tampa bay bucs – Page 5

Five reasons the Lions keep their road record perfect with 20-6 win at Tampa Bay

Lions coach Dan Campbell wants a team that knows they can win anywhere at any time.

They did just that in an impressive effort in Detroit’s 20-6 win over the Buccaneers at Tampa Bay on Sunday for a fourth straight win.

With the win, the Lions start the season 5-1 for the first time since 2011. They hang on to first in the NFC North and are now 13-3 in their last 16 games. They own the NFL best streak and franchise record long streak of 20-plus points in 15 straight games.

While it’s not a record-setter, the Lions have won all three of their road games.

“We know If you want to be a good team in this league you have to win on the road. We know that. They understand that. I think they look forward to it, I think we enjoy playing on the road, there’s something about it,’’ Campbell said.

Like the road wins in Kansas City and Green Bay, fans in Honolulu Blue were noticeable in Tampa.

“When you have the fans that travel with us – I feel like every game there’s more and more that are showing up,’’ Campbell said. “We got into this game at the end, up two scores, Tampa’s offense was out there on the field and I feel like they’re about to have to go into a silent cadence at their own place. … I tell you our players and coaches notice it.’’

That’s when the fans were cheering “Let’s Go Lions” which was heard on the telecast.

Again, it was a team win. The defense held the Bucs (3-2) — a team that had been averaging 21 points per game — to a pair of field goals.

“For the defense to only give up 6 points is saying a lot,’’ Campbell said.

Five reasons the Lions beat the Bucs:

1. The defense came up huge. While they only had one sack (by Julian Okwara) they pressured quarterback Baker Mayfield all day long. Will Harris intercepted Mayfield on the Bucs’ second possession, setting up a field goal to get the Lions rolling. Detroit has not allowed an opponent to gain 100 rushing yards in any of the first six games. The Bucs were held to 46 rushing yards. Linebacker Alex Anzalone was everywhere, finishing with a team-high nine tackles and two pass defenses. “He just continues to play at a very high level, he is an extremely smart football player and he’s playing as physical as I’ve ever seen him and he’s playing at a very high level,’’ Campbell said. “I think you’d be hard pressed to find ‘backers playing better than him in this league.’’

2. The defense held the Bucs to 2-of-12 on third-down attempts. That’s a rate of 16.7 percent, down considerably from their 47.4 percent rate in their first four games. Detroit’s defense also didn’t allow a rushing first down. On the other side the Lions offense was at its best, converting nine of 16 third downs at 56.3 percent.

3. Tampa’s defense was tough to handle for quarterback Jared Goff and the offense early on. But Goff stayed patient and, even though RB David Montgomery left early with a rib injury, they kept running the ball with Craig Reynolds getting the bulk of carries. Goff was precise, finding 10 different pass catchers and finishing 30 of 44 for 353 yards and two touchdowns. It was his second straight game without an interception. “I thought Jared Goff had an outstanding day. I thought he helped us win the game on offense,’’ Campbell said. “That’s a damn good defense that we faced, we knew that coming in here, they made it hard on us.’’

4. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was key with 12 catches for 124 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown reception. He caught that ball on the 20, got a key block from Craig Reynolds and made his way down the sideline to the end zone. “He’s a big player for us, he’s a clutch player that shows up and always makes plays. He as consistent player as you’re ever going to find in this league,’’ Campbell said. “You can count on it, it’ll be there, he just does things right and he’s ultra-competitive. Just having him back (he was out last week) is huge and he didn’t disappoint today.’’

5. Jameson Williams is still being worked into the offense in just his second game back from an NFL suspension. In the third quarter, he dropped a ball that was catchable and then two plays later, Goff showed his confidence in the young receiver throwing deep to him. Wiliams didn’t let him down, catching the 45-yard touchdown pass. “I thought he did a great job turning on the gas and getting to the back pylon and I love that Goff let it go, he saw it, trusted it and ripped it,’’ Campbell said. “(Williams) did a good job tracking that ball and making a huge play. I think that’s going to help his confidence. That’s one. That was good … I’m happy for him.’’ In two games, Williams now has four catches for 55 yards in two games.

UP NEXT: The Lions (5-1) at the Baltimore Ravens (4-2) at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 22. The Ravens topped the Titans, 24-16, on Sunday.

Five things to watch as Lions face Bucs at Tampa Bay; plus, prediction

With a 4-1 record, good enough to lead the NFC North, Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell admitted this week that the team is having fun.

“You’re putting in the world and it’s paying dividends,’’ Campbell said.

The Lions are blowing up a few franchise records and not just winning games, but winning them convincingly. They’ve outscored their opponents 96-50 in the last three games. All wins, by the way. It’s the first time since 1997 that the Lions have won three straight games by 14 or more points.

The Lions have produced at least 350 total net yards in each of the first five games of the season for the second time in team history and the first since 1954.

They cannot let the foot off the pedal with Bucs (3-1) coming up on Sunday at Tampa Bay at 4:25 p.m. (The game was flexed from its original time of 1 p.m.)

