minnesota vikings – Page 15

Lions running back duo could each top 1,000 rushing yards for season against Vikings

ALLEN PARK — Getting the win on Sunday against the Vikings is the main goal, really the only goal that really matters for coach Dan Campbell and the Lions.

Along the way, however, running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs could each reach the 1,000-yard rushing milestone for the season. They would become just the sixth pair to do so in NFL history.

“It would mean a lot for me and D-Mo and the rest of the offense, it shows dedication to the work we’ve put in throughout this whole season. It would be special for the program,’’ Gibbs said.

Montgomery is 25 yards shy while Gibbs needs 85 against the Vikings at Ford Field on Sunday. That should be an easy day for the backs who have sparked the Lions’ offense this season.

“First, obviously we want to win by any means. If we don’t get it and we win it, we’ll live with it. If we get it and win it’d be a bonus, it would mean a lot to us,’’ Gibbs said.

He and Montgomery figured out a few weeks ago that they could each reach the 1,000-yard milestone.

“I do think it’s fantastic they’re approached that point,’’ Lions assistant head coach/running backs coach Scottie Montgomery said on Wednesday. “But I’d be remiss if I said if we didn’t have the O-line that we have, if we didn’t have the tight ends that we have. If you look at our receivers in the force blocking game on the perimeter, which can be complicated, they give our guys an exceptional chance to get to the next level.’’

Coach Montgomery said the 1,000 yard marks could be special, but he won’t be giving out touches based on yardage during the game. “Everything is secondary to the team,’’ he said.

Gibbs ranks second in the NFL behind Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson (948 yards), for most rushing yards among rookies this season.

Gibbs, a first-round pick, has had an instant impact. He said it took until about Week 5 where he felt more comfortable on the field.

“I think the easiest thing to judge is physical talent. Probably the hardest thing to judge is mental capacity and level of professionalism,’’ Scottie Montgomery said. “Those two things, he knocks it out of the park. …’’

Gibbs leads the NFL in most 20-plus yard rushes this season with 10. San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey has nine.

The rookie also ranks third in rushing average with 5.41 per game. Lamar Jackson averages 5.55 and Justin Fields 5.43.

Montgomery, who was signed as a free agent, ranks seventh in the NFL with the most rushing yards and third with most rushing yards per game, averaging 75.0. He’s also tied for fourth with 3 100-yard rushing games.

He ranks third in Lions history for most rushing touchdowns per season with a dozen. He’s in good company — Barry Sanders had 14 and Billy Sims 13.

Already Montgomery and Gibbs have each topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage which makes them the fourth set of running backs in team history to each surpass 1,000 scrimmage yards in the same season. They also became the first set of players to each have at least eight rushing touchdowns in the same season for Detroit.

MOVES: Veteran defensive linemen Isaiah Buggs and Bruce Irvin have been released to make room on the roster. Campbell said for Buggs it was best for the team and for him. Irvin joined the Lions late and played in just three games. “That was tough, what a blessing to have him around,’’ Campbell said. “… He’s an absolute stud.”

INJURIES: WR Jameson Williams (ankle), LT Taylor Decker (groin) and TE Brock Wright (hip) did not practice on Wednesday; LB James Houston (ankle), TE Sam LaPorta (ankle) and DT Alim McNeill had limited practice.

UP NEXT: Vikings at Lions, 1 p.m. on Sunday at Ford Field on FOX.

Lions Dan Campbell — fueled with ‘pure octane’ — ready to move past debacle at Dallas

ALLEN PARK — Dan Campbell is over it.

Talk about the referee’s error late in the 20-19 loss at the Cowboys late Saturday is still lingering on television, social media and among fans, but the Detroit Lions coach has moved on. He doesn’t want to talk about it.

Campbell said he is fueled by “pure octane” now. On Monday, he looked more like his typically controlled self, possibly well-caffeinated.

“I’m good, I woke up yesterday, I’m ready. I’ve got controlled fury, I’m ready to go,’’ Campbell said on Monday. “I’m absolutely ready to go, I don’t go the other way and the team won’t either.’’

He said they’re on a mission and he won’t let the players wallow in the muck. The Lions, winners of the NFC North, have locked up the No. 3 seed and have a very slight chance to move up to No. 2.

“We had plays to make, we didn’t make them. It’s a tight game, a good opponent, playoff-type atmosphere and you have to make that one extra play that we didn’t. We will use this as fuel,’’ Campbell added. “I got pure octane right now, I’m ready. ”

Instead of feeling sorry, they will use the bad call as motivation starting with Sunday’s game at Ford Field against the Vikings.

When asked, he had a few words for fans who think the NFL is out to get the Lions. “Don’t do that, I know, I get it, but don’t do that. Don’t buy into that, don’t live in that world. That will just pull you down. If it makes you feel better, the NFL is against every team. I’ve been in New Orleans, I know what that feels like,’’ Campbell said.

