The Detroit Lions had a 15-2 record last year. Nevertheless, there appeared to be widespread doubt following just a single week of this season.
However, the Lions aren’t necessarily facing significant challenges. They commenced with an 0-1 start, experiencing a decisive loss to the Green Bay Packers. Subsequently, after scoring 52 points in Week 2, they secured a noteworthy victory on Monday night against the Baltimore Ravens. Their offensive unit executed drives of 98 and 96 yards to defeat a top-tier NFL team.
Detroit holds a 2-1 record subsequent to their impressive 38-30 victory in Baltimore. The Ravens possess a 1-2 record with losses against both the Bills and the Lions, recognized as premier teams in the NFL. Baltimore’s performance is likely better than their current record suggests. However, the Lions demonstrated superior performance on Monday night, with their offense showcasing its usual efficiency and their defense effectively containing Lamar Jackson. The defensive unit recorded seven sacks on Jackson.
And when the Lions were presented with an opportunity to seal the game on fourth-and-short just before the two-minute warning, Jared Goff delivered a critical pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown, securing the first down. David Montgomery then followed with a 31-yard touchdown run, extending the Lions’ lead by two scores with 1:50 remaining.
Detroit struggled in their season-opening loss to the Packers. The offense encountered significant difficulty, triggering concerns about their ability to recover from the departure of coordinator Ben Johnson during the offseason. It is possible that the Packers’ defense is exceptionally strong, or that the Lions simply had an atypical performance.
Regardless, the Lions remain competitive and in good standing.
Jahmyr Gibbs celebrates a 4-yard touchdown run against the Ravens in the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on Monday night. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
(Greg Fiume via Getty Images)
Lions Offense Commences Positively
The offensive challenges encountered by the Lions in Week 1 did not persist. They overwhelmed the Chicago Bears in Week 2 and executed multiple impressive drives on Monday night.
During their initial possession, the Lions advanced 67 yards in 11 plays, culminating in a 1-yard touchdown run by Jahmyr Gibbs. Later in the first half, they orchestrated one of the most notable drives of the season, commencing from their own 2-yard line. This drive consumed 10:48 of game time, featuring 13 rushing attempts out of 18 plays, and concluded with a 1-yard touchdown run by David Montgomery. This not only kept Jackson and the Ravens’ offense off the field for the majority of a quarter but also demonstrated Detroit’s ability to assert dominance over Baltimore.
Despite this, the Ravens narrowed the deficit to a single touchdown and advanced to the 1-yard line on their subsequent drive. However, on second and third down runs, Derrick Henry lost a yard. It is uncommon to observe Henry unable to gain positive yardage. On fourth down, Jackson rolled to his right, found no running lane, attempted a pass, was hit, and fumbled. By the time he recovered, he had lost 18 yards.
While the Ravens are not easily overpowered physically, the Lions, under head coach Dan Campbell, are a resilient team. They imposed their will for a significant portion of the first half. However, the Ravens have Jackson, whose touchdown pass to Rashod Bateman tied the game at 14-14 before halftime.
The high-profile Monday night matchup between two Super Bowl contenders lived up to expectations.
Alternating Leads in the Second Half
The Ravens and Lions continued their captivating performance after halftime. Baltimore seized the lead, and the Lions responded by tying the game with a successful pass-and-catch between Goff and St. Brown. Subsequently, the Lions initiated their second drive of over 90 yards, covering 96 yards with the highlight being a 72-yard run by Montgomery. The drive culminated in a trick play, where Goff handed off to St. Brown in the backfield, who then option pitched it to Gibbs on the edge. Gibbs scored, granting the Lions the lead. Such creative plays were typical when Johnson was the offensive play-caller. New coordinator John Morton demonstrated his own inventive approach.
The Lions’ defense allowed some yards and points, but facing the Ravens is a challenging task. They also made important plays. Jackson was sacked multiple times while searching for running lanes, as the Lions defenders effectively prevented him from breaking free. In the fourth quarter, Aidan Hutchinson made a crucial play, dislodging the ball from Derrick Henry’s grasp and causing a fumble that Detroit recovered. The Ravens limited Detroit to a field goal, affording Jackson the opportunity to tie the game in the final minutes.
However, the Lions rallied once again to stop Jackson. They sacked him on first down and then stopped him after a mere 3-yard gain on third down. The Ravens punted, aware that they might not have another chance to tie the game. The Lions’ offense was performing well. Detroit faced a fourth-and-2 situation at the two-minute warning and opted to go for it — Campbell typically does not punt in such scenarios. They further amplified the risk by executing a play-action pass, which paid off as Goff connected with St. Brown for 20 yards. On the ensuing play, Montgomery scored on a 31-yard run to effectively secure the game.
There was a notable level of skepticism surrounding the Lions throughout the offseason, particularly after Week 1. Detroit was one of the top teams in the NFL last season, despite experiencing a playoff disappointment. The Lions appear poised to be a leading team in the league this season as well.
