DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – Scoring 22 points in the fourth quarter chasing the Seattle Seahawks the entire game, Detroit came up just three-points shy of victory. It is the second week in a row that they have lost by less than four points with a four-point loss to the Vikings last weekend.
“Obviously that wasn’t a real good performance which falls on me,” says head coach Dan Campbell. “It wasn’t real sharp or real clean. Penalties and turners and one of those were for seven points which was the difference in the game. Defensively, we weren’t good.”
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The defense gave up 555 yards of offense to Seattle with 320 yards passing. Seattle was 9-of-12 on third downs and Rashaad Penny rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns. They didn’t punt the entire game and scored on seven of their eight possessions.
“In a game like this that is so messy, you have to outscore them. You can’t make a mistake that goes for seven points. We are going to look at everything (defense) from top to bottom,” says Campbell.
Despite the Jared Goff interception, the Lions offense produced all day matching the Seahawks. Producing 520 yards, Goff threw for 378 yards and four touchdowns. Jamaal Williams had 19 carries for 108 yards averaging 5.7 yards per carry and two touchdowns. T.J. Hockenson had a breakout game with 179 yards receiving and two touchdowns on eight receptions.
Detroit tried the onside kick right after pulling within three, 48-45, but was unsuccessful in their attempt. So it came down to Detroit’s defense to get at stop and they failed. Seattle was brought to a third-and-five with just 54 seconds left. Looking for a stop to get the ball back to try and push for the game-tying field goal, Detroit’s defense gave up a seven-yard run that led to the end of the game.
“We get that onside kick, I feel we win the game,” says Campbell. “I thought we would get a stop there at the end on third-and-five. Even though you go the whole game and it doesn’t work out, I still feel like we are going to get that stop but it didn’t work out.”
It will be the defense that will be looked at this week headed into week five. Coming into the Seahawks game, Detroit was ranked last in the NFL in points allowed (31.0) and wasn’t higher than 25th in many major statistical category. The 141 points that Detroit has given up in the first four games are the most in NFL history.
Campbell says, “I’ve got a ton of faith in (defensive coordinator) Aaron Glenn. I think we sit down and we look at everything together. I think more than anything it’s time for a deep dive.”
Detroit’s offense leads the NFL in scoring at 45 points a game. Most of the time, 45 points wins you a game but when a defense gives up that much it is hard to win. Goff reacts to the defensives troubles as of late saying, “You have to keep supporting them. I’ve been on the the other side of that and it’s tough. You keep supporting them. They’ll come around. I trust those coaches. I trust those players. I’ll tell you one thing, I know what happens when you don’t support them. It goes downhill real quickly.”
Detroit has already been to the bottom in 2021 and doesn’t want to return. With the strong leadership of Campbell and positive support from Goff, Detroit will continue to figure out how to overcome the faults that are stopping them from the close wins.
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