Following their crushing defeat to the Ravens, the Lions are returning to their foundation.
On Sunday, October 22, 2023, in Baltimore, following an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, head coach of the Detroit Lions Dan Campbell speaks to the media. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) PRESS ASSOCIATION
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — The Detroit Lions have an extra day to prepare for the Las Vegas Raiders next Monday night.
Coach Dan Campbell knows how he’s going to use it.
In the aftermath of Detroit’s 38-6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Campbell is going back to the basics.
“As you get into the season, you start shaving some practice time on the fundamentals to work a little bit more on the scheme,” he said Monday. “You are hoping you have gotten enough fundamentals through camp, and you know what, we have got to get back to that — that’s where I can help these guys.”
Campbell said last Wednesday’s decision to lighten practice might have added to the problem.
“We probably needed a little more time, but I felt like it was the right time to back off,” he added. “When we were getting ready to play a physical team, we ought to have gone out and done a little bit of full speed.”
Even though nobody, including Campbell, anticipated the NFC North-leading Lions to go 16-1, he was disappointed in the way the game was handled.
“It hurts a lot to lose, but what really gets to me is that we never had a chance to play the game,” he remarked. “It’s a bitter pill to know you’re not in the fight; all you want is to be in it.”
What Is Effective
Jack Fox did not allow a kickoff return and averaged 46.0 yards on four punts without a return. Though it didn’t play a major role in the outcome, his absence might have made matters worse.
WHY HELP IS NEEDED
Although the Lions have had trouble with mobile quarterbacks, Lamar Jackson is unmatched. Jackson threw for 357 yards and three touchdowns, along with 36 yards rushing and another score, two years after tossing for 287 yards and running for 58 as the Ravens upset Detroit with Justin Tucker’s game-winning 66-yard ( goal.
