Veteran defensive back Jamal Adams was encouraged by his family to quickly get in contact with Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.

After being released by the Tennessee Titans in October, the 29-year-old was hoping for another opportunity to join a team that had an opportunity to have playoff success.

Adams has fond memories of Detroit’s defensive coordinator from participating in a Pro Day workout that was being run by Glenn, the Saints defensive back’s coach, prior to being selected sixth-overall in the 2017 NFL Draft.

With all the injuries the Lions have been dealt with this season, Glenn decided it was time to get in contacted with the former three-time Pro-Bowler.

Adams made his first appearance at Lions practice Monday, wearing No. 25. He was observed participating in positional drills with the linebackers during the portion of practice open to the media, which is an intriguing development.

“I mean, there’s no better opportunity, man,” said Adams. “Obviously, just being home in Dallas and just continuing to train. When A.G. called, it was a no-brainer for me.”

When asked what his perspective from afar was of the Lions, Adams noted, “We’ve been kicking everybody’s a–. So, I’m fortunate enough, again, just to be on a team that’s rolling like this. Whatever I can do to help, that’s what I’m here for.”

A former All-Pro safety, Adams does possess the physicality to slide down into the front seven and compete at the linebacker position. His versatility will be an asset for the Lions, who are currently navigating a number of injuries to their defense.

“It was definitely something I thought about, you know. If I can get an opportunity with a team that’s obviously winning and a first class organization,” Adams noted. “Obviously when the call came, it was like a dream come true.”

Dan Campbell indicated that Monday’s practice, which was designed to be full speed in the mold of what a Thursday practice would be on a traditional week, would say a lot about whether Adams would be elevated from the practice squad for the Packers game.

“Yeah, there again, we brought in he and Kwon Alexander, Myles Adams and Jonah Williams,” Campbell told 97.1 The Ticket. “So we’ve got some guys that we’re gonna get a look at and see, with what we have on this roster, who we can use, how we can use them, what gives us the best chance. There may be a place, there may be a place here for Jamal and today’s gonna tell a lot. This will be our full speed today, we’re gonna get really good movement. So we’ll have a whole better feel by this afternoon, five, six-o’clock tonight.”

Adams first impression of Detroit’s popular head coach was similar to what many new players who join the Lions’ roster express.

“He’s fired up. He’s very energetic,” said Adams. “That’s a coach that you will run through the wall for. It’s no secret to why Detroit is very good. So again, I’m just very excited to be here.”

This article was produced by the staff at Detroit Lions On SI. For more, visit si.com/nfl/lions

At 11-1, the Detroit Lions are off to their best start in franchise history. They own the NFC’s best record, and look to be on the path to their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.

Subsequently, there is much to be thankful for when it comes to Dan Campbell’s team this season.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, here now are six different items that all Lions fans should currently be thankful for:

 

Jared Goff is most popular athlete in Detroit

Goff is the straw that stirs the drink for Detroit’s high-octane offensive attack. His ability to efficiently run the offense and stay calm, cool and collected when under duress has kept Ben Johnson’s unit humming the last two seasons.

For that, he deserves as much credit as any player for Detroit’s turnaround from NFL laughingstocks to legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Lions fans have definitely embraced the veteran passer, and so much so that he’s become the most popular current athlete in Detroit.

The fanbase loves itself some Jared Goff, and is far from shy in letting it be known. “Jared Goff! Jared Goff!” chants have become commonplace no matter where the Lions are playing, and also at other sporting events throughout the city and even throughout the country.

Ever since leading Detroit last postseason to its first playoff win since the 1991 season, Goff has been a folk hero amongst the fans that seemingly can do no wrong. And I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

Lions fans are certainly thankful for Goff being their QB1.

‘Sonic and Knuckles’ lead the ground game

Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery have teamed up to form the league’s very best running back duo. The Gibbs-Montgomery tandem is in its second year now, and has been dominant since Day 1.

Gibbs and Montgomery each amassed double-digit touchdowns a season ago, and combined for nearly 2,000 yards on the ground (1,960). They’ve followed that up with another season of double-digit rushing scores and a staggering 1,693 rushing yards through 12 games.

The duo has played a large role in the Lions’ franchise-best 11-1 start to the campaign, and has become increasingly popular with Detroit’s fanbase. It’s become the case so much so that Gibbs and Montgomery have each recently been gifted nicknames from the popular “Sonic” video game of the 1990s. Gibbs has become known as the titular character “Sonic” for his electrifying speed, while Montgomery has received the moniker of “Knuckles” for his physical running style and tackle-breaking ways.

Lions fans should have no problem being thankful for this ultra productive backfield tandem.

Lions have best safety tandem in league

Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph have become the league’s most dominant safety tandem. They each play a physical style of football, and are able to make an impact against both the run and the pass. And throughout the course of this season, they’ve each had to – and been able to – bail out weak play from Detroit’s cornerbacks group, especially rookie Terrion Arnold and reserves Kindle Vildor and Khalil Dorsey.

And, along the way, Branch and Joseph have formed an extremely opportunistic duo. The tandem has secured 11 interceptions, with Joseph leading the way with seven of them (tied for the NFL lead with the Packers’ Xavier McKinney).

In addition, Joseph and Branch have accounted for two of the three highest Pro Football Focus grades among all qualified safeties this season. Joseph leads the way with a 91.3 PFF overall mark, while Branch has recorded the third-highest overall grade (88.1). The Ravens’ Kyle Hamilton is presently the league’s second-highest graded safety (88.3).

Joseph and Branch have been absolute difference-makers in the back-end of Detroit’s secondary in 2024, and definitely deserve to be commended for it.

Aaron Glenn has built Detroit’s defense into strength

Glenn can’t be thanked enough for the job he’s done in his fourth year as Lions defensive coordinator. His ability to astutely scheme for opposing teams’ offenses has helped transform Detroit’s defense in a major fashion.

