Matthew Stafford – Page 2

Five reasons the Lions won OT opener against Stafford and the Rams

DETROIT — Coach Dan Campbell knew it would be a hard-fought season opener and who would doubt him. His Detroit Lions squeaked by with a 26-20 overtime win against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night at Ford Field in a nationally televised game.

Hard-fought? Absolutely.

Perfect? Not even close.

“We eventually found a rhythm. We did what we had to do. I said early in the week the team that makes the most mistakes is the team that usually loses these early games and we made one less mistake,’’ Campbell said.

Obviously happy with the win over a solid Rams team, Campbell and the team know they have to improve.

“We’ll get better, we’ll get in a better flow on both sides of the ball, we will,’’ Campbell said.

Five of the top reasons the Lions won:

ONE: After kicking a late field goal to tie the game and get to overtime, the Lions won the toss. All they had to do to win was score a touchdown on that first drive. Jared Goff and RB David Montgomery put on a show with an 8-play, 70-yard scoring drive. Montgomery carried five times for 45 yards including the 1-yard touchdown. Goff called him a battering ram. “Just hand it to him, he did the rest. It was fun watching him catch his second win in overtime, the offensive line too,’’ Goff said.

TWO: Wide receiver Jameson Williams won a game ball for his five catches for 121 yards and a 13-yard run. It was his first ever – didn’t even get one at Alabama. “This might not leave my hands, I might sleep like this,’’ said the speedy Williams who scored on a 52-yard pass play.

Just starting his third season, it seemed like a breakout game but Williams insists he’ll get better. That’s exactly what Campbell said too. He’s proud of Williams and said the best part is he has room for growth. “It’s just Game 1, I put in a lot of work. I expected to have a big game, I guess this is big to the world because it’s my first one, I plan on having a lot more,’’ Williams said. “I don’t plan on this being the best game of my career. This is just the start of me being me.’’ Count on it.

THREE: Goff was a steady Eddy, keeping the ship upright even after the Rams scored 17 unanswered points and took the 20-17 lead in the fourth quarter. Goff completed 18 of 28 passes for 217 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

“The theme of tonight, we kept shooting ourselves in the foot a little bit, certainly offensively. … It wasn’t our smoothest but a win is a win. We have to happy with that,’’ Goff said.

He couldn’t get Amon-Ra St. Brown much involved (3 catches, 13 yards), same with Sam LaPorta (4 catches, 45 yards). Goff didn’t really have an answer; it was just how the game flowed.

FOUR: Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was on top of his game. He was a handful for the Lions defense, especially the young secondary. He was sacked twice and pressured often but still threw for 317 yards including one touchdown and one interception. Campbell couldn’t say enough about the former Lions’ QB.

“That quarterback, Stafford, I thought played lights out, played tough, hit after hit; he just kept getting up and making unbelievable throws,’’ Campbell said. “I give them a lot of credit they fought, but we’re hard to break.’’

The coach even went a step farther. “Stafford, it’s almost like you don’t want to hit him because when you hit him he plays better. He just continued to make plays,’’ Campbell said.

FIVE: Marcus Davenport lived up to expectations at defensive end in his first Lions game and, as always, Aidan Hutchinson (5 tackles, 1 sack, 4 quarterback hits) was solid with a key play when the Rams got called for holding on him.

It seemed like linebacker Alex Anzalone was everywhere. He finished with a team-high 13 tackles and three tackles for loss. “Since TFLs became officially recorded in 1994, only one Lions player has produced 10-plus tackles and 3-plus TFLs in a season-opening game and that was Anzalone on Sunday night. It marked only the eighth time an NFL player has logged this stat-line in a Week 1 game since 1994. Pretty impressive.

UP NEXT: The Tampa Bay Bucs (1-0) at the Lions (1-0), 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 16.

Five things to watch as Lions open season hosting Stafford, Rams

Intriguing matchups provide an extra bump to the NFL’s opening weekend. None more so than when the Detroit Lions host Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night football. The schedule makers were not fooling around by pairing up these teams.

The Lions ended the Rams playoff hopes when they beat them 24-23 in a wild card victory in January at Ford Field. It was loud, it was raucous and the Lions were just getting in playoff gear.

Sunday night’s game will feature teams that have tweaked their rosters and learned from last season.