“Tampa is playing good football right now, 3-1. I’ve coached with (Bucs coach) Todd Bowles at Miami, known him a long time. I think he’s an excellent coach. He’s doing a great job out there,’’ Campbell said. “Playing good defense, they’re committed to the run on offense. Baker (Mayfield)’s playing good football. They’re plus-seven in the turnover ratio, which has been big for them. They’re converting on third down. Defensively, they’re stingy in the red zone, so we’ve got our hands full.’’

Five things to watch:

1. Stopping the run has been a key to the defense. They’ve allowed a measly 342 yards through five games in team history since at least 1932. They can’t let up against Tampa Bay RB Rachaad White, the top rusher with 206 yards, averaging 3.3 yards per carry.

2. On the other side, Lions RB David Montgomery has been carrying the load and showing no signs of letting up. He’s the first Lions to rush for 100 yards and a touchdown in consecutive games since 2004. “He’s a stud. He’s a stud. He’s fit in just perfectly with us and does such a great job every day,’’ Jared Goff said. “And obviously, you guys see him on gameday, the stuff he does, but his leadership, his ability both in the run and the pass, his attention to detail in protection I think is pretty special for a running back.’’

3. Getting pressure on the quarterback is another key to the defense’s success. Defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson has 35 quarterback pressures in first five games which is tops in the NFL. They’ll have their hands full with Baker Mayfield who is the Bucs’ second leading rusher.

4. Jared Goff may be playing the best football of his career. He has total control of the offense, completing 69.8 percent of his passes with nine touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He’ll need his offensive line to come up big again against NT Vita Vea. “He’s one of the best players at his position in the League and can move the pocket, can push the pocket, can play well in the run game as well,’’ Goff said. “But yeah, he can get in the backfield and cause some problems.” Of course Goff has got a few good weapons like Amon-Ra St. Brown (who could play this week), WR Josh Reynolds who has stepped up this season and rookie tight end Sam LaPorta who is playing like a veteran with 25 catches for 289 yards and three touchdowns.

5. The Lions must play with the intensity that they’ve displayed in these first five games. This should not be an issue with Dan Campbell leading them. “I mean any time you win, it’s fun. It makes everything a little bit lighter. There’s a little more peace to it in the moment. … You want to just continue to try to stack them up and get better than you were and so it’s a good thing right now,’’ the coach said.

PREDICTION: Lions 31, Bucs 28. Tampa is coming off their bye so they’ve had more time to prepare. However, Detroit is on such a roll just can’t see a Lions’ loss.

Lions Dan Campbell’s recipe for success involves physicality with a dose of creativity

ALLEN PARK — From Day One, Lions coach Dan Campbell drew up a plan for a tough and physical team. Throw in a pinch of creativity and start stacking the wins.

Not only have the Lions opened a few eyes around the NFL with a 4-1 record, they’re also a team that’s getting a reputation as being fun to watch.

In Sunday’s 42-24 win over the Panthers, center Frank Ragnow direct-snapped the ball to running back David Montgomery through the legs of quarterback Jared Goff and it was good for 10 yards and a first down. Goff on a reverse flea flicker found a wide-open Sam LaPorta for a touchdown.

Going for it on fourth down is nothing unusual. Fake punt? Dial it up. Campbell and his coordinators thrive on creativity.

“I just think for our players they’re so used to, that’s who we are. They understand that’s part of our identity. We’ll always be known, in my opinion, as a tough team. We should be a tough, physical team – offense, defense, special teams,’’ coach Dan Campbell said on Monday.

“If you’re just tough and you’re just physical and you have no creativity you’re not going to do anything with it, you’ll bang away,” he added.

Campbell said he watched the 49ers’ 42-10 win over Dallas on Sunday night and credited Mike Shanahan with doing an “unbelievable job.”

“Those guys are physical, tough and very creative in the run and pass game. That’s what makes them so difficult and they play outstanding defense,’’ Campbell said.

He said his guys have gotten used to the sprinkling of unusual plays.

“If we’re going to go for it on fourth, nobody is batting an eye, there’s not pressure. This is a part of what we do, this is just another play for us to convert,’’ Campbell said.

“When we dial up some of the plays that we dial up, a little bit of the smoke and mirror plays, our guys know we’ve repped them enough that they’ve figured out, give them multiple looks, keep repping and they’ve done it enough to where they’ll make it right,’’ Campbell said.

After the win, Goff said they worked on the direct snap all week. The ball never hit his legs on the way back to Montgomery, the issue was the timing. Obviously they got that down.

The plays are effective and the players enjoy them.

“You’ve got to make it work, or they won’t call them again. Just being able to be creative and do some of the cool things that Ben (Johnson) has. I’ve never really seen some of the things he calls and how he calls it,’’ Montgomery said. “It’s fun, really fun. I’m excited to get some more of those in too.”

Campbell knows the guys enjoy running the plays.

“They have a good time when they’re able to do something a little bit out of the norm. They enjoy it. I know it’s a lot of eye candy out there,’’ Campbell said. “(Physicality) is always going to be the heart of because that’s what sets up all the other stuff.’’

INJURY UPDATE: CB Emmanuel Moseley, who was in Sunday’s game for two snaps, tore his ACL and is out for the season. He had been rehabbing from ACL surgery on his other knee which delayed his season debut until Sunday.

UP NEXT: Lions (4-1) at Tampa Bay Bucs (3-1), 4:25 p.m. on Sunday. Game was flexed from orignal time of 1 p.m.