He’s aided the defense in improving from a bottom-10 unit in points allowed a season ago (23.2 points/game) to a top-five unit in the same statistical category this season (16.9/game). Additionally, he’s done all this while the Lions have suffered injuries to several key defensive playmakers, including EDGE Aidan Hutchinson (the team’s sack leader), linebacker Alex Anzalone (the team’s quarterback on defense) and cornerback Carlton Davis (the Lions No. 1 cornerback). It’s made the job that Glenn has done in ‘24 all the more impressive.

Glenn deserves all his flowers and then some for his hand in the team’s drastic defensive improvement and rise to Super Bowl favorites. And, he should be able to leverage all of it into a head-coaching opportunity in the offseason.

Dan Campbell has full buy-in of team

Campbell has helped “restore the roar” for the Lions. The fourth-year head man’s ability to win over the team and instill a winning culture on and off the field has played a huge role in Detroit’s emergence as Super Bowl contenders.

The never-say-never coach is one of the best motivators in today’s game, and because of him, his players never feel out of a game, even when the deficit seems insurmountable (i.e. Week 10 against Houston).

Undoubtedly, the Lions have adopted his gritty, relentless ways, which has helped propel Detroit to the NFL-best 11-1 mark that it presently possesses. Plus, this brand of football gives Campbell’s squad a legitimate shot at hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at season’s end.

There’s no way that the Lions would be where they are today without the exemplary leadership of Campbell. He’s the definition of a difference-maker both from the sideline and away from it, and Detroit fans should be ultra thankful for him this holiday season.

Amon-Ra St. Brown is Mr. Reliable

Even with all the weapons now at Detroit’s disposal, St. Brown is still the team’s most reliable target. Seemingly, he is Goff’s go-to target whenever the offense is reeling a bit and needs a big first down. And, the All-Pro receiver has the numbers to back it up, too.

Through 12 games this season, St. Brown has recorded a team-high 51 first-down catches, and has caught a career-best 82.6 percent of the passes thrown his way by Goff. He also caught at least one touchdown pass from the veteran signal-caller in eight straight games (Weeks 3-11).

Plus, the USC product is on pace for his third consecutive 100-plus catch, 1,100-yard receiving campaign.

The two-time Pro Bowler is the glue to the Lions’ air attack. Goff wouldn’t be nearly as efficient, and the offense as a whole wouldn’t be nearly as potent without St. Brown. His ability to torment defenses over the middle of the field is bar none, and it’s just one of the attributes that has made him an invaluable member of Campbell’s team.

Lions fans should be beyond thankful for the game-changing receiver.

This article was produced by the staff at Detroit Lions On SI. For more, visit si.com/nfl/lions

The Detroit Lions have withstood several injuries to their defense over the first 12 weeks of the season, particularly at the linebacker position.

On Friday, another significant ailment hit the position. Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez suffered a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of the season, according to reports. Rodriguez becomes the fourth player at the position to suffer a significant injury.

Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes and Jalen Reeves-Maybin are all already on injured reserve, and Rodriguez will join them in the coming days. As a result, there will be more opportunities available for Trevor Nowaske, Ben Niemann, David Long Jr. and Ezekiel Turner.

Rodriguez had carved out a starting role dating back to the knee injury suffered by Derrick Barnes in Week 3. He became even more prevalent in the defense when Alex Anzalone suffered a broken forearm in the team’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 11.

The Oklahoma State product showed little issue stepping up and filling the void left by the injuries, and had seven solo tackles against the Colts in Week 12.

“Well, that’s what I’ve been talking about each week in that linebacker room, and I continue to say that, that all those guys have played, all those guys deserve to play, and each week we try to put them in packages so they can play,” said defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn prior to the Colts game. “So, if one guy goes down in that room, listen, the next guy’s going to step up.”

Anzalone was initially given a timetable of six-to-eight weeks for his return, while Barnes is expected to be done for the season. As a result, the linebacking corps has been further decimated.

In 2024, Rodriguez had totaled 27 solo tackles, two sacks, a fumble recovery and two tackles for loss.

The Lions have had a by-committee approach for the position in recent weeks, as Nowaske, Niemann, Long and Turner have each played plenty of snaps along with Jack Campbell. The second-year Iowa product has assumed the role of defensive play-caller in the absence of Anzalone.

Detroit next takes the field on Thursday, Dec. 5 against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field.

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The Detroit Lions are facing a Chicago Bears team that are coming off of another tough loss.

Despite tying the game late, the Bears went on to lose to the Vikings in overtime, 30-27, dropping their fifth consecutive game and dipping their record to 4-7.

For Dan Campbell’s squad, three key contributors may not be available, especially with the upcoming game occurring just four days after a 24-6 win against the Indianapolis Colts.

Detroit’s fourth-year head coach expressed, “It’s going to come down to the wire with a number of them. That’s the challenge with the short week. The good news is, I think most of these are not some long-term thing, but the problem is three days to turn around and play. That’s where it becomes a bit of an issue. So, if we can’t, we’re prepare like we always are. Next man up. You got to hold the line, do your job and go compete.”

When asked specifically about which three players are the toughest to decide upon, Campbell noted three key players who have helped the team win nine consecutive games may not suit up.

“Right now, I mean, Decker, CD (Carlton Davis), Leaf (Kalif Raymond). Saint’s (Amon-Ra St. Brown) a little banged up. We’ll see how he recovers.”

 

Message during short week of preparation

For the Lions, the message this week is about healing up and preparing mentally for another NFC North matchup.

Detroit has not won on Thanksgiving since back in 2016. Quarterback Jared Goff expressed postgame the seven-game losing streak is one the current team would like to end.

“Message is really recovery. Rest, recovery and the mental work,” said Campbell. “It’s how fast can you recover, get your body right, get your mind focused on the job at hand, because you’re not going to get the physical. Block out all the distractions. That’s one thing, the distractions are on us, not on them. We got all our family here, friends, all that. You got to block it out, tell them you love them, and you’ll see them him after the game.

“That’s kind of the challenge with all this,” Campbell continued. “This team’s been in, they’ve lost a couple of heartbreakers in the last two weeks. But they’ve been in a bunch of these tight races, and they just keep coming back for more. So they’re hungry for a win. We got our hands full.”

