Dan Campbell walked into the bye week seeing more than the 3-2 record. He sees a team that’s still climbing.
That’s a different feeling than what Detroit had a year ago, when the Lions were 5-2 after a win over Tampa Bay but eventually slid to a 4-6 finish. On paper, this year’s group has the lesser record and two lopsided defeats to the Bills and Panthers. Campbell, though, said the vibe inside the building is better.
“We went in (last year), and I don’t remember what we were, but we had just won, and it seems pretty good, but there were some things that you could feel a little bit,” Campbell said. “In some regards, I feel better going into this bye than I even I did last year, because I know we’re ascending and we’re young and we’re growing, and that’s exciting.”
The clearest reason for that optimism shows up in the run game. A season ago, Detroit’s rushing numbers looked strong enough at the bye, with 4.5 yards per carry and 10 touchdowns, but the production was carried by big plays more than consistent movement. The Lions’ 40.3% success rate told a different story.
This year, the explosive runs haven’t been as frequent, but the efficiency is cleaner. Detroit is averaging 4.4 yards per carry and has eight rushing touchdowns, while its 46.2% rushing success rate ranks fourth in the league.
That change lines up with how the roster has been rebuilt. The Lions spent the offseason reworking the offensive line and moving on from veterans like Taylor Decker and Graham Glasgow.
In their place, the front is now built around Penei Sewell, Christian Mahogany, Juice Scruggs, Tate Ratledge, and rookie Blake Miller. Cade Mays, a free agent addition, will be the oldest starter on the line when he returns this week at 27.
The youth movement extends beyond the offensive line. Detroit is relying more heavily on young contributors such as Jahmyr Gibbs, Tyleik Williams, rookie defensive tackle Skyler Gill-Howard, and linebacker Jack Campbell. Rookie defenders Derrick Moore and Jimmy Rolder are expected to see a bigger role before long, and Brian Branch is also set to return, with his 25th birthday coming this week.
Campbell believes that age profile matters because it comes with room to grow, and because the group is developing together instead of wearing down.
“Sometimes you feel like you’re topped off and maybe you’re beginning to deteriorate because of issues, worn down, age, whatever it is,” Campbell said of last year. “So [this year] is exciting.
I do feel like we’re on the rise here a little bit. We’ve just got to keep getting better.
We’ve got to keep testing ourselves. And, look, we’re in for the long haul now, and it’s really about to get geared up.
The competition is about to really raise up another level, and it starts with Green Bay.”
In Other News...
Why The Lions Contender Hype Suddenly Looks A Lot More Real
Through six weeks, the Lions have started to look less like a team riding early-season momentum and more like one with a real path to staying in the NFC race. The numbers back up the eye test, too, with the offense and defense both showing meaningful improvement from where this group has been in recent seasons. Detroit has been efficient enough to keep pace with almost anybody, and the way the unit is functioning now suggests the ceiling is higher than many expected back in September.
A big part of the optimism is what still appears to be coming. The defensive front has shown more bite, the secondary has steadied in stretches, and the team is set up to get healthier after the bye with key pieces coming back into the mix. Add in a remaining schedule that does not look overwhelming, and the case for the Lions as a legitimate contender suddenly feels a lot less theoretical. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Suddenly Face A Packers Threat That Looks Much Worse
Green Bay has spent much of its recent stretch looking like a team trying to find its footing on the ground while leaning harder on the parts of its offense that can still stress a defense. The Packers have battled inconsistency in the run game, but they remain dangerous in the vertical passing game, and their safety play has given them a sturdy backbone as they head into a matchup with Detroit.
For the Lions, that creates a very specific kind of problem. Detroit has struggled to handle deep shots, and the Packers have shown they can punish teams in those areas while also targeting the middle of the field with confidence. A few personnel changes could shape how much balance Green Bay can bring back into the offense, and that is what makes this matchup worth watching closely as the week unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Campbell Sees Something Even Scarier In Penei Sewell
Penei Sewell has already built a rsum that would satisfy almost any lineman in the league, but the Lions still believe there is more room to grow. Since Detroit drafted him in 2021, Sewell has handled the move from right tackle to left tackle with ease, and coach Dan Campbell continues to talk about him like a player still on the rise rather than one who has peaked.
That is what makes Sewell such a fascinating piece of Detroits foundation. He is already a four-time Pro Bowler and three-time NFL All-Pro, yet both he and Campbell see more improvement ahead, and Sewell has pointed to his daily battles with Aidan Hutchinson as a big reason he keeps pushing his level higher. For a Lions offense and team identity built on toughness up front, that kind of internal competition is exactly the sort of thing that can keep getting scarier. [Read more 🡒]