn’t sacked and the Lions only had one quarterback hit. The talent is there but something is wrong. Campbell couldn’t pinpoint a reason for the lack of pressure. “I don’t know. It’s a good question, until I watch this game i want to know what this game looks like before I make a comment on that,’’ Campbell said. “I’m not sure.’’

TWO: Detroit’s defense allowed too many conversions on third and fourth downs. The Packers went for it on fourth down three times and converted each one. Also, too many explosive plays were given up. Christian Watson scored on a 51-yard pass play and there were four other plays of 20 yards or more given up to the Packers.

THREE: Conversely, the Lions were 0-for-2 on fourth downs Thursday. They haven’t converted on fourth down since the win over the Commanders on Nov. 9. They were 0-for-5 on fourth downs in the loss to the Eagles and didn’t try one against the Giants. Goff said there is no magic potion. One of the misses was on a fourth-and-3 at Green Bay’s 21 early in the fourth quarter when it appeared Jameson Williams dropped the ball. “I’ve got to connect with Jamo on the one down in the red zone,’’ Goff said. “I’ve got to give him a better throw and if he makes the catch he might score right there …’’

FOUR: The offense got off to a slow start, hey were down 10-0 early in the second quarter. Goff was 0-3 and was sacked once in the first quarter and then completed 15 straight passes until Williams dropped the ball on fourth-and-3 in the fourth. The offensive line did not give Goff enough protection which has become an issue. He was sacked three times — 2.5 courtesy of Micah Parsons. The Lions were playing without center Graham Glasgow, wide receiver Kalif Raymond and tight end Brock Wright. Amon-Ra St. Brown went down in the first quarter and didn’t return. Goff credited Williams (7 catches, 144 yds, 1 TD), Isaac TeSlaa (2 catches, 35 yards, 1 TD) and Tom Kennedy (4 catches, 36 yards) for stepping up.

FIVE: Certainly the Lions have running back talent and they have to be patient with it, but the run calls on third down don’t always seem to be the best option and they keep calling them. The LIons were 8 for 13 on third downs. Jahmyr Gibbs carried 20 times for 68 yards (3.4 yards per carry) and David Montgomery eight for 32 yards and a touchdown. 

NEXT UP: Dallas Cowboys at Lions (7-5), 8:15 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 4.