Tag: Jameson Williams

Lions Dan Campbell credits Ravens, says 38-6 loss was self-induced

Five reasons the Lions were embarrassed; with injury updates

Until Sunday at Baltimore, the Lions prided themselves on playing complementary football. The 5-1 record was a result of solid play by all three units. If needed one would step up when the other faltered. Under Dan Campbell they were poised no matter the situation.

It was all different on Sunday when the Ravens pounded the Lions, 38-6, in a smackdown that no one saw coming. The Ravens were a slight favorite but most expected a close, hard-fought game. Not a total embarrassment.

“It’s self-induced. Those guys played well, they kicked our ass. It’s a credit to them. Lamar (Jackson) beat us, he hammered us with his arm. He threw the ball extremely well, he ran when he needed to and we did not handle it well,’’ Campbell said. “Our energy was good which was crazy but our detail and discipline which has been so good over the last 4-5 weeks was not good enough. 

“Self-induced that was a combination of a lot of different things. Just like we win as a team, we lose as a team and that was one of those,’’ the coach added.

The offense’s first two series were three-and-outs while the Ravens scored touchdowns on their two possessions. It’s a hard recipe to overcome. Baltimore led 28-0 at the half.

“Offensively we never got in a rhythm early. They were playing with house money, you get up by a certain portion in that game then they’re kind of doing whatever they want to do,’’ Campbell said. “They’re out of their tendencies because why not.’’

So now the Lions are 5-2, still in first place in the NFC North, and they’ve got an extra day to prepare for the Las Vegas Raiders who they will play on Monday Night Football on Oct. 30 at Ford Field.

Campbell said last week this team would go through a rough patch and the true test would be how they handle it. He echoed the same thought after the loss.

“You don’t want these (losses) to happen, when it does it re-centers you, it refocuses you. And that’s all I know. I don’t want it to happen, nobody wants it to happen,’’ Campbell said. “Nobody likes to look over there and watch them having a great time because they kicked our ass. Nobody thinks that’s fun. I know that motivates me for next week and that motivates our team. … The shame would be if we don’t use this to get better for next week and it bleeds over into the Raiders. That would be the ultimate shame.’’

Five of the many reasons the Lions lost:

1. Lamar Jackson had a career day. He was scary good, but it was, at least in part, because the Lions’ defense appeared clueless. Campbell said it was execution rather than gameplan. “The combination of not getting much pressure and having to cover a long time, we didn’t handle it well,’’ Campbell said. Ravens’ pass catchers were typically wide open. They allowed 10 explosive plays of 20 yards or more (eight of them in the first half). Jackson finished 21 of 27 for 357 yards and 3 touchdowns plus nine carries for 36 yards and a rushing touchdown. The Lions were down 28-0 at the half, so if you’re searching for a silver lining, the defense gave up just 10 points in the second half.

2. Jared Goff didn’t get much time to operate since the defense couldn’t get the Ravens off the field. When he did, he didn’t look like the Goff we saw in the first six games. The Lions’ only score came on a 21-yard touchdown run by Jahmyr Gibbs in the fourth quarter. After just 97 net yards in the first half, they improved in the second half finishing with 337 yards. Goff was 33 of 53 with 284 yards and one interception.

3. This loss just can’t be pinned on one guy or one unit. It was not due to too many turnovers or an abundance of penalties. “That was a combination of a lot of different things. Just like we win as a team, we lose as a tema and that was one of those,’’ Campbell said. Yes, they missed RB David Montgomery and CB Jerry Jacobs but those absences are no excuse. Let’s call it “uncomplementary football.” Just bad. Really bad. Still, it’s not the end of the season.

4. Wide receiver Jameson Williams was not the reason for the loss, but he showed no signs of progress. He was targeted six times and didn’t make a catch. He dropped at least two. One deep pass late in the game hit him in the facemask. 

5. With David Montgomery out, rookie Jahmyr Gibbs was the top guy. He scored his first NFL touchdown on a 21-yard scamper and finished with 11 carries for 68 yards and nine catches for 58 yards. “I thought he took a step forward today,’’ Campbell said, adding that the more he plays the better he will get. 

