Tag: NFL

Detroit Lions take first place in NFC North with 31-29 win at Vikings

For many teams, heading into MInnesota to play the undefeated Vikings might seem like a no-win situation. On Sunday the Lions proved they are not like most NFL teams, they are better. 

Detroit pulled off a 31-29 win with a game-winning field goal with 15 seconds left. 

With the victory they find themselves 5-1 and atop the NFC North. The Vikings fell to 5-1 and 1-1 in the division.

It was the second big road win in two weeks for the Lions. Last week was a 47-9 rout at Dallas, this week was just enough to win. They all count the same.

“I told the team to say that I was proud of them is a massive understatement,’’ coach Dan Campbell said. “We knew that team was playing good football and they have been for five weeks. Coming off a bye we knew they were going to be ready. 

“It was going to come down to the wire, the team knew this. We talked about patience, keep your composure, communication and then attitude. Our guys did that, we hung in there,’’ the coach added.

Things went south when the Vikings scored the first 10 points and then late in the fourth when it looked like the Lions had won, running back David Montgomery fumbled (his first in 247 carries) and the Vikings picked it up and ran into the end zone.

“We didn’t bat an eye,’’ Campbell said.

The Lions offense got the ball back with 2:32 left at their own 30, needing a field goal to win. Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 14 yards and caught a 16-yarder. A 14-yard pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown got the Lions in field goal range. After bleeding the clock, kicker Jake Bates nailed a 44-yard field goal for the win.

“That’s a huge win on the road, tough environment. You don’t want to say must-win, but we needed that in a big way,’’ Campbell said.

Five reasons the Lions won:

ONE: Jared Goff was a perfect 15 of 15 to start the game and finished 22 of 25 for 280 yards, two touchdowns and a 140.0 rating. He’s been on fire for the last three games and is the biggest reason the Lions are 5-1. “The guy’s got arm talent, there’s no question but it’s what he’s got here (between his ears) and here (in his heart). It’s what makes him a dangerous player,’’ Campbell said. “It makes him one of these guys you can build around because he’s a winner. He will find a way to win, he’ll find a way to put the offense in position to win a game. He doesn’t get frazzled, he’s tough, he’s competitive and he’s reliable. I love the guy, man.’’

TWO: Sure the Lions were missing pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson but the defense came up big when needed including Trevor Nowaske’s sack of Sam Darnold to finish the game. Safety Brian Branch was definitely the standout with an interception, a pair of pass defenses and four tackles. “(Branch’s) confidence is going sky high, he’s getting better. He’s still kind of young and new to the safety position for us. You can tell how fast he’s growing in the position,’’ Campbell said. “The sky’s the limit for him. He’s the ultimate football guy, he understands how to play the game. He’s instinctive, he’s tough, he’s smart, he’s a great tackler, he’s a ball guy, he’s got radar. And he’s one of those guys that can change the game for you.’’ And he did.

THREE: The Lions did not want to start in the hole and before they knew it they were down 10-0, but patience and composure paid off. “I think they’ve got a really good coached team, I think coach (Brian) Flores is one of the best on defense in the league,’’ Goff said. “They adjusted well and we adjusted back. It was a little chess game there going on and it’s a lot of fun but they’re a good team.’’

FOUR: Running back Jahmyr Gibbs had a breakout kind of game with 160 scrimmage yards and two rushing touchdowns. Campbell saw it coming. “We feel like Gibby’s been so close to exploding, we felt this was the game,’’ Campbell said. “He really came to life when we needed it most.’’ Gibbs finished with 15 carries for 116 yards and four catches for 44 yards, along with his two TDs. David Montgomery had nine carries for 31 yards. He injured a knee in the first half but got back into action. Because Gibbs was hot, he got most of the second-half work.

FIVE:  Kicker Jake Bates, who was signed from the UFL, did not let the pressure get to him in just his sixth NFL game. It was all on the line when he sent the 44-yard game-winning field goal through the posts. Campbell was confident in Bates who was a perfect 9-for-9 in the first five games. “We’ve had five NFL games with him and then when you see him everyday in practice, you give him the crowd noise, move the spot and I’m yelling at him, you’re just applying pressure and watching him. He continues to make these kicks,’’ Campbell said. “You feel pretty good when he gets thrust into it.’’

UP NEXT: Lions (5-1) vs. Tennessee Titans (1-5), 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27 at Ford Field.

Five things to watch as Lions face Vikings in NFC North road game

Patience is key for Detroit; also injury updates, prediction

Composure and patience are two words Lions coach Dan Campbell is preaching heading into the Lions’ first divisional game of the season at Minnesota. The undefeated Vikings have a head start in the NFC North, with a 1-0 record after beating the Packers at Green Bay. 

