The Detroit Lions pulled off a stunning upset over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, thanks to a bold decision by head coach Dan Campbell in the final minutes of the game.
Campbell trusts his offense to seal the deal
With the score tied at 34-34 and 1:47 left on the clock, the Lions faced a fourth-and-2 situation at the Chargers’ 26-yard line. Most coaches would have opted for a field goal attempt to take the lead, but Campbell had other plans. He decided to keep his offense on the field and go for the first down, putting the game in the hands of quarterback Jared Goff and his receivers.
“I wanted to finish with the ball in our hands. I liked where we were offensively. We were playing good, and Goff was in a good spot. I felt like that was the right thing to do. Some say it’s a boneheaded move and some say it’s not and I made the decision. And I stick by that decision,” Campbell said after the game.
Goff rewarded his coach’s faith by finding rookie tight end Sam LaPorta over the middle for a six-yard gain and a first down at the Chargers’ 20-yard line. The conversion allowed the Lions to run the clock down and end the game on a 41-yard field goal by Riley Patterson as time expired.
Lions’ running back duo shines in shootout
The Lions’ offense was firing on all cylinders on Sunday, racking up 200 yards on the ground and 323 yards through the air. The running back duo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs was especially impressive, combining for 193 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
Montgomery, who returned from a rib injury that sidelined him for two games, had a 75-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and averaged 9.7 yards per carry. Gibbs, the rookie sensation who was drafted 12th overall this year, had two one-yard rushing touchdowns and added 35 yards receiving.
“This is part of the vision coming to life, man. Is those two back there, the two-headed monster,” Campbell said of his backfield.
Lions’ defense bends but does not break
The Lions’ defense had a tough task of containing the Chargers’ potent offense, led by quarterback Justin Herbert and wide receiver Keenan Allen. The Chargers scored on five straight possessions in the second half and amassed 421 yards of total offense.
However, the Lions’ defense also made some crucial plays to keep the game close. They forced two turnovers, including a fumble recovery by linebacker Jamie Collins in the fourth quarter that set up the Lions’ game-tying touchdown drive. They also held the Chargers to a field goal after a long drive that ate up most of the third quarter.
The Lions’ defense also benefited from some missed opportunities by the Chargers, who failed to convert a fourth-and-1 at the Lions’ 18-yard line in the first quarter and missed a 51-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter.
Lions snap losing streak, improve to 2-8
The Lions’ win over the Chargers was their first since Week 4, when they beat the Chicago Bears 24-21. They had lost six straight games since then, including four by one score or less. The Lions improved their record to 2-8, while the Chargers fell to 6-4.
The Lions will look to build on their momentum next week, when they host the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field. The Chargers will try to bounce back from their disappointing loss, when they travel to Denver to face the Broncos.
