Tag: minnesota vikings

Five reasons the Lions lost a crucial game to the Steelers; playoff hopes diminished

It was too little too late for the Lions. On their final offensive play, fourth-and-goal from the Steelers’ 9-yard line, Amon-Ra St. Brown caught the ball and pitched it to Jared Goff who ran in for a touchdown. But after the officials’ discussed it for nearly 2 minutes, it was determined the offensive pass interference penalty called on St. Brown negated the score. Time was out. The Lions lost 29-24. 

“I don’t even want to get into it, it’s not going to change anything, we still lost,’’ coach Dan Campbell said. “You think you scored, you don’t score and then you think you’re going to have another play. Replay it or back it up and have one more shot. I guess that’s the way it’s written in the rule book. That’s frustrating but there again it shouldn’t have come to that.’’

An NFL game can end on an offensive penalty but not a defensive penalty.

It was the second offensive pass interference penalty called on the Lions in that series. Six plays earlier wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa’s PI penalty negated a St. Brown touchdown. 

The intensity and spark of a Dan Campbell coached team seemed lacking for about three quarters of Sunday’s game and it was costly. The offense found more rhythm in the fourth quarter, but came up short.

The Lions, who were playing for a chance to get in the playoffs, saw their record fall to 8-7. Detroit’s chances of getting into the playoffs dropped to 8 percent. It was the first time they lost back-to-back games since October 2022.

Five reasons the Lions lost:

ONE: The Lions defense had no answer for the Steelers. Coming into the game the most yards Pittsburgh had gained in a game was 396. They ran up 481 yards (230 rushing) on the Lions. Aaron Rodgers was 27-of-41, 266 yards and 1 touchdown. The Steelers controlled the ball nearly the entire third quarter. The Lions offense had just three snaps and the third one was a safety. Pittsburgh was 2-of-2 fourth downs and 8 of 16 on third downs.

TWO: The Lions could not establish a run game. At all. They finished with just 15 rushing yards. Prior to Sunday, the Lions rushed for less than 100 yards in five games and lost all five. So they knew they needed the ground game. Running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery were healthy. The offensive line was missing starting center Graham Glasgow. Montgomery had 4 carries for 14 yards while Gibbs had 7 carries for 2 yards. They averaged 1.3 yards per carry.  “Certainly I wish we could’ve run it more. I would love to run the ball more than that, a lot more than that,’’ Campbell said. “It just was one of those days.’’

THREE: Goff threw for three touchdowns but couldn’t find a consistent flow for the offense. He didn’t throw an interception but came close twice early in the fourth and again later that quarter. He was hurried and pressured which certainly played a role and wasn’t helped with center Graham Glasgow out. With no run game, it’s tough to get the pass game going. Goff finished 34-of-54 for 364 yards, 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions.

FOUR:  In such a crucial game, you’d expect the Lions to come out with an intensity unknown to mankind. They looked flat early on. Aidan Hutchinson sacked Aaron Rodgers twice early  but even those plays didn’t spark the defense. Physical play is the Lions trademark but on Sunday they couldn’t match the Steelers’ physicality.

FIVE: Campbell obviously was frustrated after the loss. He knows the playoff chances are much slimmer now but he also knows they have two games remaining — at the Vikings on Christmas and then at the Bears on the last weekend. “I want to see us play with our identity, what we are and what we’re about. We’re big boys in this League, pull your pants up and go to work,’’ Campbell said. “You can’t feel sorry for yourself, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t sting, it doesn’t feel bad. But we have nobody to blame but ourselves. It’s on us and it’s also on us to finish.

UP NEXT: Lions (8-7) at Minnesota Vikings (7-8), 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Christmas Day.

With renewed sense of urgency, Lions coach Dan Campbell says answer is to get back to work

ALLEN PARK — Dan Campbell’s message to his team on Monday was simple: Go back to work.

After the 41-34 loss at the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, the Lions saw their playoff hopes dwindle. Still they have a chance to get a playoff berth. First they have to win their three remaining games – Steelers at Ford Field on Sunday, at the Vikings on Christmas Day and at the Chicago Bears on Jan. 4. Or, as Campbell sees it, first they have to beat the Steelers.

“Go back to work. That’s the message. Don’t worry about the what ifs, we have to win so be it,’’ Campbell said on Monday. “…We want to win this one. Keep putting the work in, the focus, the detail and trust the guy next to you is going to do his job You do your job, do it the best you can do it and let’s find a way to win a game.’’

After starting the season 4-1, the Lions (8-6) have alternated wins and losses. Never losing two in a row, but never winning two straight either.

Campbell’s message has been consistent throughout – clean up the errors and go back to work. 