“They’re playing really well, so are we. We’re on the road, they’ve already got a division win on the road at Green Bay, this is big, this is a real big game,’’ Campbell said. “That’s the way you have to approach it.”

Campbell found a common denominator between all five teams that they beat.

“They lose their composure and communication is not there and things start going sour and it snowballs and it gets worse. Nobody has taken them down to the wire really, I know the Jets game there was an opportunity there,’’ Campbell said. “But that’s what we have to do we have to take this thing to the fourth quarter and make it a game. If we don’t do that it’s going to be hard, you’re going to be running uphill. That’s the focus here – keep your composure, communicate and then you’ve got to battle.

While the Lions beat the Vikings twice last year, traditionally road games in Minneapolis have spelled trouble for Detroit.

“It’s a loud environment, as you know they play pretty good at home as most teams do, it just goes back to everything else,’’ Campbell said. “We’ve got a pretty veteran team particularly offensively. That’s where you’re put under fire. Our defense isn’t getting all of that. I feel like we’ll be able to keep our composure, keep our head about us and then it’s about being patient, we’ve got to be patient on offense, it’s hard to say but that’s what you’ve got to do.’’

Five things to watch: 

ONE: The Vikings’ blitzing defense has improved in the second year under coordinator Brian Flores. The Lions can’t count on their success from last year over the Vikings. 

“They don’t make it easy and that’s part of this defense. They’re trying to stress you out, they’re trying to strain you, the clock’s running, this game we’ll be on the road, and they’ve – it’s worked. They’ve gotten on some people,’’ Campbell said. “They’ve gotten on all these offenses and they’ve been able to play their game. Offense, defense, and really because of the defense because they’ve gotten up. These multiple score games, they’re up two scores, they’re up three scores early, and you are out of your offense so fast that you can’t – now you’re totally playing into their hands.”

TWO: Campbell said the Vikings’ 13 takeaways are fueling the team right now. It isn’t lost on the Lions who had five takeaways (3 interceptions, 2 fumble recovered) in the 47-9 win at Dallas. Jared Goff is keenly aware. “That’s typically going to be the difference in a game and those guys have been thriving off of it. So yeah, we’ve got to do a good job taking care of it and, like I said, they are extremely ball-aware, they’re trying to take it away, you can tell, and we’ve got to be even more aware this week,’’ Goff said. The Lions have a 4/10 ratio of giveaway/takeaways.

THREE: No one player can step in and fill the shoes of edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson who broke his leg on Sunday. Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator, said he puts together a plan each week that is about the players not just the scheme. “I say this every week, we do everything we can to put the players in the best position that we can to where it shows their strengths, and it limits their weaknesses. So, that’s what we plan to do and that’s my job. Even when we had Aidan. We moved Aidan around to put him in position so he can be successful too,’’ Glenn said.

“So, that’s my job and that’s the fun part about being a coordinator is being able to do that week in and week out. It’s also a tough job because you also have guys on the other side of the ball that you have to make sure you take care of. But I’m excited about the guys that we have. Those guys are going to go out there and play well,’’ Glenn added. The Lions added Isaiah Thomas from the Bengals’ practice squad this week but won’t make a big trade unless it’s the perfect deal for them.

FOUR: Ben Johnson’s trick-play bag is not empty even though he went to it often against the Cowboys. The offensive coordinator won’t be afraid to go there against the Vikings. “We’re not just calling plays to call plays because we think they look cool. It’s really by design and intent and then our guys carry it the rest of the way,’’ Johnson said. Along with the skill on the offense, Johnson’s creativity is another reason they are so successful at scoring.  “This game’s been around for a long time and our challenge as a coaching staff, and I say it to the offensive staff quite a bit, is we can run a million different types of plays and because of that, I don’t like to run the same one twice. I don’t like to do it within a game, I don’t like to do it within a season,’’ Johnson said. “We certainly do have some staples that I will repeat at times, but we’re charged with let’s have a little creativity.’’

FIVE: Running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs now want to be known as Sonic & Knuckles (like the video game). Hey, call them what they want. Between them they’ve scored 10 touchdowns in the first five games. Six rushing for Montgomery and three rushing and one passing for Gibbs. Montgomery’s eight consecutive games with a rushing TD is a Lions franchise record and he’s tied for most consecutive games with rushing TD active NFL streaks with Rams’ Kyren Williams. Only Baltimore’s Derrick Henry has more rushing TDs this season with 8. With 13 touchdowns in 20 career games, Gibbs ranks third in franchise history behind Barry Sanders and Sims who each had 18.

LIONS INJURY UPDATE: G Christian Mahogany (illness) is out; CB Carlton Davis III (quad) and G Kevin Zeitler (groin) are questionable.

VIKINGS INJURY UPDATE:  TE T.J. Hockenson (knee) LB Blake Cashman (toe) and CB Akayleb Evans (hip) are out; OLB Pat Jones II (shoulder), RB Aaron Jones (hamstring), G Dalton Risner (back) and DL Harrison Phillips (shoulder) are questionable. 

