Allen Park — Here are four observations after having a night to ponder the Detroit Lions’ 34-23 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
First down
Quarterback Jared Goff has turned an important corner that’s played a critical role in Detroit’s recent success. After dealing with turnover issues early in the season, almost no one is doing a better job than taking care of the football in recent weeks.
Sure, there’s always an element of luck involved with these kinds of runs — think about the ball that slipped through the defenders hands on the Lions’ opening drive last week — but Goff is in the midst of a career-long stretch without an interception. It’s now been five games, and 181 passes since the Lions quarterback was picked off. Only Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence has a longer, active streak.
There are so many factors that go into something like this: Healthy pass catchers, good blocking, well-timed play calls and all-important decision-making from the quarterback themselves. But when asked what’s keyed Goff turning the corner, coach Dan Campbell brought up another factor that might have otherwise been overlooked.
“I think to this point, with some of the things early (in the season), I think he was putting a lot of pressure on himself to try to make, like really stressing to make plays,” Campbell said. “I mean, early in the year, we were trying to outscore some people, and I feel like we’re in a much better place defensively than we were and that has a direct correlation with the way he plays.”
For all the talk of a ground game or the tight end position being a quarterback’s best friend, Campbell is quick to remind us that a reliable defense actually makes the signal-caller’s job far easier. And with the Lions allowing about two fewer touchdowns per game than earlier in the year, when they were on pace for one of the worst defensive seasons in NFL history, it’s also positively impacting Goff’s production.
Asked how much that turnaround has meant to his own performance, Goff confirmed Campbell’s assessment. For example, he said if he’s facing a third-and-10 throw and his first three reads are covered, he’s increasingly comfortable throwing a check down, even if it means the drive might end in a punt.
“You’re not thinking that you have to throw things into windows that aren’t there because of how many points you think you need to score or how many conversions you think you need on third down,” Goff said. “You’re really playing the game and taking what they give you is the best way to put it. And we’ve done that the last handful of weeks. We’ve trusted our defense, and they’ve played some of their best ball these last handful of weeks and it’s a lot of fun. Now, is everything perfect? No. Are we perfect on offense? No, but like the trust that we have in each other right now, the confidence that we have in each other is greater than all of that.”
Not to get too far ahead of things, given the Lions are in the thick of a playoff hunt, but this might be the clearest reminder yet the Lions need to invest heavily in the defense this offseason.
Second down
Well before the calendar flipped to December, it was easy to chalk up the DJ Chark signing as a low-level bust, another in a series of underwhelming free-agency additions for general manager Brad Holmes.
We say low level because the Lions didn’t invest a ton in the former Pro Bowl receiver, relatively speaking. The one-year, $10 million pact was a prove-it deal for a player coming off injury. So if it didn’t work out, there’d be no long-term ramifications.
Through the first three months of the season, it sure looked like it wasn’t going to work out. Chark missed six contests with an ankle injury, and in the five games he played, he caught just nine passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
But the switch has flipped the past couple of games, starting with last week’s revenge performance against his former team, the Jacksonville Jaguars. Chark has caught 11 of the 13 balls thrown his way in the two wins, for a team-high 192 yards. And that production has been fueled by a pair of deep shots, including a 48-yard touchdown Sunday against the Vikings.
This is what Holmes envisioned with the signing, and while it took a minute for it to come together, it’s really help unlock the potency of Detroit’s offense. In fact, you could argue Chark’s mere presence on the field brings value because of his ability to stretch and stress a defense. In the seven games he’s played, the team is averaging 31.1 points, compared to 20.6 in the game he didn’t suit up.
It raises an interesting question: Should the Lions try to re-sign Chark this offseason?
Within the answer, we have to acknowledge that there’s continued risk associated with the ankle. But, when healthy, he’s clearly been a game-changer. And the idea of pairing his speed with rookie Jameson Williams is appealing. Just look how the Miami Dolphins have been able to stress opponents with a pair of outside speedsters in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. And once you factor in Amon-Ra St. Brown, you might as well let your imagination run wild about the full-season potential of the offense.
In terms of what it would cost to retain Chark, it’s tough to project. It’s probably still in the that $10 million-per-season range, but if you make it a multi-year deal, you can lower the cap hit in 2023 and build in some financial outs after next season if the durability issues persist.
Obviously, the team could try to find an alternative in the draft, but this regime has shown a propensity of retaining veterans who fit. Culturally, Chark epitomizes what the Lions are about, and from a production standout, he’s starting to answer that bell, as well.
Third down
Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn likes to joke, telling local media to stop trying to put rookie James Houston in the Hall of Fame. But, seriously, what’s his jacket size? I’m asking for a friend in Canton.
The sixth-round pick continues to produce as his role continues to grow. In three weeks, he’s gone from five snaps to 12 to 21 in the win over Minnesota. And in each outing, he’s produced at least one sack, with each of the past two coming at the end of the first half, ending scoring threats. So not only is he producing, he’s producing at critical moments.
Simply put, it’s special. And after taking a jab at Holmes’ hit rate in free agency, we can’t deny the success the GM has had mining talent in the later stages of the draft.
There have been all kinds of fun comps rolling in for Houston in my Twitter timeline, including someone drawing parallels to James Harrison, the five-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion. See, Aaron, it’s not just the media who are getting carried away.
What’s clear is Houston is a highly effective pass rusher. The Vikings were having all kinds of troubles slowing him down, and probably got away with a few holds in the process. The question becomes whether Houston can develop into a quality three-down defender, similarly adept when playing the run. That’s something that doesn’t require an immediate answer, but ultimately will shape his long-term potential in this league.
But for now, enjoy the ride. In three games and a measly 38 snaps, Houston is second to only teammate Aidan Hutchinson for sacks by a rookie this year.
Fourth down
Detroit’s ground game is in the midst of one of the most productive seasons in recent memory, but for everything that’s been going well during the team’s recent 5-1 stretch, they haven’t been particularly efficient running the ball.
Taking away C.J. Moore’s 42-yard gain to convert a fake punt, the Lions are averaging 110 rushing yards per game during the past six weeks, and, even worse, 3.5 yards per carry. Across a full season, that would rank 31st in the league, ahead of only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Obviously, the struggles on the ground haven’t impacted the Lions ability to rack up points and victories, but against an opponent like the Jets, on the road, the issues could be magnified. In terms of opposing passer rating, next week’s foe is the second-best in the league. Add in a chilly forecast and some wind and the Lions are likely going to need more backfield production to keep the good times rolling.
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @Justin_Rogers