Tag: Jameson Williams

Detroit Lions’ Super Bowl dreams crushed in 45-31 loss to Commanders

Detroit turns ball over 5 times, defense can’t stop Washington

DETROIT — A nightmare of a showing by the No. 1 seed Detroit Lions, squashed their Super Bowl dreams.

The Lions defense had no answer for Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, while Detroit’s offense turned the ball over five times in a 45-31 loss at Ford Field on Saturday night in the divisional round of the playoffs.

It was a dreadful combination. If there is such a thing as un-complementary football, this was it.

“You need a stop, you don’t get a stop, when we do get a stop we turn the ball over. We just didn’t complement each other. It’s just, as everybody knows, you turn the ball over five times — the last one was whatever so call it four that’s fine. It’s just too much,’’ coach Dan Campbell said. “It’s too hard against a team like that to come back. We tried, we just couldn’t quite get over the hump. We thought if we could get within one score we’d have a chance, we just could not get over the hump.’’

Jahmyr Gibbs ran in for his second touchdown with 7 minutes left in the third quarter to tighten the gap, with Washington leading 31-28. But on their next series the Commanders came back with another touchdown.

Not sure what was more heart-breaking — losing in the NFC Championship a year ago or getting kicked out in the divisional round as a No. 1 seed this year. Close call. 

Campbell was understandably emotional afterward and didn’t feel the timing was right to look at the big picture. 

“At the end of the day, after the loss, I love the guys and respect them and appreciate everything they put into it. It’s not the time to talk about a great year or how many wins, cause at this moment I don’t think any of us feel that way,’’ Campbell said. “The whole point of doing what you do is to get to the show, that’s why you play this game. We fell short.’’ 

Five reasons the Lions lost:

ONE: The Lions coaching staff has preached all season about turnovers. And until Saturday, the Lions were decent at holding onto the ball. The five turnovers were the killer. Jared Goff threw four interceptions (one late in the fourth quarter) and lost the ball on a strip-sack. On a mysterious trick play in the fourth — what in the heck was that? — Jameson Williams threw a pass and was intercepted. Campbell said he would’ve liked to have him run it there. 

TWO: Washington rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels was poised, didn’t let the noise bother him and found ways to gash the Lions defense. He threw two touchdown passes, zero interceptions and completed 22-of-31 for 299 yards. A mobile guy, he also ran for 51 yards. “We knew we were going to have our hands full,’’ Campbell said.

THREE: It’s rare that Jared Goff has an off night. It couldn’t have happened at a worse time. The Commanders’ defense was too much and he was not himself, finishing 23 of 40 for 313 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. Goff was having trouble putting it all in words. “It’s a humbling game, a humbling sport,’’ Goff said. “We were on top of the world after that Minnesota game, standing here now trying to process this.’’ Gibbs tried but he could not carry the whole offense. He had 14 carries for 105 yards and two touchdowns along with six catches for 70 yards.

FOUR: The defense was the weak link to start due to so many injuries. Then cornerback Amik Robertson injured his elbow on the Commanders’ second play of the game. They also lost safety Ifeatu Melifonwu to a hamstring injury. As he has done all year, Campbell never used injuries as an excuse for a loss. The defense was absolutely decimated most of the season and until Saturday, was able to overcome it and find a way to win 15 games.

FIVE: Coaching was an issue too. The defense did not look prepared for Daniels. Then in the fourth quarter, they had 12 men on the field with the Commanders on a fourth-and-2 at Detroit’s 5. Campbell took the blame for the penalty. Someone should’ve called a timeout when they saw the situation. Instead Brian Robinson ran in for a TD giving Washington a 38-28 lead. The Lions offense moved the ball – earning 521 total yards (compared to 481 for Washington), but was held to just 10 points in the second half.

Growth of Lions WR Jameson Williams could be key in playoffs

A big smile spread across Jameson Williams’ face when asked about reaching 1,000 receiving yards in a season for the first time. He made it by 1 yard late in the big win over the Vikings.

“It meant a lot, shoutout to my coaching staff for forcing that on me. I appreciate them a lot, it was huge to me and my people and my goals,’’ Williams said on Wednesday. “But I’m past that though, we’ve got three games left, I’m trying to focus on trying to get something on my fingers.”

By something, he means a Super Bowl ring.

The 1,000-yard mark was another milestone for the 2022 first-round pick who stumbled a bit out of the gate with an NFL suspension in each of his first two seasons — one for gambling, the other for using performance-enhancing drugs. 

He has grown. It’s evident on the field and even when answering questions from the media.

Coach Dan Campbell used the word “love” four times in a reply on Thursday about his sense of pride in the wide receiver best known as Jamo.

“I’ve got a lot of pride with him. You know he’s one of those guys, man I love that kid. He’s had to endure a lot. Look, some of it is his own doing and he knows that. That’s what I appreciate, it took him a minute to buy into what we’re doing. He can be a little hard-headed and it’s also why you love him, it’s why I love him,’’ Campbell said.

