Coach Dan Campbell knows his defense has to start making plays if the Detroit Lions are going to be a threat to win their first playoff game since the 1990s.
On Monday, though, he was focused on Detroit’s success on the other side of the ball.
The Lions offense didn’t slow down after the bye, putting up 533 yards in a 41-38 road win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
In their past two games, including a 26-14 victory on Oct. 30, Detroit has put up 1,019 yards, including 422 on the ground.
“Coming off the bye, you want to know you haven’t lost your mojo or if it is going to take a little bit to get it back,” Campbell said on Monday. “Especially when you are doing it on the road after a long trip. So it was big to get our flow back and find a way to win.
“The offense took a step up, and while the defense took a step back, I know we’re about to take three steps up again.”
Campbell focused his praise on his offensive line. In the games against the Raiders and Chargers, they’ve allowed one sack while opening holes for Jahmyr Gibbs and, in Los Angeles, the returning David Montgomery.
“Ultimately, it was the five guys up front who really set the tone,” he said. “That’s what we need — we tell them they are the engine under the hood that makes us. They checked every box in that game.”
Montgomery’s return allowed Campbell and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to diversify the offense. He gives them a power back averaging 4.7 yards per carry, while Gibbs provides outside speed and a significant receiving threat.
“It is hard to just totally, totally rely on one back,” Campbell said. “That’s a lot of hard miles to put on a guy, asking him for 65 plays a game for 17 games plus the playoffs. It’s better if you can share the load, and they have different skill sets and they are able to do different things. That gives us a little more versatility.”
NFL Coaching Spotlight ft. Detroit Lions’ Dan Campbell | NFL on FOX Pod
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Publish date : 2023-11-14 02:06:19
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