Detroit Lions Week 3 Recap and Review: Dominating The Trenches

The Detroit Lions went into Week 3 with a disappointing loss to Green Bay and a dominant win against Chicago. The question remained: Who are the Detroit Lions? This week, they answered that question emphatically with a 38-30 victory.

The biggest struggles in Week 1 were the offensive and defensive lines. How did they do this week? The offensive line helped the Lions rush for 224 yards and allowed zero sacks. The defensive line sacked Lamar Jackson seven times and created a turnover. The game remained close most of the way. The first half ended in a 14-14 tie. The Lions had a 98-yard touchdown drive that lasted 10 minutes and 44 seconds.

The Ravens jumped ahead early in the third quarter. The 14-straight from Baltimore felt like a momentum shift, especially considering that the Lions dropped two interceptions before the Ravens scored at the end of the first half. The Lions responded with 14 straight of their own, including another 90+ yard drive. Aidan Hutchinson forced a fumble in a key situation, allowing the Lions to extend the lead from 4 to 7. David Montgomery sealed the game with a 31-yard touchdown run.

It's hard to say that this win isn't the best of the Dan Campbell era. The offense and defense played well. Jared Goff continues to play efficiently, and the defense continues to produce new heroes.

Photo by Brendan Beale on Unsplash

The Detroit Lions Week 3: Offensive Line and David Montgomery

The Lions' offensive line looked lost in Green Bay. Against the Bears, they looked much improved, but that allowed critics to say, "It's just the Bears." The Lions rushed for 224 yards and four touchdowns, including 151 yards and two TDs from David Montgomery. Montgomery also had a 13-yard reception and some key blocks in both the running and passing game. Goff had plenty of time in the pocket and continues to show that he's improved at playing off-script. Graham Glasgow, Christian Mahogany, and Tate Ratledge have stepped up to the challenge and warded off the criticisms from Week 1.

The Detroit Lions Week 3: Defensive Line and Making Plays

In Baltimore, the Lions' pass rush looked incredible. They had seven sacks from six different players. Ian Rapoport reported that the Lions placed Marcus Davenport on the IR. Al-Quadin Muhammad responded to his expanded role with 2.5 sacks. The Lions took some criticism (including from this author) about not upgrading their edge rush. Every time the media doubts Brad Holmes, he proves them wrong. He's one of the best in the business. Hutchinson looked better this week, too. He's returning to form, with a forced fumble and a sack.

The Detroit Lions Week 3: Coaching

Much has been made of the loss of coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn. John Morton and Kelvin Sheppard showed out tonight. The Lions offense still has the big-play ability and has had clock-draining drives. The defense has created more pressure on the quarterback than at any time during Dan Campbell's tenure. The Lions no longer rely on just Hutchinson to make plays on the quarterback. Now it's by committee. Jack Campbell appears to be an emerging player in this Lions' defense. He had a massive strip sack on Jackson in the first half when the Ravens were in the red zone.

Dan Campbell went for it on 4th down again. That conversion helped seal the game. Campbell doesn't receive the credit he deserves. Nothing has exemplified that more than the catastrophizing about the departures of Johnson and Glenn, implying that Campbell needs them to succeed. They are good coaches, for sure, but Campbell is among the NFL's best. His ability to bring out the best in his coaches and players sets him apart.

The Detroit Lions Week 3 Verdict

The Lions are the real deal. The Week 1 panic was unjustified, and the Lions have proven it's a fluke. The best part of it is that the team preached patience and remained confident. They didn't complain about fans turning on them. They understand this fan base and the team's history. They have now responded with two outstanding victories.

This win's value cannot be understated. Many projected the Ravens to win the Super Bowl this year. They are one of the league's best teams, and the Lions played winning football on the road against them. In the last few seasons, the Lions' defense struggled against mobile quarterbacks like Jackson, Josh Allen, and Jayden Daniels. This game is Campbell's first win in six tries against that trio.

The Lions play the Browns next week, followed by the Chiefs and Buccaneers. The schedule doesn't get any easier, but it certainly feels that way after this win. The Browns' defense is solid, but can they contain this offense enough to win? Are the Chiefs on the way down after the 1-2 start? The Lions have been notorious for "revenge" games, and Tampa Bay beat the Lions in Detroit early last season. Goff received significant criticism after that game. He threw 34/55, including two interceptions. These Lions remember these things. This win is emblematic of that.

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