FIRST DOWN: BUILT FOR THIS
A lot was made this week about Detroit playing outside for the first time this season, having to play in the wind, rain and cold in a hostile environment at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
But it was the Lions, not the cold-weather seasoned Packers, that handled the environment the best and played mistake-free football to come up with a huge 24-14 win to improve to 7-1 on the season and remain in control of first place in the NFC North and NFC conference.
“The fact that we took care of the football. Man, we preached it all week, wet ball drills in practice every day, and man, our guys really did a great job,” head coach Dan Campbell said after the win. “(Jared) Goff took great care of the football and it was the difference. It was a big difference.”
Green Bay fumbled the ball three times, though they didn’t lose any, but quarterback Jordan Love also threw a critical interception that resulted in a Kerby Joseph pick-six in the last minute of the first half that completely changed the game.
This is a Detroit Lions team that may play indoors at Ford Field but is built for anything, according to Campbell.
“I’m not shocked one bit we came out here and played pretty good football out in the elements,” he said. “We’re built for this, man. It doesn’t matter just because we play indoors. It doesn’t matter. We can play anywhere. We can play in the snow. We can play in the rain. We can play in the mud. That’s just us. We are built to win, man.”
SECOND DOWN: 30 STRAIGHT
The last 30 times quarterback Jared Goff has thrown to wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, it’s been a completion.
“I heard that, that’s pretty crazy,” Goff said after the game when asked about it. “He’s the friendliest target I’ve ever thrown to. I’m lucky to play with him and I hope I play with him for quite some time.”
Goff and St. Brown connected seven times Sunday for 56 yards including a 3-yard touchdown on a 4th & goal play on Detroit’s opening possession of the contest. St. Brown has now produced a touchdown reception in six straight games, tying the franchise record-long streak set by Herman Moore in 1994.
“It’s special,” Campbell said about the connection Goff and St. Brown have. “Those two have been clicking now for four years, really three and a half, it started about half way through that 2021 season and it’s built from there.
“If you’re a quarterback, we have a dang good one, it’s easy to throw to a guy like St. Brown.”
THIRD DOWN: DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCE
It was a really gutty performance for Detroit’s defense Sunday. Already playing without their best player – edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson – they lost arguably their second-best player in the second quarter when safety Brian Branch was ejected for a helmet-to-helmet hit.
But still, despite giving up 411 yards of offense, the defense made winning plays.
Joseph’s pick-six was the biggest play of the game. Green Bay was just 3-for-12 on third down, 1-for-4 in the red zone and Detroit’s defense allowed just one touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
“I thought defensively where we needed it most, it really showed up,” Campbell said. “We limited points, we held them in the red zone, we got off the field on third down. Just a lot of guys making critical plays.”
With a limited pass rush that produced zero sacks and just two quarterback hits all game, the secondary stepped up and played really well.
It’s a defense that’s helping each other out and playing pretty disciplined football, which has been a winning formula. They are limiting points, which is the name of the game on defense. Holding Green Bay to 1-for-4 in the red zone in a bend-but-don’t-break manner was one of the big keys to a win Sunday.
FOURTH DOWN: GOFF KEEPS ROLLING
Goff didn’t realize he was 11-for-11 late in the first half when he threw a ball away to avoid a sack.
“Maybe I should have taken the sack,” he joked after the game.
Goff started hot again and played mistake-free football on way to leading Detroit to a massive road win against the Packers. He continues to play MVP-caliber football and it’s the number one reason Detroit is 7-1 and just rolled off their sixth straight victory.
Goff finished 18-of-22 (81.8 percent) for 145 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions with a 109.3 passer rating. He is the first player in NFL history to complete 72.0 percent of his passes, post a passer rating of at least 105.0 and throw a touchdown in six straight games.
“I just have a lot of trust in him in what he’s doing and how he’s playing,” Campbell said of Goff.
