Tag: NFL playoffs

Lions Dan Campbell says next battle is fighting complacency to win No. 2 seed.

ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions checked one box winning the NFC North division with the win over the Vikings on Christmas Eve.

It’s all good, the first division win in 30 years and  it results in, at the very least, a home playoff game.

However, the Lions are not done. If they win out -— at the Dallas Cowboys (10-5) on Saturday and hosting the Vikings (7-8) on Jan. 7 — they will be the No. 2 seed in the NFC.

“At this point now we’re fighting for the 2 seed, if you’re able to get to the one then so be it, but right now what we know we can achieve on our own is the two,’’ coach Dan Campbell said on Tuesday. “That’s no easy task. We have to go to Dallas. They haven’t lost in I don’t know how many games at home.’’

The Cowboys are 7-0 at home this season and 15-1 in last two years. They are coming off two straight road losses — at Buffalo and at MIami.

“It will be loud, but we’re looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to going out there and playing a really good opponent at their place,’’ Campbell said.

The Lions have been road warriors this season with a 6-2 record in away games and 5-2 at home.

Campbell said the biggest opponent right now is satisfaction and complacency.

“That is what we’re going to fight from here on out. They’re going to know that, we’re going to have a meeting in a little bit and we’ve got smart guys, they understand that,’’ Campbell said.

The coach compared it to winning in the postseason.

“It’s really no different than what happens in the playoffs — you win a big game in the playoffs you don’t have time to really enjoy, you have to get ready for the next one,’’ Campbell said. “That’s where we’re at. It’s a great thing, I wish we had more time to enjoy it, but we don’t. We’re off to the next one. We have to want more, we’ve got to stay hungry or we won’t be able to get the next one.’’

INJURY UPDATE: Veteran defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson will practice for the second week, coming off IR. Campbell said they’ll see how he does this week before making a decision on if he will be play on Saturday. … LB James Houston, who is on IR, could start practicing this week but Campbell wouldn’t say it’s a certainty. They could wait another week on him.

Detroit Lions win NFC North title with 30-24 win at Vikings; first division crown in 30 years

After 30 fruitless seasons, the Detroit Lions wrapped up the best gift for long-suffering fans when they defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 30-24, on Christmas Eve to win the NFC North title.

It’s a holly, jolly holiday in Detroit.

With the win the Lions now own an 11-4 record with two games remaining. At the very least, they will host one playoff game, the first postseason contest at Ford Field.

It was an all-around team effort: 143 rushing yards, 246 passing yards, four touchdowns, four sacks, four interceptions and a partridge in a pear tree. 

“This is special, this is special. It’s something you don’t get to do all the time … To do something that hasn’t been done in 30 years for a team is special,’’ Campbell said.

He was wearing a black and blue “2023 NFC North Champions: It’s a Lock” T-shirt. The coach couldn’t say one word often enough.

“I’m pretty ecstatic, man. This is special, this is special. Like I said, it’s a special group. This is just the beginning, we feel that way,’’ Campbell said. “There again, I couldn’t be more proud of the guys.”

It was an up-and-down game. It felt like whoever had the ball last would win and that’s basically what happened when Lions safety Ifeatu Melifonwu intercepted Nick Mullens with 58 seconds left so the Lions could hold on to the 30-24 win.

The Lions were up 17-14 at the half, but gave up a touchdown to start the third quarter. Back and forth it went. Detroit led 30-21 early in the fourth quarter, but let the Vikings back in with a field goal.

“All of a sudden you’re at the end of this game and it’s just gone back and forth, but nobody got frazzled, nobody lost their cool,’’ Campbell said. “And when we needed it, in crunch times, we made plays. That’s what good teams do: They find ways to win the game instead of the other way. That’s not an easy thing to do, but when you’ve got the right guys who mesh together, work for each other and they care about each other. They’re accountable to each other, it makes a difference.’’

Five of the reasons the Lions won:

1. Jared Goff managed the game well. Came out with a 14-play touchdown drive and kept the game in-hand throughout. He spread the ball around to eight different pass-catchers. He finished 30-40, for 257 yards and a touchdown. No turnovers. “It’s emotional, but just the beginning for us,’’ Goff told the NFL Network. He got big help from the offensive line which Campbell called “outstanding.”

2. Win the turnover battle, and (usually) win the game. The Lions intercepted Mullens four times. While Jahmyr Gibbs did lose a fumble, the 4-1 turnover ratio was key to the win. Overall the defense played well but admittedly had trouble with wide receiver Justin Jefferson who finished with 141 receiving yards. The Lions double-teamed him, but still couldn’t stop him. Campbell kind of shrugged his shoulders when asked about Jefferson. “Winning the division, it’s our legacy now,’’ linebacker Alex Anzalone said. 

3. Again Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery rushed for a combined 13 yards Gibbs finished with two rushing TDs while Montgomery had one. They are a remarkable duo that opens up the offense and they are proving no game is too big for them. In 30 years they are without question the best running back duo the Lions have put on the field.

