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Lions Dan Campbell: ‘We’re in the middle of the circus, man, and it’s about time to perform’

Five things to watch as the Lions host the Commanders

A year ago, the Detroit Lions won a pair of playoff games and ended their 32-season drought without a postseason win.

It was good, but it wasn’t enough. In fact “it takes more” became the motto for this season. Mottos don’t win games, but they can plant the seeds. Thriving is mutual and that is what the Lions have accomplished with a second straight NFC North title, a 15-2 record and the No. 1 seed.

It all leads up to Saturday night when the heavily-favored Lions host the Washington Commanders in the NFL divisional round.

The bull’s-eye has been on the Lions for every game this season so it’s not new. Coach Dan Campbell does not feel a difference of expectations.

“I look at it as like, I know who we are, I know what we’re about, I know how we have to prepare, I respect the opponent, and now it’s time to go to work, that’s how I look at it,’’ Campbell said. “I don’t look at anything else, I don’t think of, ‘What if it doesn’t, what if the –‘ The what ifs, man, I couldn’t sleep at night if I lived that way, there’s no freaking way. So, no, I don’t think of that.

“We’re the one seed, we earned the one seed, we’ve got a good opponent coming in and we’re going to be ready to play. That’s how I look at it,’’ the coach added.

With the turnaround from a 3-13-1 season in 2022, the Lions may not exactly be America’s team now, but they are in the conversation. Under Campbell the Lions are 11-2 in primetime games. The networks love them and the ratings that come along with them.

While there may be extra attention it’s nothing the Lions cannot handle.

“We’ve had attention for four years here. I mean, there’s been more stuff that’s been made out, that’s been built one way, we’ve been so good, we’ve been so bad, we’re a laughingstock, now we’re great, and it’s just been this rollercoaster of ups and downs, and it’s the next week of it, you know what I mean?’’ Campbell said.

“And so, this is nothing new that we’re in, this is nothing new for me, for the coaches, for the players. We’re in the middle of the circus, man, and it’s about time to perform, that’s the world we’re in,’’ the coach added.

Five things to watch:

ONE: Jayden Daniels’ poise for a rookie quarterback has turned heads all season. He’s thrown 25 touchdowns against just nine interceptions and he’s the team’s leading rusher. Obviously, mobile quarterbacks can present issues. “He is dangerous. He’s dangerous, he poses a major threat. He does not play the position like a rookie quarterback. He’s composed, he understands how to progress, he sees the field well, he can buy time with his legs, he’s a dangerous runner, he’s smart, you can tell he understands how to run that offense, what they’re asking him to do, and then he’s got weapons,’’ Campbell said.

TWO: Run the ball and run it some more. Running back David Montgomery will return from a knee injury with no pitch count. He’s ready to roll and help exploit Washington’s porous rushing defense which gives up 137.5 yards per game. He said stakes are high each game but there’s a certain vibe this week. “We’ve got guys in the locker room who take this personal, they take their job very serious. Everybody is locked in — you can see it, you can feel it, you can smell it. I’m just happy to be a part of it,’’ Montgomery said.

THREE: Ball possession will be key. The Commanders are good at it, so are the Lions who ‘edged’ the Vikings 36:12 to 23:48 in time of possession in the win that clinched the No. 1 seed. In the 23-20 wildcard win at Tampa last week, the Commanders held the ball 35:26 to Tampa’s 24:34. “Certainly to possess the ball is big, that’s what Washington does a good job of, watching them, I mean, they possess the ball, they finish the game out’’ Campbell said. “They were able to do that, get first downs, and so that’s big, and to be able to run the ball is what helps you do that. So yeah, that’s a big part of it.”

FOUR: Expect Jared Goff to have a good day against the Commanders’ man coverage. He excels when that’s the case and Washington is big on it. Goff never takes any team lightly. “They’re good, they’re young, they’re feisty. I think the whole team is young and hungry and we’re aware of that and we have to come out and be ready to go,’’ Goff said.

FIVE: Get points on the board early and keep piling them on. The Lions have outscored opponents 103-84 in the fourth quarter all season and 54-29 in the last five games. They finish, it’s why they’ve only lost two games. Keep in mind, the ‘’Cardiac Commanders’’ excel at finishing too. Their last five games were all won by a total of 17 points, They’ve outscored opponents 64-28 in the fourth quarter of those last five games. Daniels excels in clutch situations with a 117.3 passer rating when tied or down by eight points or fewer in the fourth quarter or overtime.