This article was produced by the staff at Detroit Lions On SI. For more, visit si.com/nfl/lions

The Detroit Lions made it nine wins in a row Sunday with their 24-6 triumph over the Indianapolis Colts. It was a thorough effort, particularly by the defense which did not allow a touchdown for the second consecutive game.

While the offense sputtered at points in the second half, they ultimately made enough plays to win comfortably on the road once again. As a result, they remain in first place in the NFC North and are now 10-1 on the season.

Here are grades for each position group based on performance in Sunday’s game:

 

Quarterback: B

Jared Goff did not throw a touchdown pass in Sunday’s game for the first time since the team’s Week 2 loss against Tampa Bay. Still, he was very efficient in completing 72.2 percent of his passes for 269 yards. He didn’t have many downfield shot opportunities but found his reliable connections such as Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams on multiple occasions.

He wasn’t his sharpest self, such as when he missed an open Sam LaPorta on one of his longer attempts of the afternoon. He missed LaPorta twice, with the other coming near the goal line. Goff also nearly lost a fumble, but it was recovered by David Montgomery.

Goff also seems to be continuing to build a strong rapport with Tim Patrick, including a 27-yard completion to help set up their first touchdown.

Running backs: B

Jahmyr Gibbs was the feature back on Sunday, as he scored two touchdowns. His 4.7 yards per carry average is pedestrian by the standards he’s set this season, but he was more than effective on a season-best 21 carries. He showcased an ability to handle the load on a day that David Montgomery left early due to a shoulder injury.

Montgomery went for 37 yards on eight carries before exiting. He told reporters he expects to be ready for the team’s Thanksgiving game, but his status will be worth monitoring ahead of a short week. The veteran added a touchdown run to his tally, but was stuffed on a fourth-and-1 run in the third quarter.

With Montgomery sidelined, Craig Reynolds got a carry late in the game.

Wide receivers: A-

On an afternoon when the passing game wasn’t at its sharpest, there were still plenty of contributions to go around. Amon-Ra St. Brown caught all but one of his seven targets, while Jameson Williams led the team in receiving with 64 yards. St. Brown was kept out of the end zone for the first time since Week 2.

Patrick was consistent on Sunday, catching a season-best four passes for 55 yards. He also continues to show up as a blocker in Detroit’s run game. The Lions didn’t have many big plays in the passing game on Sunday, but the group still found ways to make big contributions.

Tight ends: B-

Sam LaPorta wasn’t his sharpest self on Sunday in his first game back from injury. He caught three passes for 19 yards, but seemed to be off-balance with Goff after missing last week’s game with a shoulder injury.

Brock Wright had two catches for 24 yards, including a 16-yard catch to open the fourth quarter. Shane Zylstra, meanwhile, did not have a target after being listed on the injury report with a neck injury throughout the week.

Offensive line: B+

The offensive line did allow three sacks in Sunday’s game, including a strip sack by rookie Laiatu Latu who beat Dan Skipper. The play occurred after Taylor Decker left with an injury, though Decker would return to the game on the next drive. Kevin Zeitler also surrendered a sack to DeForest Buckner earlier in the game.

They also got swarmed on the fourth-and-1 that resulted in a turnover on downs, as Montgomery was swallowed up in the backfield.

Still, the line had plenty of bright spots. Detroit converted multiple third downs on the ground, including a big run by Gibbs that helped set up a touchdown. When the Lions are running the ball in that fashion, they become all the more hard to stop.

Defensive line: A

After Anthony Richardson was able to make plays with his legs early in the game, Detroit’s defense settled in and vastly limited the impact the quarterback was able to have for the rest of the game. The line got plenty of pressure on him, as the likes of DJ Reader, Alim McNeill and Za’Darius Smith caused plenty of havoc.

McNeill was outstanding with four pressures, a tally that Smith matched. Reader added two quarterback hits and a tackle for loss, while Josh Paschal drew a holding penalty after maneuvering through two blockers. McNeill also logged a forced fumble when he got to Richardson.

Levi Onwuzurike also got in on the fun, nearly causing a safety with a pressure on which Richardson just barely got the ball away.

Linebackers: A-

Without Alex Anzalone, the Lions had a rotating cast of linebackers alongside mainstays Jack Campbell and Malcolm Rodriguez. Both players had eight tackles, with Rodriguez tallying seven solo stops in an effort that earned him a game ball from Dan Campbell.

Other players who saw action included Trevor Nowaske, Ben Niemann, Ezekiel Turner and newcomer David Long. Turner had two solo stops, while NIemann and Nowaske added one assisted stop apiece. Jack Campbell had two passes defensed in the first of a stretch of games where he will be looked to as the leader of the middle of the defense.

Secondary: B

The Lions’ depth was tested at the cornerback position, as Terrion Arnold was inactive for the first time this season. Kindle Vildor got the start and was targeted early and often. He dodged a bullet when Richardson missed Alec Pierce early, but he surrendered a third-down conversion to AD Mitchell and a deep completion to Alec Pierce on the Colts’ second scoring drive.

Vildor would wind up settling in and perform better in the second half. Carlton Davis dropped an interception in the second half, and wound up leaving the game in the fourth quarter with a knee injury that isn’t expected to be severe. Still, it could be cause for concern when it comes to Thursday’s game.

Niether Kerby Joseph or Brian Branch generated a takeaway, in fact it was Detroit’s first game without one this season. Still, both players made their presence felt with four tackles apiece.

Special teams: B

Jake Bates continued his perfect start to the season, nailing a 56-yarder to give him four consecutive makes from beyond 50 yards. With each game, the investment made by the Lions’ front office in him continues to look better.

Jack Fox also had an exceptional game, continously putting the defense in good field position and downing all four of his punts inside the opposing 20-yard line.

Detroit’s punt return unit may have taken a hit, as Dan Campbell offered a less-than-optimistic update on Kalif Raymond’s status after he left the game with a foot injury. Amon-Ra St. Brown took over punt return duties in Raymond’s absence.

