Detroit Lions Week 10: Righting the Ship

The Detroit Lions found a way to right the ship in Week 10, winning 44-22 against the Washington Commanders. They improved to 6-3 on the season. The Lions haven't lost back-to-back games since October of 2022. As stated in last week's review, this team has a lot of talent but hasn't been consistent. Dan Campbell taking over offensive play-calling and the offensive line playing more consistently could lead to a strong finish for the Lions.

"Penei Sewell (52480402764) (cropped)" by All-Pro Reels is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

It is difficult to judge this team because they seem like a different team every other week. It has been established that this team needs to establish the run to win. The Lions are undefeated this season when they surpass 100 yards rushing. So, what else went right?

Detroit Lions Week 10: Offense

Dan Campbell took over the play-calling. The differences were noticeable. The Lions emphasized the run and the quick routes. Last week, the young and beat-up offensive line struggled to protect Jared Goff. This week, Goff found plenty of time due to the emphasis on the run and routes, which allowed him to get the ball out early. Once this was established, the chunk yardage became more available. Goff finished with 320 passing yards and three touchdowns.

The early focus on Sam LaPorta and Amon-Ra St. Brown allowed for Jameson Williams to have, perhaps, his best game of the season. It had been a growing concern that he wasn't involved in the offense. "Jamo" finished with 119 yards receiving and one touchdown.

Jahmyr Gibbs is establishing himself as one of the league's best offensive players. He combined for three touchdowns two rushing and one receiving) with 172 yards of total offense. It has almost become a cliché to note that the running back is still important to winning football games and that you can't just throw anyone back there, but in this case, it remains worth stating. Gibbs has 693 rushing yards and 227 receiving yards to go with eight rushing TDs and two receiving TDs.

Finally, the offensive line deserves mention. Penei Sewell has been dominant this season. When this group (Taylor Decker, Tate Ratleddge, Graham Glasgow) is clicking, the Lions offense is near unstoppable. Kayode Awosika stepped in yesterday and played well. He has proven himself a reliable reserve for this team time and time again.

Detroit Lions Week 10: Defense

The Detroit Lions' defense is hard to judge. The Washington Commanders struggled to move the ball, converting only two of ten third downs. The Lions' defense had two sacks (1.5 from Brian Branch) and forced four punts. The Commanders started Marcus Mariota in place of the injured Jayden Daniels. So, is it fair to say that this defense was enough?

On the one hand, the team has dealt with many injuries, and defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard has orchestrated some masterpieces (Tampa Bay and Baltimore). On the other hand, the defense only recorded two sacks in a game in which Washington was forced to drop back and pass to try to catch up.

No one should start panicking because a few players (Branch, Jack Campbell, Roy Lopez) played really well. Additionally, the Commanders found a way to keep Aidan Hutchinson from making a major contribution (though his being on the field is sometimes a major contribution due to the focus on him). So the big takeaway from this game is that the Lions have a defense that can change the game, but doesn't always have to.

Detroit Lions Week 10 Verdict

Unlike a few other games this season (the Cincinnati Bengals' win), the Lions looked dominant. There are still things to improve upon (pass rush and offensive line consistency), but the Lions are starting to come together. Terrion Arnold is beginning to play better, and the defense should see more players return to the lineup soon. The big-play offense capable of producing over 500 yards is always there. The question is whether they can win without it. The Lions have to dominate the trenches to win. Next week, against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football, will provide an opportunity to see what's real and what's a mirage.

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