“This to me is a better team than what we faced last year just looking at their personnel coming in. I feel like this is a better offensive line, I feel like this is a better D-line. I understand they lost (former Rams DL Aaron) Donald, but what I think they gain is youth and collectively, that front is – I’ve said it before, they’re young, they’re hungry, they’re high motor. They’re going to push us,’’ Lions coach Dan Campbell said.

“The backs, on top of Stafford being who he is and mastering this offense and the ability to really – I mean he’s kind of got everything at his disposal to do what he needs to. So, I just feel like it’s a – they’ve developed,’’ Campbell said.

However he knows what he’s got at his disposal too.

“I think they’re going to be a better team, but I feel like we’re better too. So, I feel like you’re getting two teams that are better. Now, this is game one, this is Week 1, but I feel like both of us have improved and we’re getting ready to head off here Sunday night,’’ Campbell said.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH:

1. Right out of the gate the Lions new-look secondary again will be challenged with Matthew Stafford throwing to the dynamic receiving duo of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacoa.

“They do the dirty work, they’re very much a part of the run game with the way that they block and insert and take on backers and safeties and everything, but then they play tough. They play tough in the pass game. They play fast. I think they’re physical, I think they attack the football, I think they’re hard to get down, run after catch, so the element of their game, it translates to this League,’’ Campbell said.

Lions rookie CB Terrion Arnold is ready to go. “He does not lack confidence, OK?’’ Campbell added. The secondary includes CB Carlton Davis III, DB Brian Branch and S Kerby Joseph along with CB Amik Robertson and rookie CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr.

2. Quarterback Jared Goff said he is not sure if he’ll ever experience the way the fans embraced him last year with the Jar-ed Goff chant. Here’s a hint, if the Lions continue their winning ways and take it a step farther to the Super Bowl, the chants may get even louder. “Just the organic feeling of that and how it all came together and that support obviously means the world to me and made me feel pretty good and obviously I’m happy to be here and continue to be their quarterback,’’ Goff said.

The quarterback had a stellar training camp and now can help get the Lions over the hump.

“A steady, reliable guy behind center who is going to do what we ask him to do. We take care of him, he’ll take care of the football. He’s going to move it, he’ll be efficient, he’ll be our captain,’’ Campbell said.

“So, we got that and through the years, these last three years, he’s just continued to grow and gotten better and gotten better, and honestly, I think he just wants more, and he continues to challenge himself and the more he does that, the more we load him up. The more we ask him to do, the more we put on his plate because he can handle it and he wants it. So, where he’s able to go, our offense is able to go. So, we ask him to do a lot, and we’re going to ask him to do a little bit more than he did last year because he can handle it. He’s proven that. He’s playing at a high level, and he also knows he doesn’t have to do this all on his own,” the coach added.

3. One major difference in facing the Rams this season is that DL Aaron Donald is retired.

“You needed to know where he was at, at all times, really on all downs. So, it was a constantly – you were shifting and motioning just for him, and you’re damn near doing it every play,’’ Campbell said. “Then, you’re trying to find a way to chip on one side and it’s really not for the tackle, it’s so the tackle can help the guard for him on Donald. But yes, it’s nice not to have to necessarily worry about him, but they’ve got – the guys they have over there are young and hungry, high motor, they have an influx of youth that’s pretty damn talented and there again, I think these guys go now. They got plenty up front, believe me. They’ve got plenty.”

4. Three of the Lions best young players — WR Jameson Williams, TE Sam LaPorta and RB Jahmyr Gibbs — have helped revolutionize the offense. Like the rest of the team, they are hungry and should have big contributions this season starting on Sunday night.

“All of them have grown. First of all, it starts with having guys that understand what you expect out of them and then what their role is in this offense and what we’re asking them to do,’’ Campbell said. “I think more importantly, any player that you have, it’s one thing to say, ‘This is what we need you to do, want you to do on this because this is your – this will be your throw. We think they’re going to play this coverage, you are No. 1 in the progression.’ That’s kind of easy, right? Because it’s, ‘Man, I’m getting this ball, so I’m attentive.’ But it’s the others where, you’re number three in the progression, you have to get to inside of the numbers, you have to get all the 15 yards. If you’re too fast on this, it’s those things, ‘Where do you really fit into the concept? What is your piece of the puzzle?’ And understand that.’’