Coaching: A-

Once again, the Detroit defense put on a masterclass showing. Thye were hit with big plays early, but did an outstanding job buckling down in the red zone and limiting the Colts to field goals on their two first half scoring possessions.

It was the second consecutive game that Detroit kept their opponent out of the end zone, giving the defense 10 straight quarters without giving up a touchdown. Coordinator Aaron Glenn deserves a ton of credit for the work he’s done without a number of injured starters.

Offensively, the Lions weren’t as explosive as they have been but still made plenty of plays. Ben Johnson trusted his group to convert third downs on the ground, and they did just that. As a result, Detroit marched to 10-1 in methodical fashion with a chance to snap their Thanksgiving losing streak up next.

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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for two scores and David Montgomery added a third touchdown run Sunday, leading the Detroit Lions to a 24-6 victory at the Indianapolis Colts.

Gibbs finished with 21 carries for 90 yards as the Lions (10-1) extended their league-high winning streak to nine straight. Detroit has its been 11-game record since the franchise’s inaugural season in 1934.

Jared Goff continued his sensational season, too, completing 26 of 36 throws for 269 yards.

The Colts (5-7) lost their second straight home game and for the fourth time in their past five games. Anthony Richardson was 11 of 28 with 172 yards while rushing 10 times for 61 yards.

While Indy managed to hold the NFL’s highest-scoring offense largely in check Sunday, it was doomed by its inability to finish drives with touchdowns.

That problem happened right from the start when Richardson took the Colts inside the Lions 5-yard line on the game’s first series before settling for a short field goal.

Detroit answered on its second series, getting a 1-yard TD run from Gibbs to take a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter. Then, after Indy settled for another short field goal, Montgomery spun his way across the goal line for a 6-yard scoring run and a 14-6 lead.

The Lions extended the margin with Gibbs’ 5-yard TD run late in the third quarter and sealed it with a 56-yard field goal midway through the fourth.

Detroit improved to 6-0 on the road as Amon-Ra St. Brown caught six passes for 62 yards.

Michael Pittman Jr. had six catches for 96 yards for the Colts despite leaving briefly in the first half with a injured shoulder.

Milestones

Gibbs’ first score extended Detroit’s league record to 25 consecutive games with a TD run, including the playoffs. He’s also the third Lions player with 1,000 scrimmage yards and 10 TDs in each of his first two pro seasons with Detroit, joining Billy Sims and Barry Sanders. Gibbs and Montgomery have each scored at least one TD in the same game nine times.

Photo gallery from the Lions’ 24-6 road win over the Colts

Injuries

Lions: Things got ugly during a third-quarter flurry. Receiver-punt returner Kalif Raymond (foot), left tackle Taylor Decker (right leg) and Montgomery (shoulder) all left in quick succession. Raymond and Montgomery did not return. Decker did. CB Carlton Davis II left early in the fourth with what appeared to be a left knee injury.

Colts: Indy deactivated left tackle Bernhard Raimann (knee), forcing the Colts to again use three rookie linemen. Receivers Ashton Dulin (ankle) and Josh Downs (shoulder) both left in the second half. Downs returned, Dulin did not.

Takeaways as Lions cruise past Colts, 24-6, despite injuries piling up

Up next

Lions: Host Chicago in its traditional Thanksgiving Day game.

Colts: Visit New England next Sunday.

— By MICHAEL MAROT, Associated Press

 

The Detroit Lions are at the point in their 2024 season where health and recovery are of the utmost importance.

Detroit is currently in the midst of a stretch in its schedule where it will play three NFL games in a span of 11 days.

“That’s where we’re at. Everything that you do that’s in front of you, how well can you recover? How much study can you put into this? Hydration, how well can you sleep at night? Just the discipline of everything,” Dan Campbell told the Lions flagship radio station prior to the team’s Week 12 game against the Colts. “All of that goes a long way. We’re in the time of year where you’re trying to alleviate stress off your guys as much as possible, so that they can go be at peak performance on Sundays.”

Detroit entered its contest against the Colts seeking to earn its ninth consecutive win, in front of many supporters who made the relatively short trip to Lucas Oil Stadium.

After 60 minutes of action, the Lions were able to defeat the Colts, 24-6, improving their record to 10-1. Unfortunately, injuries piled up for Detroit’s roster throughout the course of the hard-fought contest.

Here are several takeaways from the Lions’ Week 12 victory and ninth consecutive win.

Difficulty with Richardson’s athleticism early

Indianapolis won the opening coin toss, and elected to start the game on offense.

Quarterback Anthony Richardson, who was benched earlier this season in favor of Joe Flacco, was able to use his athleticism and ability to scramble to aid the Colts’ offense. The physical signal-caller called his own number on a couple of occasions ealry in the game.

On the opening drive, the young quarterback rushed for 35 yards on three carries. The Colts’ six-minute drive stalled out near the end zone, as Matt Gay connected on a 27-yard field goal to give his team an early 3-0 lead.

Detroit’s defense had given up points on its opponent’s opening drive in eight of its previous 10 games.

Jahmyr Gibbs sparks offense

Detroit’s talented running back was an integral part of the team’s first touchdown drive.

Jared Goff faced pressure from the Colts’ defensive line on the Lions’ opening possession, taking the team out of field-goal range.

On Detroit’s opening possession, David Montgomery saw the bulk of the carries.

Gibbs was the back tasked with shouldering the load on Detroit’s second drive. The former first-round pick secured 23 yards on the ground, and capped off a nine-play, 60-yard drive with a 1-yard scamper. It gave Detroit the 7-3 lead, early in the second quarter.

With his touchdown, Gibbs became the third player in franchise history to score 10 or more touchdowns from scrimmage in their first two seasons. He joined a pair of franchise greats in Barry Sanders and Billy Sims as players to achieve that feat.

The former first round pick was able to secure another touchdown rush in the third quarter that extended Detroit’s lead to 21-6.