He was referring to the Saints’ 2018 conference title loss to the Rams (and Jared Goff) which involved a missed pass interference call.

“We walked away, even in that game we had chances to win. That ended and that was it. … We packed our bags,’’ Campbell said.

So life goes on, the loss at Dallas was meaningful as far as playoff seeding, but it wasn’t do or die.

“I think it’s a blessing, I will tell fans, don’t do it, don’t believe that. We’re just getting started,’’ Campbell said.

The players had Monday off and will get back to work on Tuesday. Campbell fully expects their mindset to be in tune with his.

“We built this roster for a reason, they’ll be just fine,’’ Campbell said.

INJURY UPDATES: Campbell expects DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson will get some snaps on Sunday. He hasn’t played since Week 2 due to a torn pec. … Also he hopes to get DT Alim McNeil and FB Jason Cabinda back into action. McNeil (knee) has missed four games while Cabinda (knee) has not played since Week 3. … WR Jameson Williams tweaked his ankle in Saturday’s game, but Campbell said it’s not significant and called him day to day.

NEXT UP: Minnesota Vikings (7-9) at Lions (11-5), 1 p.m., Sunday on FOX.

Five things to watch as NFC North champ Lions visit the Cowboys; plus prediction

While the Lions are the NFC North champs, now is no time to relax with the No. 2 seed on the line. If Detroit wins out they will be the second seed in the NFC.

First up, at the Dallas Cowboys who have been a perfect 7-0 at home this season and own a 10-5 record. The road warrior Lions (11-4) are 6-2 away from Ford Field. Kickoff is at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday – it’s basically Monday Night Football two days early.

“We’re a good road team and we feel good about (playing) pretty much anywhere. We went to Arrowhead earlier this year and won there and there are much harder atmospheres to play in than that. So, yeah, we feel good about going in anywhere and finding a way to win,’’ quarterback Jared Goff said.

Not only are the Cowboys perfect at home this season, but they are 15-1 at AT&T Stadium in the past two seasons.

“I think just – I think the comfort, the comfort of being there and to be able to function, particularly offensively, without the crowd noise,’’ coach Dan Campbell said. “There’s a number of things that they’re able to do – I feel like that opens up things they’re able to do because they don’t have to be on silent cadence, some of the verbal. I just – I think they take full advantage of being home, they do it well.’’

Five things to watch:

1. The Lions have improved their turnover ratio and that must continue. Goff did not throw an interception at the Vikings on Sunday. However, he must keep an eye on Cowboys CB DaRon Bland’s who has eight interceptions with five of those returned for touchdowns this season: “He’s played well, he’s made plays on the ball, he’s got great ball skills. And I think he’s got the NFL record, right, for most taken back? It’s incredible. It’s a good testament to what type of player he is and yeah, has great ball skills,’’ Goff said.

2. With a healthy offensive line, Goff is getting good protection. He was sacked just once in the 30-24 win over the Vikings. The Cowboys have sacked opposing quarterbacks just four times in the last four games — one in each. Detroit’s offensive line ranks fifth in the League in pass protection.

3. The Lions defense held on to get the division-clinching win at Minnesota plus they had four interceptions and four sacks. Campbell has confidence they can get the job done again. “We talked about getting turnovers in bunches and there we go. And so, this has been the one thing that we’ve been missing and now it showed up. And I feel like it’s not going to go anywhere. I feel like those – between our safeties and our backers and (Brian) Branch, kind of that – man, we’re becoming very disruptive and we’re making a lot of plays,’’ the coach said. “Now, there’s some things in there that showed up. And look, (Vikings WR Justin Jefferson) 18 is what he is. He’s a hell of a receiver, but there’s a couple of things we can clean up on the coverage aspect. But as far as, man playing your keys, being where you need to be, making plays on the football, man we’re doing that and I feel like that’s here to stay.”

4. It’s key for the Lions to get off to a good start, just like most weeks. If the Lions fall too far behind it takes the running game out of the equation. “It goes without saying, you could say it every week, we have to get off to a fast start because that’s where this team excels,’’ Campbell said. “They get going and all of a sudden it snowballs and then you just can’t make up from the mistakes that you may have had earlier in the game.”

5. Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons can be a game-wrecker. He lines up on both sides so LT Taylor Decker and RT Penei Sewell will each get a shot at him, along with others. “I think (Sewell’s) the same guy every day. I’m sure he relishes this challenge as does Deck on the other side because, like I said, Micah is going to line up all over the place. He certainly loves this type of matchup because it allows him to showcase what he’s capable of,’’ Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said.

INJURIES: TE Brock Wright (hip) and DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson (pectoral) are out; CB Cam Sutton (toe) is questionable. FB Jason Cabinda was elevated from IR, then waived on Friday.

PREDICTION: Lions 30, Cowboys 27. Call me crazy, but I think the Lions have it in them to get this one.