UP NEXT: The Lions/Commanders winner will face the winner of Rams/Eagles (Sunday at 3 p.m.) in the NFC Championship game at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 26, at Ford Field.

Lions take the NFC North title and No. 1 seed with 31-9 win over Vikings

Five reasons they were able dominate, starting with defense

DETROIT — Jahmyr Gibbs provided four touchdowns and the Detroit Lions defense frustrated the Minnesota Vikings holding them to just three field goals.

It was a combination that worked to perfection with the Lions topping the Vikings, 31-29, on Sunday night at Ford Field to win the NFC North for the second straight year. And, perhaps more importantly, to earn the NFC’s No. 1 seed which comes with a bye week and home field advantage until the Super Bowl.

The Lions finished the regular season at 15-2 with the Vikings dropping to 14-3. It was the first time in franchise history the Lions won consecutive division titles.

“That’s a good team over there, they’re well coached, a ton of weapons and we were able to contain them and keep them at bay until our offense was able to find our rhythm,’’ coach Dan Campbell said. “Total team effort, started with our defense and took the whole unit.’’

In recent weeks, franchise records were shattered. It’s been a season that diehard fans had just dreamt about. Time to pinch themselves, these Lions are for real. Campbell, who is in his fourth season in Detroit, shares the credit but he and GM Brad Holmes have built this team, starting with a 3-win season in 2021. It reflects Campbell’s gritty personality.

“I just told them to me, this has been in the making for a while. It takes a special group of guys and I think you had to go through what we’ve been through the last four years, the core of this unit,’’ Campbell said. “Anybody that comes in, they fall in line because that’s what we’re built around, our core. They really delivered for us today. Our playmakers made plays when we needed it.’’

Five of the reasons the Lions won:

ONE: The defense, which was sparked by the return of linebacker Alex Anzalone, came up big from the get-go. The Vikings were 0-for-4 in the red zone with two turnovers on downs inside the 5-yard line. Remember they won 14 games this season with Sam Darnold having a career year. “I can’t say enough about our defense, let’s start there. AG (defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn) and this defense, they really controlled that game for us, particularly the first two and a half quarters,’’ Campbell said. “The guys on defense I thought executed exactly the way we had worked and what we had talked about. We were able to apply a lot of pressure and it paid dividends.’’

TWO: Cornerback Amik Robertson also got a game ball. His task most of the night was to defense wide receiver Justin Jefferson, usually a powerhouse. But not on Sunday night. Jefferson was targeted nine times and caught just 3 passes for 54 yards. Campbell said this was the reason they signed Robertson who is in his first season with the Lions. “He’s as competitive as they come,’’ Campbell said.

THREE: The defense, which has so many of its key players out with injuries, has faltered at times but really is a reason the Lions lost just two games. Alex Anzalone’s return after being out seven weeks with a broken forearm was huge. “He’s really our quarterback on defense and he just brings, a lot of confidence, he brings, a lot of energy, he can calm the storms,’’ Campbell said. “To have him back, I thought it was going to take him a minute to work himself back in, It didn’t take long at all and he was back to what he was before he got injured. We gave him a game ball.’’ They didn’t work him back in, he played every defensive snap. Afterward Anzalone said his arm was sore. He’s happy to get the bye week for the rest and to celebrate his son’s birthday on Saturday.

FOUR: Jahmyr Gibbs’ first few runs looked like it might be a tough day for him. But he warmed up, broke through and scored all four of the Lions touchdowns—three rushing and one receiving. “He was big and I felt like he gained steam as the game went on. I thought he got better and better and better. You could really feel it after that last stop we got in the Red Zone, the next carry he just breaks it down the sideline,’’ Campbell said. “He was big for us and we felt like he was going to need to be big for us to win that game. All those guys needed to play well but we felt like that Gibbs could somewhat be the X-factor here and he did and he showed up in a big way in the run game and the pass game.’’

FIVE: Jared Goff kept the offense rolling even when it seemed to stutter a bit in the first half. The Lions took a 10-9 lead at halftime and then the offense started rolling in the third quarter. He threw a pair of interceptions but the defense was able to bail him and the offense out a few times They all worked hand in hand and it showed. “It’s fun, it’s what we talked about when we first got here. Certainly when I first got here was the opportunity you dream about being able to win division championships in the NFC North, and then ultimately win Super Bowls, that’s what’s next for us,’’ Goff said. “This is fun and exciting and we obviously wanted it really bad and we’re going to enjoy the heck out of it, but it’s Step One. In some other world it would have happened a few weeks ago but it happened Week 18.’’ Goff produced his ninth game of the season with a completion percentage of 75.0 percent, passing Tom Brady (8 in 2007) for the most in a season in NFL history.

