Tag: lamar jackson

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.

Last-second, record-breaking field goal a gut punch for winless Lions

Jared Goff has been around, but he said Justin Tucker’s 66-yard field goal at the buzzer that gave the Baltimore Ravens a win over the Lions was the biggest gut punch he has ever been a part of. He wasn’t alone.

“I don’t know how to describe it — I didn’t think it would make it. I know he can reach it if you kick it low, but if you said they’re going to kick a 66-yarder to win the game you would take those odds,’’ coach Dan Campbell said. “But he made it , kudos to him. They put themselves in position to do it.”

The Lions had forged a second-half comeback topped by a 35-year field goal late in the fourth which gave them a 17-16 lead over Baltimore, but there was a minute and four seconds left and Lamar Jackson at quarterback.

On first and third downs, Jackson was sacked, losing a total of 9 yards. On second down, his pass to Devin Duvernay was incomplete.

Then on fourth-and-19 from Baltimore’s 16-yard line, Jackson connected deep left with Sammy Watkins for 36 yards.

“The call was fine, it’s just the way we played the call. Communication errors, I’ve said it before. It’s not an excuse, it’s a matter of how quickly you clean it up,’’ Campbell said. “But we do have growing pains and there’s things we have to continue to work out, work out the kinks, and grow from this and learn from this.’’

Of course the game was not without controversy. On the second-down play before the field goal, Jackson threw the ball away but it appeared there was no time left on the play clock and he could have been penalized for delay of game.

A Detroit pool reporter spoke with NFL referee Scott Novak who had not seen the play so did not have an answer on if the TV play clock is in sync with the game clock. 

“There’s nothing I can say to that because it’s the same thing, tomorrow you get an apology and it doesn’t mean anything. That’s life, that’s the hand we were dealt,’’ Campbell said. 

Goff said basically the same thing. He expects a Monday apology from the NFL and then will move on.

So with 3 seconds left, Tucker bounced the ball off the crossbar, straight up in the air and over for an NFL record and the Ravens’ win.

The Lions (0-3) are still looking for their first win under Campbell.

“There again you feel like you put yourself in position, even though we didn’t play perfect it’s (crushing). I also know the silver lining is we’re getting better. We really are and I was proud of the way they competed,’’ Campbell said afterward. “I felt we were going to find out a lot about this crew — our guys I’m talking about — coming out of this because I think Baltimore is a gritty tough team year-in, year out. If you’re not prepared to face them ….

“I thought we gave them all they could handle but they walked away the winner so we didn’t do enough,’’ the coach added.

The Lions’ offense struggled big-time early, going into the locker at the half down 10-0.

In the second half they rode the hot hand with running back D’Andre Swift who had six touches, 49 yards and a 2-yard touchdown scamper on the third-quarter drive that put the Lions on the scoreboard. They were down 13-7.

Then on the Lions’ drive to open the fourth, Jamaal Williams blasted his way into the end zone for a touchdown. First the officials ruled he was not in. But a Detroit challenge paid off, showing he was over the goal line. With the extra point the Lions were down 16-14. 

On the Ravens’ next possession Detroit’s Amani Oruwariye intercepted Jackson at Detroit’s 21. That set up the drive that ended in a field goal and 17-16 lead for the Lions.

“I am proud of the way we fought, we did fight our way back into this game. I don’t question that. I know we’ve got the right guys here, they’re made up of the right things,’’ Campbell said. “Look they were crushed, it hurts, but also know I’m pretty confident these guys are going to come back to work to clean it up and Wednesday they’ll be ready to go for the next one. And that’s all you can ask of your guys at this point is how do we eliminate these things and correct these things that are biting us in the rear.’’

Goff sounded optimistic about the character of the team too.

“It was our day until that last second. If that field goal is a foot shorter we’re saying, ‘Hell yeah, here we go.’ All I’m saying is that optimistic mindset ], that belief in each other, that belief that this is our day, that belief that we’re going to win, that belief this isn’t the same old thing every game. That belief will remain and needs to remain,’’ said Goff who finished 22 of 30 for 217 yards.

THIS AND THAT: Lamar Jackson, who had averaged 96 rushing yards in the first two games, was held to 58 rushing yards including one 31-yard scamper. … He was sacked four times — one each by Alex Anzalone, Romeo Okwara, Charles Harris and Austin Bryant. … The defense was without Trey Flowers who didn’t practice all week. … Will Harris led Detroit with six tackles. … D’Andre Swift topped the 100-yard mark for combined rushing (14 carries, 47 yards) and receptions (7 for 60 yards). … The Lions were just 30% on third-down efficiency and edged the Ravens 22-15 in first downs. 

UP NEXT: Lions (0-3) at Chicago Bears (1-2). The Browns beat Chicago, 26-6, on Sunday.