Many of LaPorta’s catches last season came when he was the No. 2 or 3 in the progression.

“Now he had plenty where we got to where he was No. 1, but he had a ton of those and it’s because of attention to detail and understanding what we wanted and when we needed him when Goff had to get all the way through it, there he is,’’ Campbell said. “He’s open, he’s available. I think all those guys understanding that and growing in that have gotten better. It’s always going to be attention to detail and look, they’re attentive guys, they want it. We mentioned Jamo earlier about – he wants it. He’s receptive, he’s open to it, he takes the coaching, he tries to improve on it, and I would say all those guys are that way.”

5. The Lions definitely will have a homefield advantage for the nationally televised game. “It’s our job to continue to excite our fan base. I’ve said it before, they’re going to do their part, they’re going to do their part. As long as we handle our business, it’ll be a – this place for us, this city, that stadium, it will be home field advantage,’’ Campbell said. “It will, and not every team can say that in this League at their own place.”

FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH: After all five had standout training camps, much is expected from WR Jameson Williams, DL Levi Onwuzurike, CB Terrion Arnold and EDGE Marcus Davenport. Undrafted rookie WR Isaiah Williams may not see much playing time, but keep an eye out for No. 83.

INJURY UPDATE: Lions — S Ifeatu Melifonwu (ankle) is doubtful, DL D.J. Reader (quadricep) is questionable and S Loren Strickland (thumb) is out.

FEARLESS PREDICTION: Lions 27, Rams 21.

Lions excitement begins this week with focus on topping the Rams

Super Bowl talk takes backseat; winning division is the key

ALLEN PARK — Dan Campbell was so excited to get rolling with Week 1 of the new season, the Detroit Lions coach was seven minutes early for his Monday press conference. He was wearing a big smile and a Lions’ “Anti-fragile” t-shirt.

“I told the team this morning, now let’s put our guys in position to go win and do what they do best. Let them go win the race for you,’’ Campbell said.

First up, it’s Sunday Night Football at Ford Field against Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams. Hard to top that for an opener to a season where the Lions are expected to at least be in the Super Bowl discussion.

They have not made a secret of that. Players, coaches and GM Brad Holmes have not been shy about their goal of winning the Super Bowl.

Now it’s time to walk the walk.

So Campbell told the team let’s not talk about the Super Bowl any more.

“Now we’re to the point now that doesn’t matter any more. What does that do? It does nothing,’’ Campbell said. “Now it’s about the steps to get to there. The steps are you better win your division so you get a home game. Then once you get a home game, now it’s about seeding. You win these head-to-heads then all of a sudden you’re the three seed, you’re the two seed, maybe you’re the one seed.’’

The Lions proved they are legitimate when they came within one half of making it to the Super Bowl in February with a 34-31 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

From Campbell’s view the anticipation isn’t different.

“It’s hard to say. I always get excited for this time of year. There again, our core is the core and it’s been that way for a long period of time, you hope you build on top of that foundation that we’ve built here, you’ve helped, you’ve improved and everybody grows together. So with that, it’s a new team,’’ Campbell said. “But I think it’s the same type of anticipation.’’

Left tackle Taylor Decker said he never felt the Super Bowl was a big conversation topic in the building but it could come up here and there.

“But again we just need to take it week by week, or we’d be doing a disservice to each other,’’ Decker said on Monday. “If you look too far ahead then you might be 3-4 weeks into the season and then (wonder) what’s going on here. We’re not going to let that happen. We have the right mindset of guys.’’

That’s how linebacker Alex Anzalone sees it too.

“As a competitor it’s exciting, I think this is how it should be. This is the expectation you want as a competitor,’’ Anzalone said. “You don’t want to put one thing in front of the other. There’s a lot of outside noise and excitement outside of here. Dan (Campbell) said today the first goal is to win the division.’’

First up are the Rams who the Lions beat in the playoffs at Ford Field in January. The Super Bowl is so far down the road.

“So now it’s about setting yourself up for that. How do you do that? It starts with Game 1, an NFC opponent, a really good opponent, who I think is going to be staring at all of us in the playoffs at the end of this year too,’’ Campbell said. “That’s it, you find a way to win your division again.’’

INJURY UPDATE: Safety Ifeatu Melifonwu is the only Lion dealing with injury this week. Campbell said it’s a slow-moving injury and they want to get him moving around.