INJURY UPDATE: CB Terrion Arnold left the game with a foot injury in the first half. Campbell said the X-rays were negative but it was quite tender. Said he’d know more on Monday.

UP NEXT: The Lions will have a bye week to rest up.

Five things to watch as Lions face Vikings with No. 1 seed on the line

Coach Dan Campbell built this Lions team for games like Sunday’s matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. It’s not just another game, it’s two 14-win teams vying for the No. 1 seed, a week off and home field advantage until the Super Bowl.

After losing the NFC Championship game at San Francisco last January, the Lions’ goal became to earn the No. 1 seed. Even though they’re perfect on the road, getting the bye and staying home until the Super Bowl is the goal.

“You come out of that game and feel like it gives you the best odds to get to where the ultimate is, which is, as well all know what the prize is, and that’s the Super Bowl, well, you just – you try to set yourself up the best you can and that’s why you put those goals out there,’’ Campbell said. “So yeah, it’s been there for a while, so certainly this is something we want to do and we’ve had in our minds – division and one seed and all that, and it’s right here in our hands.”

The Lions beat the Vikings, 31-29, in their first meeting on Oct 20 and beat them both games in 2023.

The Vikings have won nine straight, scoring more than 30 points just once – 42 in a win over Atlanta.

“They’re well-coached, got a lot of good players – a lot of good players and they create issues, really, in all three phases that we’re going to need to be prepared for, but it’s a challenge we’re looking forward to,’’ Campbell said. “So, like I said after the game, these are exciting times, to be able to play these types of games, so we’re looking forward to it.”

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH:

ONE: Offense must pile on the points because the Lions defense is still the weak link due to injuries. In the last four games the Lions have averaged 37.5 points and outscored opponents 150-120 and overall they have a 533 to 333 advantage in points scored. In the first matchup against the Vikings, the Lions won 31-29. Last year the Lions beat the Vikings twice, scoring 30 points in each game. Goff was 22 of 25 for 280 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the first game. He has thrown just one interception in the last seven games. Goff has a 77-percent completion percentage and 90.9 QBR vs. the Vikings blitz under Brian Flores, defensive coordinator. The Lions scored 30 or more points in all three games.

TWO: Contain Vikings WR Justin Jefferson. “Man, he is a special one. He’s my type of guy and you see the way he’s playing is starting to permeate to some of those other receivers,’’ Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said. “I think he’s one of the toughest guys playing that position. He’s an old school player, in my opinion, it’s almost like he’s a defensive guy playing receiver.’’ Jefferson had 7 catches, for 81 yards and a touchdown in the first game against the Lions.

THREE: The defense must make impact plays. “I thought that our top players outwilled their top players (in San Francisco) and to me, that’s what the focus is on for us. How many impact plays we can make and how our top players are going to outwill their top players,’’ Glenn said. In the first meeting, QB Sam Darnold completed 81.5 percent of his passes with 1 touchdown and 1 interception (by Brian Branch) with 244 passing yards in the first matchup. The LIons defense also gave up139 rushing yards in that game.

FOUR: Keep the run game going. Jahmyr Gibbs has done a good job with David Montgomery sidelined for the past two games. In those contests, Gibbs has a combined 226 rushing yards with two rushing TDs and 8 catches for 91 yards. He’s getting help from Craig Reynolds, Jermar Jefferson and Vaki Stone. In the first matchup, Gibbs had 15 carries for 116 yards with two rushing touchdowns.

FIVE: Kicker Jake Bates could be the not-so secret weapon. In Monday’s win at San Francisco he kicked field goals of 57 and 42 yards, He did miss on two extra-point kicks – one was blocked. It’s something that was worked on this week.

LIONS INJURY REPORT: CB Emmanuel Moseley (illness) and WR David Montgomery (knee) are out; LB Alex Anzalone (forearm), WR Kalif Raymond (foot) and RB Craig Reynolds (back) are questionable.

VIKINGS INJURY REPORT: OLB Patrick Jones II (knee) is out); LB Kamu Grugier-Hill (illness) and CB Fabian Moreau (hip) are questionable.

PREDICTION: Lions 34, Vikings 31.