Dan Campbell’s most memorable Christmas kids when he was younger was underwear – tidy whities – from his dad.
A win over the Vikings on Christmas Day is at the top of his wish list this year.
The LIons (8-7) are coming off two straight losses and still have a very slim chance of making the playoffs while the Vikings (7-8) have won three straight and are out of the postseason discussion.
His message to the team on this shortened week is to move forward.
Wide receiver Jameson Williams paints a picture of the locker room,
“Nobody is disappointed I don’t know – everybody’s head is high, we’ve still got a chance. Nobody is in there with a sad face, everybody is happy we get a chance to go to work and do something that we love doing,’’ Williams said.
“It’s not all about the bigger picture that everybody else makes it about. Some people play this game because they love the game. It’s not about the money or pleasing fans or pleasing anybody. As I’ve been looking around and analyzing everybody’s head has been high. We still feel like we got a shot at this,’’ he added.
Five things to watch:
ONE: Run the damn ball. In the first meeting the Lions managed just 65 rushing yards (3.3 yards per carry). It’s one reason they lost. They have lost all six games when they have rushed for less than 100 yards. It happened again on Sunday in the loss to the Steelers. It’s not on Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery – all 11 players on offense are responsible. “Everybody’s got to be on par. One time it’s one player here, whether it’s in the O-line or at another spot, it’s not just there. The backs are involved, receivers, tight ends. So, we just kind of took turns with – whether it was some of the combinations or we’re not honoring the ID, or maybe it’s not the right read,’’ Campbell said referring to the loss to the Steelers.
TWO: Stop the run. The Lions defense has had a miserable time stopping the run. In five of the last six games they’ve allowed more than 100 rushing yards and they lost four of those five. “As you guys know, the rush and coverage always go together. And we have not worked in unison for a number of plays. We’ve gotten hit on a number of plays,’’ Campbell said. “Some of that is – we play a certain style, right? And then if you feel like you’re not executing there, then you try to give some help in areas. Well, I kind of mentioned this last week, when you do that, then you expose yourself and others. And that happened a little bit (Sunday), we tried to play with a lighter box, and then we got hit in the run game. Some of them we missed some tackles that showed up. Where we fit, who the support player is, that showed. It’s obviously – it’s too much, man, it’s not sustainable.’’
THREE: Quarterback J.J. McCarthy has been ruled out with a hairline fracture in his hand. Max Brosmer, who has played in five games with one start this season, will get the nod. He’s completed 66 percent of his passes with 0 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. “If you give him time to see it he can throw it, he’s got receivers to throw to. I know that,’’ Campbell said. “The guy is accurate and so I think it really falls in line with anybody we play at this point. We have to disrupt him and we can’t let the run game get going. They’re going to lean on him, they’re going to use the run game because it will alleviate a ton of pressure and if we let them open the flood gates it’s going to be a long day for us.
FOUR: In the previous game the Vikings sacked Goff five times. Obviously adjustments have to be made. “We know in totality we have to be better, that’s us as coaches, we have to execute better. I go back to the game where we made so many mistakes all over the map, we’ve got to eliminate the errors,’’ Campbell said “Our backs are going to have to protect, they know that so is the O-line and so are the tight ends at times, chip and nudge. Sometimes you have to beat the rush with your receivers. And Goff has to roll. It takes everybody.’’
FIVE: Goff rarely has a bad outing. He needs another strong showing. “There’s going to be a ton put on Goff. He’s going to have a lot on his plate. He always has a lot on his plate. Nothing’s new there,’’ Campbell said. “But these guys present a lot of problems, a lot of challenges, it starts there. We have to play fast, we’ve got to play fast, we have to make sure we communicate – everybody is doing the same things.’’
LIONS INJURIES: OUT – Avonte Maddox and Giovanni Manu; QUESTIONABLE — Amon-Ra St. Brown, Taylor Decker, David Montgomery, Trystan Colon, Marcus Davenport, Khalil Dorsey, Tom Kennedy, Christian Mahogany, Alim McNeill, Al-Quadin Muhammad, Amik Robertson
VIKINGS INJURIES: OUT — J.J. McCarthy, T.J. Hockenson, Ryan Kelly and Jordan Mason.
PREDICTION: Lions 27, Vikings 24.
Lions Lowdown 