4. Safety Ifeatu Melifonwu, in his third straight start, saved the day by intercepting Nick Mullens when the Vikings were within striking range in the last minute. Along with the big pick, he also sacked Mullens twice. “He’s a factor, he’s just getting better and better,’’ Campbell said.

5. The Lions responded to the pressure of getting the title. They played their game and even the rookies – especially the rookies – contributed. Owner Sheila Ford Hamp joined the group in the locker room afterward. “The look on her face, the pure joy and happiness and watching the celebration with the coaches and the players and everybody, watching her interact. It feels good,’’ Campbell said. “I promised her we’d get her that, we did that. That’s one.’’

UP NEXT: Lions (11-4) at Dallas Cowboys, 8:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 30.

Five things to watch as Lions look to take NFC North title with win over Vikings; plus prediction

The Detroit Lions’ goal of winning the NFC North title is within reach and will become a reality with a win on Sunday at the Minnesota Vikings.

It would be their first division title since Jan. 2, 1994, and guarantee a home playoff game. It’s a present that can’t be wrapped and put under the tree. It would be everything to coach Dan Campbell, his staff, the players and actually the entire city of Detroit that has been hoping for a winner.

“We are a young team and most of these guys weren’t born the last time we won a division,’’ Campbell said. “I think they also understand how special it would be. You’re telling me we could be a division winner for the first time in 30 years for an organization, that’s special. Whatever perspective you take, it’s still special. That’s the message and they understand that.’’

Quarterback Jared Goff said they have to concentrate on the game at hand against a team that has lost three of its last four games, the last one in overtime to the Bengals.

“A win gets us the division and we understand, we understand, we get it. I think I’ve said this before, but we don’t carry the weight of the last 30 years here, we don’t. It’s the 2023 Lions and we’re different than last year’s team and the year before and 30 years before that,’’ Goff said. “So, we’re trying to make our mark this year and we have a chance to do it this week. But yeah, it’s been a long season, we’ve had some success and hopefully can get it done.”

The Lions (10-4) , who haven’t made a postseason appearance since 2016,  have lost nine straight playoff games going back to the 1991 season. Their last playoff win was on Jan. 5, 1992. It’s pathetic  to say the least.

Detroit will face the Vikings (7-7) again in the season finale on Jan. 7. In-between they play at the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday, Dec. 30. Sunday is not their only shot to win the division, but it is a good one. They just have to win it.

Five things to watch:

1. Once again Jared Goff needs to step up. He had five touchdowns against zero picks last week in the win over the Broncos. It’s an awesome ratio. Can’t expect those numbers every week but something in that range would help a lot. Campbell said his message to Goff this week is to continue to let it fly. Look for the speedy Jameson Williams to see more action, 

2. The Lions must deal with the Vikings defense which is either max coverage or max pressure. “A lot of teams do that down in the red zone, but (Vikings defensive coordinator Brian) Flores has kind of taken that to a new extreme. At any time, at any moment. It’s been fun this week trying to dissect their defense. They do a lot and it’s hard, but our staff’s done a nice job trying to narrow down some things that we can key in on potentially, but he’s got a new wrinkle each and every week that we’ll have to be able to adjust to,’’ offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said.

3. Last year Vikings WR Justin Jefferson had a career-high 223-yard game against the Lions. “After missing eight games this year, he returned last week and is still getting his footing. “There’s nothing easy about it,’’ Campbell said. “I mean, I think – I know this, we can’t let him have 200 yards again. I mean, that’s the most obvious. So, we’re going to have to have some answers. He’s getting back in the flow. The other day he’s – you can start to see that he’s getting back and he’s going to be even better this week.’’ Minnesota QB Nick Mullens is expected to make his second straight start.

4. Get off to a good start so running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery can keep getting touches. “I mean (Gibbs has) been electric really since he stepped on the field for us. I don’t know if I’ve necessarily seen anything out of the ordinary. I know he had the one 30-yard run last week, but I don’t think any of us were surprised by it,’’ Johnson said. Vikings 13th against the run  (giving up 98.6 yards per game) while the LIons have the second-best rushing game in the NFL averaging 140.9 yards per game. Here’s a fun stat: Montgomery and Gibbs each have two 20-yard touchdown rushes this season. The last time the Lions had two players with multiple 20-yard touchdown rushes in a season was in 1936 with Hall of Famer Dutch Clark and Ernie Caddel. And here’s another one: The Vikings have allowed just one run of 20-plus yards all season. 

5. Lions can’t let pressure get to them and it doesn’t seem likely. While last week the key word is urgency Goff said it really hasn’t changed. “Still urgent, still understanding what our goal is, what our mission is and not much has changed,’’ Goff said. “I think last week – it’s not the worst thing in the world to sometimes get your ass kicked a little bit like we did in Chicago. So, it created that and it continues on.”

INJURIES: DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson (pectoral), FB Jason Cabinda (knee), CB Jerry Jacobs (hamstring), TE Brock Wright (hip) are out; LB Derrick Barnes (shoulder) is doubtful.

PREDICTION: Lions 27, Vikings 17. Winning the division has been the goal since Day One of training camp. Can’t see Detroit letting the opportunity slip away.