David Montgomery added a score to put the Lions in front, 14-6, which was his 11th touchdown of the season.

Vildor starts in place of Arnold

After suffering a groin injury earlier in the week, rookie starting cornerback Terrion Arnold was ruled out and replaced in the lineup by Kindle Vildor. Indianapolis quickly began targeting the backup corner with deep passes, and he avoided an early mistake when Anthony Richardson overthrew Alec Pierce.

However, Vildor would later be beaten a pair of times on Indianapolis’ second scoring drive. First, he was beaten on an out-route by Adonai Mitchell. Then, he was beaten on a long pass from Richardson to Pierce.

Fortunately for the Lions, the Colts’ drive stalled out, in part thanks to a drop in the end zone by tight end Drew Ogletree. Two early trips to the red zone for the Colts both ended in field goals, a testament to the Lions’ bend-but-don’t-break style.

Lions’ offense effective on third down

Detroit’s offense was able to march down the field on its opening possession of the second half.

Part of the reason for the success on offense was the Lions’ execution on third down.

Goff was able to lead the offense on a 54-yard drive, all the way down to the Colts’ 14-yard line, to start the third quarter. On third down, the offense was able to start five-of-eight.

Campbell faced a decision on 4th-and-1, and decided to remain aggressive. Unfortunately, the Colts’ defense was able to quickly penetrate into Detroit’s backfield, stuffing Montgomery short and preventing the Lions from extending their 14-6 lead.

Photo gallery from the Lions’ 24-6 road win over the Colts

Injuries pile up

The Lions’ first scoring drive of the second half was a fateful one. On the punt return, Kalif Raymond was injured. Offensive tackle Taylor Decker left just plays later, after getting rolled up on during a sack of Jared Goff. Both players were ruled questionable to return.

After that, Montgomery would also exit the game. Following Gibbs’ second score of the game, Montgomery was taken to the locker room, while Decker was being evaluated on the training table. Montgomery was ruled questionable to return with a shoulder injury.

Decker returned to action on the following drive, while Raymond was eventually ruled out.

Then, in the fourth quarter, cornerback Carlton Davis suffered what appeared to be a left knee injury. He proceeded to limp off the field.

This article was produced by the staff at Detroit Lions On SI. For more, visit si.com/nfl/lions

The Detroit Lions went for their ninth straight win on Sunday, and were able — despite more injuries — to do just enough for a 24-6 win, and stay on top of the NFC standings.

Takeaways as Lions cruise past Colts, 24-6, despite injuries piling up

By DAVE HOGG
The Associated Press

DETROIT — The Detroit Lions were on the verge of their first Super Bowl appearance, but couldn’t finish off the San Francisco 49ers in last season’s NFC championship game.

This year, they have developed a killer instinct.

Entering their matchup Sunday with Mac Jones and the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Lions were favored by two touchdowns for the first time in 47 years. In the past, they might have taken a win for granted.

They didn’t overlook the Jaguars.

The Lions (9-1) set franchise records for margin of victory (46 points) and yards gained (645) in a 52-6 rout. They scored touchdowns on their first seven possessions, a field goal on the eighth and took a knee to end the game on the ninth. Defensively, they held Jacksonville to two field goals and 170 yards of offense — their 475-yard advantage was the NFL’s biggest margin since 1979.

“When you score seven touchdowns and hold the opponents to two field goals, you obviously had a number of guys who played very, very well,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “Man, they finished today. They started it and they finished it. That’s awesome.”

The Lions are only seven-point favorites for Sunday’s visit to Indianapolis, but they know they should win, especially if they play like they did against the Jaguars.

“We’ve got to go to Indianapolis and play a team that is very much in the playoff race,” Campbell said. “They are going to be ready to go. So are we.”

What’s working

The Lions are leading the NFL in scoring at 33.6 points per game on the 80th anniversary of the last time they finished first in that category.

They are fourth in passing touchdowns (22) and second in rushing touchdowns (18), so teams can’t load up their defenses to take away their strengths.

“It all starts with our offensive line,” Campbell said. “When they play the way they played yesterday, it doesn’t matter what (plays) we call. We can do anything.”

What needs help

DE Za’Darius Smith made his Lions debut after being acquired at the trade deadline. Campbell has stressed that Smith isn’t expected to fill Aidan Hutchinson’s shoes — no one could reasonably be expected to do that — but he can be part of Detroit’s attempt to replace the league’s best pass rusher in the aggregate.

It wasn’t a spectacular debut. Smith combined with Jack Campbell on Detroit’s only sack, but only assisted on one tackle in a game where the Lions registered three quarterback hits.

Stock up

After throwing five interceptions against Houston, Jared Goff only had five incompletions against the Jaguars. He finished 24 of 29 for 412 yards, four touchdowns and a perfect 158.3 passer rating.

Goff became the first quarterback in NFL history to have multiple games with a perfect rating, 400-plus yards and four-plus touchdowns — he also did it for the Rams in 2018 — and his 82.8% completion percentage made him the first to have five games over 80% in the same season.

Stock down

P Jack Fox is having a great season — his net average is over 45 yards and he’s put 45.2% of his punts inside the 20 — but, through no fault of his own, he only got on the field Sunday to hold for extra points and field goals. It was the second time the Lions haven’t punted this season. Fox wasn’t needed in the 47-9 win in Dallas on Oct. 13.

Injuries

LB Alex Anzalone will miss 4-to-6 weeks with a broken right forearm, adding to a depth problem at linebacker. Derrick Barnes and Jalen Reeves-Maybin are on injured reserve, along with both starting defensive ends — Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport.

Key number

8.5 — Detroit’s average yards per play against the Jaguars, the second highest in team history. The Lions were at 8.8 in the final minute — good enough to break a 43-yard-old record of 8.6 — but backup quarterback Hendon Hooker took a knee on the last two plays.

Next steps

If the Lions have one weakness, it is defending mobile quarterbacks, so Anthony Richardson could be an issue on Sunday.

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The Jaguars are set to visit Ford Field on Sunday, but their starting quarterback won’t be available to play.

Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) was ruled out by Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson on Wednesday, four days ahead of his team’s clash with the Detroit Lions. It’ll be the second game in a row Lawrence misses while dealing with what the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport recently reported is a “significant AC joint sprain” in his left shoulder.

Former Patriots quarterback Mac Jones started in Lawrence’s place against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 10, completing 14 of his 22 passes for 111 yards and two interceptions. Jacksonville’s lone score in the game came via a 1-yard touchdown rush from Jones in the first quarter.

Jones is slated to start once again at Detroit.

“One, he’s a veteran quarterback, so he’s played (and) he’s started in this league. He knows how to handle that,” Pederson said Wednesday when asked what Jones provides. “Two, leadership-wise with the guys, you see him communicate with the players on and off the field (and) with us as coaches as well.

“I think the third thing is how well he does communicate with us when it comes to the game plan; what he likes, what he doesn’t like. And then just his overall work ethic, how he prepares for these games. (That) really gives him the best opportunity playing in these games.”

The Jaguars have their bye week following the game against Detroit. That provides an opportunity for Lawrence to have extended rest, but Pederson noted how Lawrence is “still a question, but I’m optimistic” for his availability after the bye.

Lawrence had started the season’s first nine games for Jacksonville, passing for 2,004 yards and 11 touchdowns to go along with six interceptions while completing 61.3% of his throws.

More recognition for Bates

Make that two NFC Special Teams Player of the Week awards for rookie kicker Jake Bates.

Bates received the honor Wednesday, recognized by the league for making two clutch kicks to help his team beat the Houston Texans in Week 10. Bates nailed a 58-yarder with 5:06 remaining to tie the game, and he later won it with a walk-off 52-yarder as time expired.

A Houston-area native, Bates also won the award when he connected on a 44-yard field goal to give Detroit a two-point lead with 19 seconds to play in a win over the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 20. On the season, Bates is 14-for-14 on field goals and 32-for-33 on extra points.

The only other Lions kickers to win NFC Special Teams Player of the Week multiple times are Jason Hanson (12) and Matt Prater (seven).

ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions are looking like they’ll have left tackle Taylor Decker for Sunday’s home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell on Wednesday said he feels “better” about the prospect of Decker, who missed last Sunday’s win over the Houston Texans with a shoulder injury, playing this week.

“As of right now, I do feel better about having Decker this week,” Campbell said. “He’s out there at walkthrough going through. I feel like he’s questionable, but I’m starting to feel pretty good about him. I think he’s going to be able to make it.

“Tomorrow will tell a lot, certainly. That’ll be a full-speed practice for us.”

On the flip side, it does sound like there’s still some concern over the availability of tight end Sam LaPorta, who suffered an AC joint sprain during the Texans game and did not return.

He didn’t practice Wednesday, according to Campbell.

“Everybody else is trending the right way, but LaPorta is the one guy who’s not practicing today, didn’t go through walkthrough, anything like that,” Campbell said. “Like I said, he’s day-to-day.

In Decker’s absence, the Lions started Dan Skipper at left tackle (typically viewed as the more important tackle spot) and kept All-Pro Penei Sewell at right tackle. Campbell said with a little more advance notice about Decker missing the game — he didn’t pop up on the injury report until Thursday — he might’ve considered switching Sewell to left tackle for the contest.

“Yeah, I think if (we knew) that was the case and we were not going to have Decker, I think that was probably where we would go,” Campbell said.

By DAVE HOGG
The Associated Press

DETROIT — Dan Campbell has seen a lot of things as an NFL player and coach.

He had never seen anything like Sunday night, though.

The Lions overcame five interceptions by Jared Goff — one more than he had thrown in the first eight games — and came back to beat the Houston Texans 26-23. They trailed 23-7 at halftime.

“The odds of winning a game with five turnovers are really small,” Campbell said. “This was a total team effort in every phase of the game.”

Kicker Jake Bates made a 58-yard field goal to tie the game in the fourth quarter and a 52-yarder to win it as time expired.

The Lions became the first team since the Atlanta Falcons in 2012 to win despite throwing five interceptions in a game.

Campbell credited the defense, which forced the Texans to kick three field goals in the first half before shutting them out in the second.

“That’s so tough for a defense, because they are out there keeping them out of the end zone and then we throw an interception two plays later and they are back on the field,” Campbell said. “That was a huge performance, even before you consider the two takeaways.”

Veteran cornerback Carlton Davis intercepted two C.J. Stroud passes in the second half, including one at the 3-yard line.

“I told C.D. on Saturday that he might be our best acquisition this season,” Campbell said. “How can you not love a cover corner who can run, hit, shut down the running game and pick off two passes when we needed them?”

What’s working

The Lions run defense dominated the Texans all night. Joe Mixon had an 8-yard touchdown run but finished with just 46 yards on 25 carries.

“We knew he was the most dangerous offensive player we needed to stop,” Campbell said. “He’s such a hard runner and he kept coming after us, but we were able to bottle him up.”

What needs help

Goff hadn’t thrown an interception in his past five games. No one was expecting him to throw five, but he had three in the first half and two more in the third quarter — turning the ball over two plays after Davis’ first interception and three plays after his second.

“I honestly didn’t think I was playing bad,” Goff said. “I was seeing things well and throwing the ball well. I’ve been in a lot worse positions and I wasn’t going to let a few unfortunate mistakes throw me off my game.”

Despite the two third-quarter interceptions, Goff went 8-for-13 for 149 yards and a touchdown in the second half.

Stock up

Bates started the year kicking at Ford Field, but for the UFL’s Michigan Panthers. That helped him get the attention of the Lions by kicking a 64-yard field goal that was negated by a timeout, then making it again.

After a season where Campbell didn’t trust his kickers in big moments, Bates has become a significant part of Detroit’s record-setting start.

