GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The Detroit Lions proved complementary football is the key to winning games. Despite putting up only 225 yards of total offense on Sunday, the Lions blew past the Titans 52-14.
Head coach Dan Campbell addressed that at the start of his postgame press conference.
“We did not play our cleanest ball. We really didn’t,” Campbell said. “However, when you have four takeaways on defense, when you go five for five in the red zone, when you have the returns that our special teams unit had, punt return and kick return, you can get a lot of production and things swing your way.”
After three straight dominant games, quarterback Jared Goff was held to a pedestrian 12 for 15 for 85 yards. He did score three touchdowns, but also took four sacks on the day.
The Lions took advantage of several big plays to strike for points, leaving the yardage looking lopsided.
They scored their first touchdown after Trevor Nowaske, a Saginaw Valley State alum, intercepted a Mason Rudolph pass, setting the Lions up at the Tennessee 23-yard-line. On the first play following a Titans score, Jahmyr Gibbs broke an off-tackle run for 70 yards and a touchdown.
In the second quarter alone, the Lions scored three consecutive touchdowns with drives of 25 yards, 12 yards and 22 yards. The first was thanks to a 72-yard kick return by Khalil Dorsey. On the second, Kerby Joseph picked off a pass and nearly returned it for a score. On the third, Kalif Raymond returned a Titans punt 64 yards to once again put the Lions on the cusp of the red zone.
He wasn’t done. Raymond returned Tennessee’s first punt of the second half 90 yards for a touchdown, then scored on a 7-yard pass set up by yet another short field after Amik Robertson forced a fumble that was recovered at the Tennessee 26.
“It was a hell of a team win. Once again, this team knows how to complement itself. When all three units are humming, we’re pretty dang good,” Campbell said.
The Lions (6-1) will put their five-game win streak on the line next Sunday against NFC North rival Green Bay. Kickoff for the game is set for 4:25 p.m. The game will be televised on Fox.