Special teams impact: The Lions’ special teams units were magnificent Sunday vs. Tennessee. Kalif Raymond set the NFL record for return average in a single game (38.0) with returns of 64 yards and a 90-yard touchdown on the way to totaling 190 punt return yards in the contest. Khalil Dorsey had a 72-yard kickoff return. Kicker Jake Bates made a 51-yard field goal and was 7-for-7 on extra points. Punter Jack Fox is the first punter in NFL history to average at least 60.0 gross yards per punt and 55.0 net yards per punt in a game with at least five punts.
Complementary football: We mentioned the special teams above. Detroit’s defense recorded four takeaways – three in Titans territory – to set the offense up with great field position. As a result, Detroit’s 225 total yards of offense are the second fewest all-time for a team that scored 49 or more points.
No Jamo, no problem: Lions head coach Dan Campbell didn’t seem too worried this week talking about the two-game suspension for wide receiver Jameson Williams, saying his offense still had plenty of talent and would be fine. Boy was it. Six different players scored a touchdown Sunday for the Lions. Talk about a complete team effort.
Pass rush: The Lions have now had two games to evaluate their pass rush minus Aidan Hutchinson and it should be clear to GM Brad Holmes and Campbell they could use some help before the Nov. 5 trade deadline. Detroit had just one sack Sunday (from blitzing linebacker Alex Anzalone) and just five quarterback hits.
What a month: Quarterback Jared Goff completed 52-of-65 passes (80 percent) for 680 yards with eight touchdowns and no interceptions while posting a 149.8 passer rating and leading the Lions to a 3-0 record in October. The Lions are hoping November brings more of the same.
Hot start: Detroit has started the year 6-1, their best start to a season since 1956.
“The players, they’re urgent about it, they’re accountable to it, and they want more,” Campbell said. “And they know when it’s good and when it’s not, so that’s a credit to them, and we still have room to improve, which is great.”
