Dan Campbell has identified the Lions' biggest issues, and it's the difference between being good and unstoppable
The Detroit Lions bye week is over, and they had a good first quarter of the season, starting 5-2. Right now, they have the first-ranked defense in terms of DVOA and the fifth-ranked offense. Things look like they're going pretty well, but there are two problems. One problem that we identified is not scoring after forcing turnovers, and the other one comes right from the head coach.
The Lions are having a lot of problems converting on third down
"We are not getting the plays that we normally get because we are not converting like we should on third down." Campbell said Monday. "Third down is the most glaring thing right now. We have to be better. It's right there. That's the thing, Johnny (John Morton) and I have looked at. That's the big focus for us."
Campbell went on to say that's not just the third-and-longs that the Lions are having trouble with. They're struggling to convert on third-and-manageable, too. Third-and-manable being that 3rd-and-4 through 4rd-and-6 region.
He's right. There has been a stark drop-off in this category. The Lions finished the season last year, converting on 46.9% of their third-down attempts. That was fourth in the league. This year, they're only converting on 37.6%. That's 21st in the league. In the manageable department that Campbell was talking about, the Lions are converting 47% of their plays there. That's down from 59% last year.
To still be 5-2 is a sign that this is a really good football team. If they're able to get this fixed, which is not a huge thing that takes weeks and weeks to fix, they're likely going to be able to be an extremely dangerous football team down the second half stretch. A perfect time to have all your ducks in a row.
Lions to Host Minnesota Vikings Following Bye Week
Campbell mentioned the Vikings right after talking about teams that are in the race with the Lions. But on November 2, the Lions will have the opportunity to put a lot of distant between themselves and the Vikings.
Minnesota has lost two straight and sits in last place of the NFC North. With a win, the Lions would move three games in front of the Vikings, who finished second in the division last year.
The Green Bay Packers lead the NFC North and have already defeated the Lions. But the Lions trail by only half a game, and the two teams will meet for a rematch on Thanksgiving in Detroit.
After hosting the Vikings, the Lions will go on the road for consecutive matchups in the NFC East. First, Detroit will visit the Washington Commanders and then the Philadelphia Eagles. Those two squads were the final two teams standing in the NFC last year.
Washington upset the Lions in the NFC divisional round last January.
The Lions will have a third straight NFC East matchup against the New York Giants before then facing the Packers on Thanksgiving.
Browns Send Message on ‘Frustrated’ Myles Garrett After Outburst
As the Browns followed up a promising effort against the Dolphins in Week 7 with an overall disaster in Week 8 against the Patriots, it was clear that Cleveland’s old pal–frustration–had returned with a vengeance. For star edge rusher Myles Garrett, in the midst of a career day with five sacks of budding MVP candidate Drake Maye, the frustration was especially poignant.
Garrett wants to win, badly. At 30 years old and in his ninth season, he has just three games of playoff experience behind him, playing for an organization that has struggled at just about every level. It was only nine months ago that Garrett demanded a trade, seeking a place where he could compete for a Super Bowl. The Browns gave him a whopping new $160 million contract, persuading him to stay.
But the now 2-6 reality of this team has settled in again, and in the final two minutes of Sunday’s loss, Garrett was seen throwing his helmet in frustration and later kneeling by himself on the sideline, away from the rest of the team.
Browns Are ‘All Frustrated’
The outburst was not lost on Browns fans, observers and even coaches. Head coach Kevin Stefasnki was asked about Garrett’s helmet-toss on Monday. His message: It’s time for leaders to show “resolve.”
“We’re all frustrated,” Stefanski said. “Obviously, in those moments, we want to make sure it doesn’t get the best of us. But with that frustration comes a resolve, and I know Myles and I know him as a leader, I know the leaders in this football team will show that mental, will show that resolve.”
Myles Garrett Wanted to be on the Field
Garrett had conceded he was frustrated in that moment. It’s obvious that the losing is wearing on him, though in the end, the decision to return to the Browns and take the major contract was his. Because of their cap and quarterback situation, the Browns are stuck in their mediocrity, and Garrett is bearing that burden.
Garrett indicated that he did not like being on the bench down the stretch, even though the game was out of reach.
“Frustrated,” he said. “I want to win. No matter how much time is on the clock, they got their starters in, there’s a chance we can win, I want to be a part of that. I don’t care how dire the situation looks. I want to try to make something happen, so I hate coming out in a situation, I hate that kind of inevitability. And not being able to do anything about it.”
Browns, Myles Garrett Heading Into Bye Week–And NFL Trade Deadline
Stefanski said the hope is that the Browns can go into the coming week–their bye week–and regroup, with the promise of a better run in the second half of the season. The NFL’s trade deadline is next Tuesday, and it’s not clear whether Cleveland will move any of its players. Certainly, they’re not dealing Garrett.
Yes, there is frustration at 2-6. But he wants players to direct that frustration to improvement.
“I mean, you are what your record says you are, so we got to own it – that’s where we are,” he said. “But we’re excited about the challenge in front of us. Again, guys will take a breath this week, but then you got nine games coming up, five of them at our place. …
“I think it’s really so specific to all of us. We know we have a job to do – the fun in this business is winning, so, there’s the frustration that comes with losing a game, is very real. But how you channel that and how you, like you said, use it as fuel moving forward, I think is really important.”