NOTES: Mo Ibrahim, who injured his hip in the third quarter returning a kick, had surgery at a Baltimore-area hospital and will spend the night there. It was his first NFL snap. … Kerby Joseph led the defense with 10 tackles. He took a helmet-to-helmet hit late in the game by Odell Beckham Jr. and went into concussion protocol. No penalty was called. … WR Kalif Raymond left the game late but it was just cramps. Campbell said he’ll be fine. … The Lions defense never sacked Jackson while Goff was sacked five times. … LB Malcolm Rodriguez started at fullback. Campbell said they’ve been intrigued by him and wanted to find another way to use him. He hasn’t played much on defense, but is a key on special teams.

NEXT UP: Raiders (3-4) at Lions (5-2), 8:15 p.m., at Ford Field on Oct. 30. Las Vegas lost to the Bears, 30-12, on Sunday.

Five things to watch as Lions face Ravens at Baltimore; plus, prediction

ALLEN PARK — While there’s extra pressure playing on the road, the Detroit Lions (5-1) have excelled in hostile environments so far with a 3-0 record away from Ford Field.

The next big test is Sunday at the Baltimore Ravens (4-2).

Coach Dan Campbell said they’ve been talking about maintaining poise for three years. Now it’s starting to pay off.

“We talk about it, we’ve preached it, we’ve lived it and we constantly try to put ourselves in those types of situations. We talk about it. That’s when your heart rate should start to level out when everybody – the perceived pressure goes up and it’s high stress, your stress levels should go down and focus on the moment,’’ Campbell said.
The coach said the guys believe in that. “It’s built to handle adversity and anything that comes. And look, this season isn’t over. I mean we know that. We’re going to hit a tough patch at some point here. I don’t know when it’s going to be, but we’re going to hit one and we’re going to have to get back through and get back on our feet and that’s fine,’’ Campbell said. “We’ll be ready for that.”

Five things to watch against the Ravens:

1. The Lions defense has faced its share of mobile quarterbacks this season. That continues with the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson who may not carry the ball as often, but the quarterback is still a force and leads the Ravens in rushing averaging 5.5 yards per carry with four rushing touchdowns and 327 rushing yards. He’s been sacked 16 times. “He is dangerous. And like I say, they don’t ask him to do as much as he did before with his legs, but there’s plenty of it still in there and he’s throwing it pretty good,’’ Campbell said. “They’ve made a concerted effort to do a little more drop back with him and he is, he’s throwing the ball well.’’

2. Somehow, despite injuries, the Lions have found a way to keep the run game going enough to run the clock down late in games and get the win. David Montgomery (ribs) will be out. Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) will return and he’ll be busy. “Certainly I think he’s going to need to take the load of (the work). We’re just going to have to see where he’s at. I’d like to say we’re going to be careful with him, but the reality is we need him,’’ Campbell said. Craig Reynolds carried the load in the win at Tampa Bay and likely will get his share of carries. Devine Ozigbo could see action and if a wide receiver gets the nod to help in the run game, it could be Kalif Raymond. “If it comes to that situation to where he needs to be back there, if that’s what happens, then we’ve got things ready for him and he’ll be ready to go,’’ Lions passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand said.

3. The Ravens have the second-ranked total defense allowing 260.8 yards per game. But it’s nothing the Lions haven’t seen. Jared Goff, the NFC’s offensive player of the week, should have a full complement of targets with wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams along with tight end Sam LaPorta. “It’s kind of similar to last week and how good they are defensively and two elite linebackers again. Really good backend and obviously good pass rush leading the League in sacks, or however many they have, they’ve got a bunch,’’ Goff said. “So yeah, it’s a challenge on every level. I wish I could tell you what a weakness was, but I don’t know if there is one. We’ve got to come ready to play. It’ll be a challenge.”

4. Jameson Williams is trending up. It may seem slow but it’s the plan for the wide receiver who will be playing in just his ninth NFL game. His 45-yard touchdown reception at Tampa Bay could just be the start of something much bigger. “JMo’s speed is there, you see it and we were able to take advantage of it last week. It does add another element to the pass game that maybe –  somebody would say (we were) lacking – it allows us to help with the vertical game and of course  it’s going to open up some things underneath,’’ Engstrand said. “As he keeps coming along we’re going to press him to be detailed and do everything the way it needs to be done, we’re going to continue to see him rise and get his game to the level he wants it to be and we feel it can be.’’

5. Can the Lions keep their perfect road win (3-0)  streak alive? And, going back to last season they are 8-1 in their last nine road games. Baltimore is a tough place to win, but Campbell has built a team that has stepped up on most every occasion.