“But he’s learned along the way and he’s grown. What is the best thing he’s done? When he dropped the armor, he endeared himself to his teammates. He became part of the team, that took place last year, towards the end of last year. He could start to feel it and it’s only gotten better and better and better. Every one of these that’s happened, he’s grown he’s learning from it. I love where he’s at, I really do, I’m proud of him,’’ the coach added.

Campbell has been patient and honest with the 23-year-old Williams along the way.The coach also credits the support Williams has had from coaches, staff and teammates.

Along with his 1,001 receiving yards, this season he had three touchdown catches in the last four games and overall had seven receiving and one rushing touchdown

In the heart-breaking NFC Championship loss at San Francisco last January, Williams had a 42-yard rushing touchdown early and a 3-yard touchdown reception late. 

All eyes were on him and the Lions. It will be the same on Saturday night in the divisional round against the Washington Commanders.
“We all have the same mindset, we don’t look at it like we’re the No. 1 seed or we’re the best team. We still practice and play like we mean it, we still try to go out there and get a win and play hard for our brothers next to us,’’ Williams said. “… We’ve still got that grittiness. It’s playoffs, you’ve got to go out and get a win or you’ll be on the couch.’’

(UP NEXT: Washington Commanders at Detroit Lions, 8 p.m. on Saturday at Ford Field.)

Five reasons the Lions were able to fight back to defeat the 49ers

It did not seem like a ‘meaningless’ game

Another Lions win, more franchise records.

With the 40-34 victory at the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night, the Lions have won 14 games in a season for the first time in history and finished with an 8-0 road record, another first.

While Monday night’s game technically didn’t mean a thing for the playoff standings, coach Dan Campbell had said they were going out to win it, no holding back. Like always, he was a man of his word.

He said it was a tough decision but the right thing was to play the guys, saying he owed it to the team. “You cross your fingers and hope nobody gets hurt,’’ Campbell said. “We were fortunate.”

Sunday night’s game against the Vikings at Ford Field is for the NFC No. 1 seed and a bye. The loser will be the No. 5 seed. Huge difference. Campbell called it a “fairy tale” scenario with two 14-win teams battling it out.

On Monday night, Detroit’s defense tightened up, holding San Francisco to just 14 points (one touchdown with 43 seconds left) in the second half, after allowing three touchdowns in the first half. The 49ers were up 21-13 at the half.

Prior to the game, the Lions downplayed the revenge factor. They lost to the 49ers, 34-31, in the same location in the NFC Championship game last January.

“It was good to get this one, good to come to the scene of the crime and get it done,’’ Campbell said.

Five reasons the Lions won:

ONE: Jared Goff had the Lions offense rolling, throwing three touchdown passes – to Jameson Williams, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta. “Goff played lights out,’’ Campbell said. Goff said he thinks the whole offense has been playing at an elevated level. He completed 26 of 34 attempts for 303 yards. He’s completed at least 70 percent of his passes for 11 straight games. The Lions set a single-season franchise record by producing 20-plus points in 14-straight games. He’s the only quarterback to pass for three or more touchdowns in four straight games in franchise history. 

TWO:  Safety Kerby Joseph intercepted Brock Purdy twice in the second half to give him a league-leading nine picks. The Lions took advantage of both turnovers, scoring a touchdown on a pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown and then a touchdown scamper by Jahmyr Gibbs.  “When we needed it the most, he came up in a big way,’’ Campbell said, noting it wasn’t just his picks but he also made critical tackles. The Lions defense, which is missing so many key guys, did not have its best game. They could get linebacker Alex Anzalone back either for the Vikings or first playoff game.

THREE: While the Lions defense limited Purdy in the second half, they will have to play much better to beat Sam Darnold and the Vikings on Sunday night. Too often 49ers receivers were wide open and they had no answer for the play-action. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has his work cut out although the Lions did beat the Vikings 31-29 on Oct 20 in Minnesota. “For me, do you want to play a little bit better? Yeah, you do in areas. We calmed some things down in the second half, A.G. and those guys did a good job. We talked about disruption and takeaways and we got those,’’ Campbell said of the defense. “I feel good because I know the most important thing is we do complement each other.’’

FOUR: The run game flourished again without the injured David Montgomery. Jahmyr Gibbs had a stellar showing with 161 yards from scrimmage — 18 carries for 117 yards and a touchdown, along with four catches for 46 yards. Running back Craig Reynolds pitched in with seven carries for 41 yards and two catches for 35 yards.

FIVE:  Wide receiver Jameson Williams scored the Lions first two touchdowns – one rushing for 3 yards and one receiving on a 42-yarder from Goff. He became the fourth Lion with more than 1,000 scrimmage yards this season. He joins Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta. “We’ve got a good group, an unselfish group,’’ Goff said.

UP NEXT: Lions (14-2) host the Vikings (14-2) at 8:15 p.m. on Sunday at Ford Field for the NFC North title and the NFC No. 1 seed.