By Jason Berndt
On Sunday, Jared Goff revisited the city where his NFL journey began: Los Angeles. In his return to Hollywood, Goff, the No. 1 overall pick of the L.A. Rams in the 2016 draft, guided the Lions to an impressive offensive performance, culminating in a game-winning drive. With the running prowess of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery showcased, Detroit amassed over 300 yards of total offense in the first half. This contributed to the Lions securing a 41-38 victory over the Chargers in their first game post-bye week.
With seven wins in the first nine games, has Dan Campbell’s team demonstrated its place among the NFC’s best? CBS Sports game analyst Tony Romo certainly thinks so, stating, “This is a top-two, top-three team in the NFC right now.” Here are the key takeaways from Detroit’s Week 10 triumph over the Chargers:
Penalty Derails Lions’ First Drive: The Lions’ opening drive showed promise, gaining 63 yards in just three plays. However, a questionable low-block penalty against offensive lineman Taylor Decker in the red zone forced Detroit to settle for a field goal, taking a 3-0 lead.
Jahmyr Gibbs Showcases Explosiveness: Rookie back Jahmyr Gibbs displayed elusiveness and explosiveness throughout the game, contributing significantly to the Lions’ offensive success. His 1-yard touchdown run helped secure a 10-3 lead in the first quarter.
Campbell Remains Aggressive: Despite a failed attempt on fourth-and-goal in the second quarter, head coach Dan Campbell stayed aggressive. On a subsequent drive, the Lions again faced fourth-and-1 on the goal line, and Campbell’s bold decision paid off as Gibbs scored his second touchdown, giving Detroit a 17-3 advantage.
Montgomery Helps Lions Run All Over Chargers: The dynamic duo of Gibbs and Montgomery proved crucial, with Montgomery amassing 116 rushing yards, including a memorable 75-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
Keenan Allen Tough to Cover: Chargers wideout Keenan Allen posed challenges for Detroit’s defensive backs, ending the first half with 113 yards and a touchdown. His performance contributed to a game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Lions’ Pass-Rush Non-Existent: Except for EDGE Aidan Hutchinson, the Lions struggled to generate consistent pressure against Chargers QB Justin Herbert, allowing him to remain unsacked in the first half.
Amon-Ra St. Brown Slippery in Open Field: St. Brown showcased his dynamic playmaking in the open field, finishing the game with over 100 receiving yards and a 20-yard touchdown catch.
Jared Goff Has Strong Fourth Quarter: Goff orchestrated a near game-winning drive in the fourth quarter, showcasing creativity in offensive play-calling and completing 23-of-33 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns in the victorious effort.
Detroit now sits atop the NFC North at 7-2, with very winnable games on the horizon. This Sunday, they will host the 3-7 Chicago Bears, followed by a Thanksgiving Day clash with the 3-6 Green Bay Packers. If the Lions improve to 9-2 with wins in both of those games, it will be extremely difficult for even a surging Minnesota Vikings team who have won 5 games in a row and now sit at 6-4, to catch them. The Lions won’t play Minnesota until Christmas Eve in Minneapolis, and then follow that up with their second meeting at Ford Field in the last regular season game on January 7th. If the Lions continue playing like they are capable of, those games might be irrelevant as far as the division goes and they may wrap up the NFC North by mid-December. The thought of challenging for the top seed in the NFC would then be in play. Detroit will take on Chicago at 1pm on Sunday at Ford Field.