“There again, I know this, you say it a number of times, you have to say it a different way, you have to show it a different way,’’ Campbell said. “You never know, the way you say it may be the difference this time or how you get that point across. You keep changing it up, you try to address things in a different way.

“I do believe we’ll get it cleaned up, I do believe we’ll correct those errors. Then it’s up to some of these other guys just because it didn’t happen to you you’ve got to learn from that rep too that’s across the board,’’ ‘added the coach.

After watching film, Campbell said the loss on Sunday came down to three series in the third quarter offensively and defensively.

“That’s what bit us. Basically three touchdowns in 12 plays on defense then 9 plays for 6 yards total in that third quarter stretch,’’ he said.  ‘That was tough. There were a number of errors we had, some technique fundamental things that we have to get cleaned up that you can’t get away with a team like that.

“You do anything on any one of those series offense or defense and it changes the dynamic of that game. That’s not good. That’s what bit us. There again, we clean it up and move on,’’ Campbell added. “I know this we’ve got the right guys, we’re a resilient team, we’ve got to win.’’

UP NEXT: Steelers at Lions (8-6), 4:25 p.m. on Sunday at Ford Field.

Lions dig hole in division losing to Packers, 31-24; 5 reasons for the loss

DETROIT — Dan Campbell often talks about how games are won or lost on just a few plays. It was no different on Thanksgiving when the Green Bay Packers edged the Lions, 31-24 at Ford Field.

The coach can pinpoint two key plays that were costly.

“We played with the energy – really this game came down to fourth down and those critical moments we were 0-2 and they were able to capitalize on three of them,’’ Campbell said. “Those are the one or two plays that make a difference when you’re playing a really good team.’’

The Lions dropped to 7-5 and remain in third place in the NFC North. The Packers are 8-3-1 in second place. The first-place Bears (8-3) play at the Eagles (8-3) on Friday while the Vikings (4-7) play at Seahawks (8-3 on Sunday.

“Like I told the team, it’s frustrating, I know. We’ve got a lot to be thankful for even after a loss,’’ Campbell said. “We’ve dug ourselves a little bit of a hole, that’s the bottom line, we are in a little bit of a hole, but that’s just what it is there’s nothing more than that. All we’ve got to do is worry about cleaning up this then getting to the next game and winning the next one in front of us.’’

The Lions host the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night, Dec. 4, at Ford Field.

Five reasons the Lions lost:

ONE: How about some pass rush? Packers quarterback Jordan Love had all day back there. He wasn’t sacked and the Lions only had one quarterback hit. The talent is there but something is wrong. Campbell couldn’t pinpoint a reason for the lack of pressure. “I don’t know. It’s a good question, until I watch this game i want to know what this game looks like before I make a comment on that,’’ Campbell said. “I’m not sure.’’

TWO: Detroit’s defense allowed too many conversions on third and fourth downs. The Packers went for it on fourth down three times and converted each one. Also, too many explosive plays were given up. Christian Watson scored on a 51-yard pass play and there were four other plays of 20 yards or more given up to the Packers.

THREE: Conversely, the Lions were 0-for-2 on fourth downs Thursday. They haven’t converted on fourth down since the win over the Commanders on Nov. 9. They were 0-for-5 on fourth downs in the loss to the Eagles and didn’t try one against the Giants. Goff said there is no magic potion. One of the misses was on a fourth-and-3 at Green Bay’s 21 early in the fourth quarter when it appeared Jameson Williams dropped the ball. “I’ve got to connect with Jamo on the one down in the red zone,’’ Goff said. “I’ve got to give him a better throw and if he makes the catch he might score right there …’’

FOUR: The offense got off to a slow start, hey were down 10-0 early in the second quarter. Goff was 0-3 and was sacked once in the first quarter and then completed 15 straight passes until Williams dropped the ball on fourth-and-3 in the fourth. The offensive line did not give Goff enough protection which has become an issue. He was sacked three times — 2.5 courtesy of Micah Parsons. The Lions were playing without center Graham Glasgow, wide receiver Kalif Raymond and tight end Brock Wright. Amon-Ra St. Brown went down in the first quarter and didn’t return. Goff credited Williams (7 catches, 144 yds, 1 TD), Isaac TeSlaa (2 catches, 35 yards, 1 TD) and Tom Kennedy (4 catches, 36 yards) for stepping up.

FIVE: Certainly the Lions have running back talent and they have to be patient with it, but the run calls on third down don’t always seem to be the best option and they keep calling them. The LIons were 8 for 13 on third downs. Jahmyr Gibbs carried 20 times for 68 yards (3.4 yards per carry) and David Montgomery eight for 32 yards and a touchdown. 

NEXT UP: Dallas Cowboys at Lions (7-5), 8:15 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 4.