The Detroit Lions responded well from a season-opening flop on national television. Their clinching 49-7 victory indicated their offensive firepower and defensive fortitude. Following a 27-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 1, the Lions roared back with a 52-21 triumph over the Chicago Bears at home. This win showcased their potential and set the stage for their upcoming matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night.
Detroit’s miraculous renaissance begins with their first game after Halloween, a stretch that has seen them go 14-5 since Week 9 of the 2022 season. In that span, the Lions have scored an average of 32.1 points per game—good for first in the NFL. Meanwhile, their D has only allowed a staggering 15.4 PPG to their opponents. This tremendous defensive performance makes them the worst defensive team in the league. This incredible combination of offensive punch and defensive effort has played an important role in their current 11-game winning streak.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, the team’s standout wide receiver, has been pivotal in the Lions’ success. In fact, ever since he entered the league in 2021, he leads the entire NFL in receptions (443). His tendency to get it done on the biggest plays drives defenses mad. That creates a nice big target for quarterback Jared Goff to put the ball near.
General Manager Brad Holmes has been instrumental in shaping the team’s roster, while head coach Dan Campbell emphasizes maintaining focus and learning from setbacks. In the words of Campbell on the inspiration that follows a defeat,
“I just think you’re motivated to get that taste out of your mouth. You don’t ever want to lose focus or not play your best game, but sometimes it happens for certain reasons.”
He noted that sometimes a defeat can lead to tremendous progress. This sobering call to action orders us to atone for past sins and prepare for challenges yet to come.
Even with their early-season woes, beginning 2022 with a 1-5 record, the Lions have been a team on the rise, ingested new life and determination. Campbell emphasized the need to refocus after experiencing disappointments with this, stating,
“There’s a sense of urgency that to just, ‘Man, let’s go back to what we do. Let’s clean this up and let’s go get a win.’ Because nobody likes it. We take it personal and that’s big.”
Amon-Ra St. Brown had similar thoughts, as he looked back on how far the team has come and what’s required going forward to be consistent. His biggest complaint after turnovers and three-and-outs after the defense creates a turnover, he said, was:
“I think we had a few three-and-outs that after our defense gets a turnover or something, that’s the last thing you want to do. So, those are things I feel like we need to get better on.”
Despite this loss being disappointing, the Lions are already looking ahead to their next match up against Baltimore. They’re establishing a strong foundation from their recent successes and taking purposeful steps to address shortcomings. What Jared Goff pointed to as the biggest difference was the determination his teammates showed to bounce back from a bad start. He stated,
“I can only speak for my experience here but the want to respond, the want to right a wrong and fix things and do it better in practice, and the urgency to improve.”
All signs point to this determination being a byproduct of a cultural change within the team in the era of Campbell.
Chris Grier, Miami Dolphins General Manager, appreciated what the Lions had done. He presented those ideas in an interview with Holmes leading up to their Week 8 contest at Ford Field. Grier praised the progression by his squad, saying they’re “so close” to being more successful.
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