PREDICTION: Lions 21, Ravens 20. Ravens are 3-point favorites. Expect a close game. Lions healthier than they have been so giving them the edge.

Five reasons the Lions keep their road record perfect with 20-6 win at Tampa Bay

Lions coach Dan Campbell wants a team that knows they can win anywhere at any time. 

They did just that in an impressive effort in Detroit’s 20-6 win over the Buccaneers at Tampa Bay on Sunday for a fourth straight win.

With the win, the Lions start the season 5-1 for the first time since 2011. They hang on to first in the NFC North and are now 13-3 in their last 16 games. They own the NFL best streak and franchise record long streak of 20-plus points in 15 straight games.

While it’s not a record-setter, the Lions have won all three of their road games.

“We know If  you want to be a good team in this league you have to win on the road.  We know that. They understand that. I think they look forward to it, I think we enjoy playing on the road, there’s something about it,’’ Campbell said. 

Like the road wins in Kansas City and Green Bay, fans in Honolulu Blue were noticeable in Tampa. 

“When you have the fans that travel with us – I feel like every game there’s more and more that are showing up,’’  Campbell said. “We got into this game at the end, up two scores, Tampa’s offense was out there on the field and I feel like they’re about to have to go into a silent cadence at their own place. … I tell you our players and coaches notice it.’’

That’s when the fans were cheering “Let’s Go Lions” which was heard on the telecast.

Again, it was a team win. The defense held the Bucs (3-2) — a team that had been averaging 21 points per game — to a pair of field goals.

“For the defense to only give up 6 points is saying a lot,’’ Campbell said.

Five reasons the Lions beat the Bucs:

1. The defense came up huge. While they only had one sack (by Julian Okwara) they pressured quarterback Baker Mayfield all day long. Will Harris intercepted Mayfield on the Bucs’ second possession, setting up a field goal to get the Lions rolling. Detroit has not allowed an opponent to gain 100 rushing yards in any of the first six games. The Bucs were held to 46 rushing yards. Linebacker Alex Anzalone was everywhere, finishing with a team-high nine tackles and two pass defenses. “He just continues to play at a very high level, he is an extremely smart football player and he’s playing as physical as I’ve ever seen him and he’s playing at a very high level,’’ Campbell said. “I think you’d be hard pressed to find ‘backers playing better than him in this league.’’

2. The defense held the Bucs to 2-of-12 on third-down attempts. That’s a rate of 16.7 percent, down considerably from their 47.4 percent rate in their first four games. Detroit’s defense also didn’t allow a rushing first down. On the other side the Lions offense was at its best, converting nine of 16 third downs at 56.3 percent.

3. Tampa’s defense was tough to handle for quarterback Jared Goff and the offense early on. But Goff stayed patient and, even though RB David Montgomery left early with a rib injury, they kept running the ball with Craig Reynolds getting the bulk of carries. Goff was precise, finding 10 different pass catchers and finishing 30 of 44 for 353 yards and two touchdowns. It was his second straight game without an interception. “I thought Jared Goff had an outstanding day. I thought he helped us win the game on offense,’’ Campbell said. “That’s a damn good defense that we faced, we knew that coming in here, they made it hard on us.’’

4. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was key with 12 catches for 124 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown reception. He caught that ball on the 20, got a key block from Craig Reynolds and made his way down the sideline to the end zone.  “He’s a big player for us, he’s a clutch player that shows up and always makes plays. He as consistent player as you’re ever going to find in this league,’’ Campbell said. “You can count on it, it’ll be there, he just does things right and he’s ultra-competitive. Just having him back (he was out last week) is huge and he didn’t disappoint today.’’

5. Jameson Williams is still being worked into the offense in just his second game back from an NFL suspension. In the third quarter, he dropped a ball that was catchable and then two plays later, Goff showed his confidence in the young receiver throwing deep to him. Wiliams didn’t let him down, catching the 45-yard touchdown pass.  “I thought he did a great job turning on the gas and getting to the back pylon and I love that Goff let it go, he saw it, trusted it and ripped it,’’ Campbell said. “(Williams) did a good job tracking that ball and making a huge play. I think that’s going to help his confidence. That’s one. That was good … I’m happy for him.’’ In two games, Williams now has four catches for 55 yards in two games.

UP NEXT: The Lions (5-1) at the Baltimore Ravens (4-2) at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 22. The Ravens topped the Titans, 24-16, on Sunday.