Stock down

Jameson Williams had 12 combined receptions and rushing attempts for 228 yards in Detroit’s first two games, making everyone think he had finally arrived as the big-play threat the Lions needed so badly. However, he’s only gotten 12 combined receptions and rushing attempts in the next seven games for 218 yards, including one catch for minus-4 yards on Oct. 20 in Minnesota, followed by his two-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy.

He did have three catches for 53 yards against Houston, but the Lions need him to regain his September form.

Injury report

TE Sam LaPorta left Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury, but Campbell doesn’t think it will be a long-term problem. OT Taylor Decker missed the game with a shoulder injury. Campbell said he is hopeful both could return Sunday against Jacksonville.

Key number

5 — the number of wins the Lions got in a five-game stretch that included road games in Dallas, Minnesota, Green Bay and Houston. Their only home game was a victory over Tennessee.

Up next

Clean up the turnovers and stay focused on the Jaguars (2-8).

HOUSTON (AP) — Jake Bates made a 52-yard field goal as time expired, and the Detroit Lions overcame a career-high five interceptions by Jared Goff to rally for a 26-23 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday night.

The Lions improved to 8-1 for the first time since 1954 with their seventh straight victory overall and fifth in a row on the road.

Detroit trailed 23-7 at halftime after Goff threw three interceptions in the first two quarters, and he threw two more picks in the third. Nonetheless, the Lions scored 16 straight points to tie it with about five minutes to go on Bates’ 58-yard field goal.

The Texans (6-4) had a chance to take the lead with just under two minutes left, but Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 58-yard try was wide left.

The Lions became the first team to win when throwing five or more interceptions since Atlanta beat Arizona 23-19 on Nov. 18, 2012, when Matt Ryan was picked off five times.

David Montgomery ran for 3-yard touchdown early in the third, but his run on the 2-point conversion try was stopped, leaving the Lions down 23-13. A 9-yard TD reception by Amon-Ra St. Brown got Detroit within 23-20 early in the fourth quarter.

Goff threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns and Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 71 yards.

C.J. Stroud threw for 232 yards and a touchdown, but he threw two interceptions in the second half as the Texans were shut out after the break to lose for the third time in four games.

Goff’s five picks were the most by an NFL player since Jameis Winston threw five on Oct. 13, 2019, for Tampa Bay against Carolina.

Goff hadn’t thrown an interception in five games and entered Sunday with just four all season. His previous career high was four in a loss to Chicago while with the Rams on Dec. 9, 2018.

Rookie Kamari Lassiter led the Texans with two interceptions as they set a franchise record for picks.

Jimmie Ward intercepted Goff on Detroit’s first drive on a ball that was tipped by Jalen Pitre to give Houston the ball at the Detroit 33. The Texans made it 7-0 when Joe Mixon ran 8 yards for a touchdown.

A 34-yard field goal by Fairbairn extended the lead to 10-0 with about two minutes remaining in the first quarter. Detroit cut the lead to 10-7 on a 20-yard touchdown reception by Sam LaPorta.

The Texans were up by 6 when Denico Autry hit Goff’s arm as he threw and the ball fell into the hands of Henry To’oTo’o to give Houston possession at the Detroit 36.

But the Texans couldn’t move the ball after that and settled for Fairbairn’s 29-yard field goal that made it 16-7 with about four minutes left in the first half.

Houston extended the lead to 23-7 when Stroud found John Metchie III for a 15-yard touchdown with 16 seconds left in the second quarter. It was the first career touchdown for Metchie, who missed his entire rookie season in 2022 undergoing treatment for leukemia.

Goff threw his third interception when Lassiter picked off his desperation throw on the last play of the first half.

Davis intercepted Stroud on the first play of the second half. But Lassiter grabbed his second interception of the game three plays later.

After Montgomery’s touchdown, Detroit’s Carlton Davis III leapt in front of Tank Dell in the end zone for his second interception. Goff threw his fifth pick two plays later, but the Texans couldn’t capitalize and were forced to punt.

Takeaways as Jared Goff throws 5 INTs, Lions battle to beat Texans, 26-23

Injuries

Texans: DE Will Anderson Jr. missed the game with an ankle injury. … WR Nico Collins didn’t play after being activated from injured reserve Saturday. … Lassiter left in the third quarter with a concussion.

Up next

Lions: Host Jacksonville next Sunday.

Texans: Visit Dallas on Monday, Nov. 18.

— By KRISTIE RIEKEN, Associated Press

Photo gallery from the Lions’ come-from-behind, 26-23 win over Houston on Sunday Night Football

The Detroit Lions have been able play complementary football the past several weeks.

Heading on the road, it was paramount for Dan Campbell’s squad to be on its game, as there has been increased chatter this week about the team’s potential to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

“It goes down to that every week. First of all, don’t beat yourself,” Campbell told Fox 2 Gameday Live. “Make that opponent earn everything they get. And then, your best foot forward. How do we get a little bit better and improve against an opponent who really plays the game a lot like we do? So, this is gonna be an excellent battle.”

Lions fans again traveled well to Houston to observe one of the top teams in the NFC. With several players and coaches having ties to the area, playing well and executing were even more paramount.

Detroit did not play its best brand of football, as turnovers mounted and Houston took advantage early of a defense that did not have its new defensive end, Za’Darius Smith, in the lineup.

After 60 minutes of action, the Lions battled and left NRG Stadium with their eighth victory of the season, extending their winning streak to seven games.

Here are several takeaways from the Lions’ 26-23 victory against the Texans:

 

Texans in passing lanes early, force interception

After winning the opening coin toss, Detroit elected to receive the football to start the game.

Jared Goff, who has been efficient and playing his best football over the course of several weeks, was picked off by safety Jimmie Ward on a pass intended for running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Safety Jalen Pitre was able to deflect the pass that resulted in the early turnover.

It was Goff’s first interception since September, giving the Texans prime field position.

After starting on the Lions’ 33-yard line, C.J. Stroud led the Texans on an eight-play drive that culminated in a Joe Mixon 8-yard touchdown rush. It gave his team an early 7-0 lead.

