Lions look like a contender as offense and defense make plays in win over Buccaneers

https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/lions-look-like-a-contender-as-offense-and-defense-make-plays-in-win-over-buccaneers-022110121.html

We heard the names Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn often when the Detroit Lions’ predicted drop was discussed. We didn’t hear the names John Morton and Kelvin Sheppard enough in explaining why the Lions might not actually fall off.

Maybe Dan Campbell’s name should have been brought up more often too.

The Lions might not be the exact team they were last season, but it’s tough to repeat a 15-2 record. What is clear is that the loss of offensive and defensive coordinators might have been overrated. Morton has stepped in for Johnson on offensive and Sheppard replaced Glenn defensively. And the Lions are still capable of special things on each side of the ball.

Detroit made some mistakes that kept it from entirely blowing out the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night, but it was still an easy 24-9 win over a team that was 5-1 coming in. Morton’s offense got plenty of explosive plays — many of which from Jahmyr Gibbs, who had 136 yards rushing and another 82 receiving — and Sheppard’s defense, dealing with injuries and a one-game suspension to safety Brian Branch, was excellent. They cooled off Baker Mayfield, harassing him all night.

The Lions are still one of the NFL’s best teams, and their coaching staff is a big reason for it.

Lions take an early lead

The Lions’ offense has been fantastic most of the season, and it started hot Monday night. Detroit had a six-play, 69-yard drive that ended with QB Jared Goff finding Amon-Ra St. Brown open across the middle for a 27-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

The problem was the Lions weren’t finishing drives. Goff lost a fumble in Buccaneers territory. On a fourth-and-2 at the Tampa Bay 15-yard line the Lions went for it, as they like to do. Goff threw incomplete and Detroit turned it over on downs. They had 165 yards in the first quarter and only one score to show for it.

Detroit’s defense did a great job limiting the Buccaneers and then the Lions hit another big play. Gibbs, one of the most explosive backs in the NFL, broke through the line and found himself in the open field. Antoine Winfield Jr. is one of the best safeties in the NFL but he won’t win a race with Gibbs. Gibbs blew past him for a 78-yard touchdown.

The Buccaneers had a rough night. In the first half they didn’t run a play that started in Lions territory until 14 seconds left in the first half. Even worse, they lost Mike Evans to a concussion and a shoulder injury suffered on the same play as he crashed hard into the turf on a deep pass, with Lions cornerback Rock Ya-Sin landing on him. They had no offense and allowed 275 yards to the Lions.

Detroit kept making mistakes. In the final two minutes of the half a missed field goal cost the Lions points. Then after a Lions interception, when cornerback Arthur Maulet ripped the ball from Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton, Goff threw an interception right to Bucs cornerback Jamel Dean. Tampa Bay turned that into a 53-yard field goal to end the half.

The Buccaneers trailed just 14-3 at halftime. Given all that went wrong and how badly they were outplayed, it could have been a lot worse.

Buccaneers score right after halftime

The Buccaneers did little in the first half but started the second half in spectacular fashion. After going for it on fourth down and making it, Tez Johnson had a fantastic touchdown catch on a screen that included him hurdling a defender on his way to the end zone. The Buccaneers didn’t get the 2-point conversion but trailed just 14-9 after playing a horrific first half.

The Lions were able to separate after that. Gibbs had a long run to set up his second touchdown. Gibbs broke through three tackle attempts on a fourth-and-1 run at midfield for a crucial first down. The defense did its job after that, stopping Cade Otton inches short of the first down on a fourth down in Buccaneers territory.

The Buccaneers never looked comfortable on Monday night. That was due to the Lions, who weren’t perfect but played well enough that they were never in real danger of losing. The Lions are very unlikely to go 15-2 again, but without many reliable teams this season, they’re as good of a pick to make the Super Bowl as anyone else.

https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/lions-look-like-a-contender-as-offense-and-defense-make-plays-in-win-over-buccaneers-022110121.html