Lions defense restores its roar in win over reigning Super Bowl champs
The Chiefs even have a manner of discovering their rhythm as the sport goes on. Nonetheless, they could not discover any consistency on offense whereas the Lions started harassing Mahomes. The Lions did not permit Kansas Metropolis to transform any of its seven third-down alternatives in the second half (Kansas Metropolis was five-of-seven in that class in the primary half). Even when Mahomes trotted onto the sector with just below seven minutes remaining in the competition, the Chiefs offense went nowhere.
This sport felt prefer it may’ve been a shootout earlier than it began. Jones was nonetheless holding out to land a large new contract from the Chiefs whereas the Lions’ defense was relying closely on an untested defense with a revamped secondary. The distinction was that Detroit actually was ready to again up all the pieces Campbell has been preaching about this bunch. He prides his squad on its psychological toughness, and this was the form of sport when youthful groups often discover methods to lose.
“I really feel like there’s some give and take,” mentioned Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone. “There was some situational soccer that we may’ve performed higher however when it got here to crunch time, we had been in a position to make the performs and play sound defense. That is probably the most encouraging factor. I felt like we had been dominant at occasions, however we might be even higher once we clear up some issues.”
Gardner-Johnson wasn’t so diplomatic in his evaluation of the sport. He was one of many key offseason additions for Detroit, a ball-hawking security who performed with Philadelphia in final yr’s Super Bowl and a gifted New Orleans Saints group earlier than that. He talked concerning the significance of being bodily in this contest and never backing down from the Chiefs. He additionally emphasised that this is not going to be the identical outdated Lions group, a reference to a franchise that has solely made three playoff appearances this decade.
“Winners know what winners appear to be,” Gardner-Johnson mentioned. “And this group is filled with winners. Being on groups which were profitable, I am simply glad to be a part of a group that desires to go on the market and get a W. Regardless of who’s on the sector, what’s on the clock or who’s on the opposite aspect, these guys are going to combat. We’re all going to combat.”
The Lions revealed as a lot on Thursday night time. They got here into the house of the league’s most dominant group in latest reminiscence and sensed the chance to do one thing spectacular. They fell behind early, then rallied and finally discovered a rhythm pounding the soccer late. None of that occurs if their defense does not stiffen and take over in the second half.
Campbell did make the purpose that this is just one win. He added that he was going to take pleasure in it for a pair days and transfer on. The truth is that the way in which a group wins usually says lots about what it’s able to doing. This one instructed us one thing that was unattainable to overlook: The Lions really are able to making good on all their promise.