The Texans forced another interception in the second quarter, when pressure impacted Goff’s ability to release the football quickly. Goff’s pass intended for LaPorta was picked off by linebacker Henry To’oTo’o.

First quarter does not go Lions way

It was an uncharacteristically rough start for Campbell’s squad in the first quarter.

After going three-and-out on its second offensive possession, punter Jack Fox did not deliver one of his better punts, only netting 40 yards.

The Texans were able to gash Aaron Glenn’s defense on their second offensive possession. Without Za’Darius Smith, Stroud was able to evade pressure, and find Mixon for a 36-yard gain.

An offensive holding penalty derailed the Texans’ drive, as they took a 10-0 lead into the second quarter.

Jameson Williams sparks offense

Returning from a two-game suspension, the speedy wideout helped to spark Detroit’s offense.

Early in the game, Houston’s defense was swarming to the football and making life difficulty for Goff and Co. An early deep try in the first quarter to Williams fell incomplete.

However, Williams was able to make his presence felt on the following series with a pair of long third-down connections with Goff. The first came on a bobble that he held onto for 23 yards on third-and-16, with the second being a 13-yard gain on third-and-6.

The veteran quarterback was able to lead Detroit on a 11-play, 70-yard scoring drive that was capped off by a 20-yard touchdown toss to tight end Sam LaPorta.

Run game struggles in first half

The Lions’ offense struggled for much of the first half to find a rhythm. For a team that prides itself on being able to run the ball effectively, their normally potent run game was nowhere to be found.

Jahmyr Gibbs managed just 15 yards on six carries, while David Montgomery had four carries for six yards. As a result, the Lions were made one-dimensional. With the Texans getting pressure against the Lions’ offensive line, many of Goff’s passes were hurried or off-target.

The Lions were without Taylor Decker, and his absence was felt as the likes of Danielle Hunter and Denico Autry were able to put heat on Goff throughout the game.

While the Lions’ defense managed to hold the Texans to field goals on three consecutive possessions, the offense failed to generate momentum and went three-and-out on back-to-back drives. The defense cracked on Houston’s final drive of the half as Stroud hit John Metchie for a touchdown to put Houston up 23-7 going into the break.

Jake Bates makes 52-yarder at buzzer, Lions overcome Jared Goff’s 5 INTs to rally past Texans 26-23

Chance for momentum thwarted by another Goff interception

Goff had his most turnovers of the 2024 season against DeMeco Ryan's defense.

In a moment that will be remembered fondly, since most interviews conducted by coaches at halftime and at the start of the third-quarter are filled with cliches, Campbell's message of needing turnovers was timed perfectly, as cornerback Carlton Davis opened the third quarter intercepting Stroud when the interviewed aired.

Unfortunately, Detroit's offense could not capitalize, as Goff threw his fourth interception of the ballgame and the second to cornerback Kamari Lassiter.

After a touchdown on their following possession, Goff was picked off for the fifth time on a deep pass intended for Jameson Williams.

The veteran cornerback was able to intercept Stroud again in the third quarter, which were the first two interceptions by Lions cornerbacks this season.

Photo gallery from the Lions’ come-from-behind, 26-23 win over Houston on Sunday Night Football

LaPorta sets up score

Tight end Sam LaPorta has had a quiet first half of the season, but found his groove against the Texans.

He scored the team's first touchdown on a well-schemed play-action pass, then helped set up the team's third-quarter touchdown with a 37-yard catch. His score came at a big point in the game, as he cut the Texans' lead to 10-7.

However, LaPorta suffered a shoulder injury on the third-quarter catch, and was ruled questionable to return.

Detroit's offense was able to scratch and claw its way back to tie the game at 23 in the fourth quarter. Jake Bates was able to connect on a 58-yard field goal to tie the game, giving Detroit's defense a chance to force a stop.

Stroud was unable to lead his team on a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter, as kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn missed a 58-yard field goal.

Detroit capitalized on the field position, and moved the football in position to set up Bates for the 52-yard, game-winning kick.

This article was produced by the staff at Detroit Lions On SI. For more, visit si.com/nfl/lions

Despite five interceptions thrown by quarterback Jared Goff, the Lions defense created the turnovers the Lions needed, holding the Texans scoreless in the second half to set up Jake Bates’ game-winning field goal in the final seconds of a 26-23 victory on Sunday Night Football.

Here are the sights from Sunday’s game:

Takeaways as Jared Goff throws 5 INTs, Lions battle to beat Texans, 26-23

Jake Bates makes 52-yarder at buzzer, Lions overcome Jared Goff’s 5 INTs to rally past Texans 26-23

 

The debut of new Detroit Lions defensive end Za’Darius Smith is likely on hold.

After joining his new squad Friday, the team has reportedly decided not to play the veteran against the Houston Texans.

According to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, “Lions new pass-rusher Za’Darius Smith, who was acquired in a trade on Tuesday, is not expected to play for Detroit tonight, I’m told. Not quite ready.”

The 32-year-old was set to be on his bye week, but ended up in Motown at the trade deadline.

This week, Smith took a couple of days to visit property in Florida to assess damage from the hurricane and to get things in order. He expressed gratitude to reporters that the organization allowed him some time off.

During his initial media session with reporters, Smith did express a desire to suit up on Sunday Night Football.

Next week, Detroit plays against the Jacksonville Jaguars at home.

 

Wearing No. 99 in Detroit

In order to wear No. 99 in Detroit, Smith had to cough up some money to Brodric Martin.

“They was like, ‘Man, you got three options.’ You can get any number in the 70s, any numbers in the 80s, and I think it was 60s,” said Smith. “And I was like, ‘No way.’ I was like, ‘Who have No. 99?’ And they told me who it was.

“And, we looked his number up and called him real quick,. Thankful to him, a guy from Alabama, man – Tuscaloosa — had a chance to talk to him for a little while, and I had to pay up a little bit. But, all is well. I got No. 99 now.”

While Smith did not give up the exact value, he indicated it was a number that ended with three zeroes.

This article was produced by the staff at Detroit Lions On SI. For more, visit si.com/nfl/lions