Getty Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff appeared to challenge his teammates while speaking to the media on November 7th.
Head coach Dan Campbell expressed that there are many areas where the Detroit Lions could be better in the second half of the season. Lions quarterback Jared Goff agreed and appeared to challenge his teammates while speaking to the media on November 7th.
“I think there’s a lot of meat on the bone, both offensively and defensively,” Goff told reporters. “I’m sure they would say the same thing if we thought maybe the game against Carolina was a complete game, but other than that I don’t know if we really had one.
“And how do we get closer to that when the season is coming to an end and there’s no reason not to start this week and try to put together a complete game this week.”
In the game Goff mentioned against the Carolina Panthers, the Lions won 42-24.
This is Detroit’s only win this season by more than two touchdowns. However, the Lions have an average lead of 12.2 points.
QB Jared Goff and Lions looking for “a complete game”
Good managers almost always agree with each other. That’s certainly true for Campbell and Goff this week.
Campbell stressed on Nov. 6 that the Lions need to improve their turnover margin and red zone offense. Campbell scored those points despite the team having a 6-2 record and ranking in the top five in both offense and defense.
Goff reiterated the same ideas on November 7th.
“There’s a lot of good to be had, but there’s also a lot of things we can work on,” Goff told reporters. “And I think (head coach Dan Campbell) pointed that out, the red zone, and we’re just going to continue to take better care of the ball. That’s what you always try to do and that’s what will continue to be at the forefront.”
The Lions scored just one touchdown on five red zone possessions in Week 8 against the Las Vegas Raiders. If they had found the end zone on just one more of those occasions, the Lions would have beaten the Raiders by more than two touchdowns.
Goff started the season with a historic streak of no interceptions, which he continued in Week 2. However, he ended that streak with a pick-six in the loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Goff also caught an interception for a touchdown against the Raiders.
The Lions have an even turnover margin of 0. That likely needs to improve for Detroit to become a true Super Bowl contender.
Since 2016, all but two teams that secured a Super Bowl berth had a positive revenue margin during the regular season.
Three Lions starters before returning?
Better execution will likely help the Lions reduce giveaways and score more touchdowns in the red zone. When there is more talent on the field, the likelihood of better execution increases.
Running back David Montgomery, center Frank Ragnow and guard Jonah Jackson all returned to practice on November 7th. All three could play in Week 10 against the Los Angeles Chargers.
“Yeah, I think so,” Campbell said of the three players returning Nov. 6. “They have been following the right trend for some time. I definitely hope to get it.”
Campbell praised starting right back Graham Glasgow on November 8, saying he had earned the right to remain the team’s starting right back going forward. But Jackson should assume the starting left guard role when healthy.
If Ragnow also returns to center, the Lions will have their healthiest offensive line in weeks.
Montgomery should form a dynamic duo with rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs for the remainder of the season. Gibbs rushed for 152 yards and had 37 receiving yards against the Raiders.
Dave Holcomb is a sports reporter who covers the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions for Heavy.com. Originally from Pittsburgh, Holcomb has covered college and professional sports for media outlets such as Fansided, Rotowire and Yardbarker. More about Dave Holcomb