Major changes could be coming for the Lions after dominant win over Commanders, 6 other big takeaways
This was an eye opening day for the Lions
The Detroit Lions looked like themselves again in this one. The major shift that happened in play-calling had everything to do with it.
The Lions walked out with a 44-22 win, but that’s not the big story here. This is:
Dan Campbell has taken over the Lions’ offensive play-calling
This is the story of the game. Lions OC John Morton has had a bad few weeks, and really, a pretty bad season altogether. There was some thought after the loss to the Vikings that Detroit might make a change similar to the one they made in 2021 when Campbell took over the play-calling from Anthony Lynn, and it looks like that happened on Sunday.
The Lions’ offense certainly looked like a completely different unit in this game. It was firing on all cylinders and doing things differently. It wasn’t 15 screens in a row. Campbell did say earlier in the week that the offense was a real group effort. We’ll see going forward if Morton gets the play sheet back or if it’s Campbell from now.
Goff Report
It was another pretty good game for Jared Goff. He even got into the record books a little here. His 300-yard game today ties him with Drew Brees and Dan Marino for the third most 300-yard games in the first 10 years of a quarterback’s career. He has 44.
Only Patrick Mahomes (49) and Matt Ryan (45) have more. All told, he went 25-of-33 for 319 yards and three touchdowns. Good stuff.
Da’Ron ‘punch a guy in the face until he feels’ Payne
As Lions fans will tell you, you just can’t do this out there.
Payne was ejected from the game, and I’m sure Lions fans will be keeping a close eye on this one to see if he gets suspended just like Brian Branch did.
Jameson Williams has been located
For weeks, we’ve been wondering where Williams has been. It seems like the Lions found him in the second half of the game. He had four catches for 47 yards and a touchdown on the first drive of the half. Then he followed that up with a big 41-yard catch and run on the second drive.
He finished with six catches for 119 yards and a touchdown. It’s crazy that this team was unable to get things going with him in the last month. It seems so easy after this one.
Deion…err Brian Branch had a hell of a game
With Jonathan Vilma back on the call for the Lions, it was nice to see him not call Brian Branch “Deion Branch” again. The latter is a former Patriots receiver who hasn’t played in the NFL since 2013. Anyways, Branch had a really good game in this one with 1.5 sacks and seven tackles.
Gibbs with the hat trick
Jahmyr Gibbs had himself a day with 173 yards and three touchdowns. It makes his bad game against the Vikings look like the anomaly of all anomalies. He could not be stopped in this game.
By the way, this is he kind of game that you treat your offensive line to a steak dinner afterwards. They blocked like crazy for Gibbs on Sunday.
If I saw Penei Sewell coming at me, I’d probably do the same thing
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