PREDICTION:  Lions 31, Vikings 28

Lions Dan Campbell hasn’t closed door on Aidan Hutchinson return this season

Brad Holmes on lookout for trade but it’s not a certainty

ALLEN PARK — While Aidan Hutchinson faces significant recovery time from his broken left leg, Lions coach Dan Campbell will not count him out for the season.

“Let me say this, it’s 4-6 months. I would never count Hutch out. Ever. So long road, but I would never count him out, I would say if anybody can make it back it would be him,’’ Campbell said on Monday.

Hutchinson underwent successful surgery to repair a fractured tibia and fractured fibula at Baylor White Medical Center in Texas on Sunday night. He will return to Detroit this week and is expected to make a full recovery. Officially there is no timeline for his return to play at this time.

Still, returning this season — maybe in the playoffs — remains a possibility and Campbell thinks it is huge for Hutchinson just to know that is out there.

“Just knowing Hutch, he’s got one of those rare, if he believes in it, he can will himself to find a way to get it back,’’ Campbell said. “One of those guys, the mind can heal the body, he’ll find the next best thing and do whatever it takes to get back.

“So who knows? But yeah, I think it’s huge, you know it’s sitting right out there. ‘I can do this, I can get back. We’ll be in a position where I’ll be able to come back to help.’ I think it’s huge,’’ the coach added.

On Sunday, Hutchinson played 32 snaps against the Cowboys before he broke his leg early in the third quarter. The Lions were up 34-6 when he was carted off the field. He had notched one sack, three quarterback hits, and three tackles in the game which the Lions won 47-9.

Campbell remains confident in his team and certainly is not giving up on the Super Bowl goal. He’s not closing the door on a possible trade either. The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 5.

“Everything’s on the table but Brad (Holmes) and I are not panicked. This team is not panicked,’’ Campbell said. “It’s next man up and if we have an area where we need some help, we have to help each other out and we may have to play a little different and that’s OK. ‘’

Holmes will not jump on a trade unless it’s a perfect match for the team.

“This comes up every year and it’s not like he doesn’t look. He’s doing what he’s been doing – he’s looking. Is there somebody out there who could potentially help us? What is it going to cost? Just because it’s there doesn’t mean we’re going to do it. It’s got to be right if it is,’’ Campbell said.

 “We’re not in a hurry, I believe in the guys who are here, I believe in the D-line. It doesn’t mean we’re not looking, we’re not evaluating. Brad is, that’s his job and he’s good at it. We’ll take it as it comes. Our eyes are open and we’ll make sure we have what we need here,’’ Campbell added.

Hutchinson’s injury is the second big hit for the defensive line that lost Marcus Davenport due to a season-ending injury three weeks ago.

Undrafted rookie Isaac Ukwu stepped in on Sunday to fill in for Hutchinson. It was his first NFL game action and while Campbell said it did appear that way, he’s seen Ukwu in practice and has faith he can improve.

Levi Onwuzurike, Josh Paschal and James Houston will be leaned on.

While Alim McNeill is an inside D-lineman, he can take some of the pressure off the ends. He had two sacks and seven pressures on Sunday.

“He’s one of those guys we’re going to lean on, he doesn’t have to be Superman but we’ve got to get that out of him every week and he’s got that ability,’’ Campbell said.

Hutchinson’s injury is a blow to the Lions, but doesn’t appear to be a death blow.

Overall in the first five games this season — Hutchinson’s third NFL season — he had been on fire with 7.5 sacks (he had 11.5 all of last year), 17 quarterback hits, 19 tackles, and one forced fumble.

He was a heavy favorite with 5/2 odds of winning the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year, per BetOnline.ag. Now he’s off the board and Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt has moved from 3/1 to the favorite at 3/2.

“Everybody feels for Hutch .. because they can put themselves in his shoes, it brings it back to reality. It’s part of this game and it’s hard,’’ Campbell said. “I think they also understand that man, we are a team and everybody is here for a reason and it takes every one of us.’’

NOTES:

— QB Jared Goff turned 30 on Monday. Among all quarterbacks in NFL history before turning 30 he ranked third in completions (2,763); tied for third in 300-yard games (38); fourth in yards (31,759); fourth in attempts (4,256);  tied for fourth in starts (122); and sixth in passing TDs (193).

— The Lions have produced at least three passing TDs and two rushing TDs in back-to-back games. The only other times they’ve done so were in 1962 and 1950.

— RB David Montgomery is the 10th player in NFL history to produce at least 70 scrimmage yards and a rushing TD in each of the first five games of a season. 

UP NEXT: Lions (4-1) at Vikings (5-0), 1 p.m. on Sunday.