GLENDALE, Ariz. — Following a gritty 20-13 win at State Farm Stadium on Sunday, Detroit Lions extensive receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was proud of the victory however famous an space for enchancment to get to their acknowledged purpose of a Tremendous Bowl.
“Our protection is enjoying nice. I really feel like we, as an offense, obtained to place extra factors on the board,” St. Brown mentioned after the win over the Arizona Cardinals. “I do know it sounds sort of loopy, however we really feel like as an offense, 20 factors is sweet, however in that kind of recreation we have got to place up [more]. … It is good to get a win, however we really feel like as an offense we will get quite a bit higher.
“A variety of room for enchancment and we’ll get higher. I do not suppose we’re too nervous, however we have got to maintain bettering.”
The Lions (2-1) posted their ninth straight win following a loss and have not misplaced consecutive video games since 2022. St. Brown ended with a team-high seven receptions for 75 yards and a landing. Coach Dan Campbell mentioned the id of this yr’s group after the Lions received their season opener towards the Los Angeles Rams in extra time after which bounced again from the Sept. 15 loss to Tampa Bay to safe their first highway victory.
“What I do know of this group and what we all know of one another could be very a lot intact and we’re a fairly resilient group, and that’ll all the time be a part of who we’re, I consider,” Campbell mentioned. “As a result of we have now the proper guys, proper coaches, proper gamers.”
By three weeks, nonetheless, the offense hasn’t taken off as anticipated and is averaging 20.7 factors per recreation, which ranks thirteenth within the NFL. The group’s 38.5% crimson zone effectivity ranks twenty fifth within the league.
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Throughout the Week 2 loss to the Buccaneers, the Lions went 1-for-7 within the crimson zone. These six crimson zone drives with no landing had been probably the most by a Lions group in a recreation since 1981. That rotated towards the Cardinals, with working backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery each scoring touchdowns, after a degree of emphasis all through the week was to appropriate the problem.
In 2023, the Lions completed as a top-five offense, averaging 27.12 factors whereas posting the third-best crimson zone effectivity (64.1%) throughout their run to the NFC Championship Sport.
Contained in the guests locker room Sunday after the win, members of the Lions’ offense might sense the room for progress.
“There’s all the time going to be issues to wash up and I do not suppose we have performed a whole recreation but as an offense, and I do not suppose that is any secret,” left sort out Taylor Decker mentioned. “However we’re doing a little issues properly and I believe we’re bettering in areas. I believe the sky is the restrict for this group if we hold enjoying complementary soccer.”
Veteran quarterback Jared Goff accomplished 18 of 23 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns however threw his fourth interception of the younger season in Arizona. Goff’s 4 interceptions are his most in his group’s first three video games of a season in his profession, per ESPN Analysis. Final yr, he did not throw his fourth interception till his seventh recreation.
In the meantime, the Lions’ protection almost pitched a second-half shutout towards the Cardinals, permitting solely three factors.
Now, the offense is trying to catch up, however the gamers had been nonetheless joyful to stroll away with the victory.
“I believe it’s resiliency and the flexibility to adapt, too, and [to] play completely different sorts of video games, win in numerous methods, and that was all the time our manner final yr as properly,” Goff mentioned. “I understand how Dan [Campbell] needs to be is a number of, have the flexibility to win it by means of the air, by means of the bottom and by our protection. At the moment was sort of a mixture of all that.”
