By George B. Eichorn
The hits just keep on coming for the Detroit Lions. And coach Dan Campbell has his club on a roll.
The Lions are 6-1 on the season; their best start since 1956. That team finished at 9-3. This year’s Lions have the best record in the NFC and have won five in a row.
In a game that surprised a Ford Field sell-out crowd and regional FOX Sports audience the Lions poured it on over the Tennessee Titans, 52-14. Detroit led 35-14 at the half. Yet the Lions compiled a meager 61 passing yards for the entire game. Detroit’s running game produced 164 yards and 2 touchdowns. Special teams were superb plus the Lions took advantage of four Titans turnovers to win this game going away.
Jahmyr Gibbs had 11 carries for 127 yards and 1 score while David Montgomery had 9 carries and 33 yards with a touchdown. Gibbs broke from the Titans defense – and got some great Lions blocking – in a 70-yard TD dash. Not since 1934 has a Lions rusher recorded consecutive games with 45 or more yards; Dutch Clark was the lone owner of that bit of history.
Lions return specialist Kalif Raymond registered an unusual touchdown double – scoring on a thrilling 90 yard punt return and scoring again on a catch as a wide receiver. He totaled 5 punt returns for 190 return yards (38 yard average) and 2 receptions from quarterback Jared Goff for 14 yards in the victory. Raymond would later be named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week by the NFL. This is the third to win the weekly award. Punter Jack won it in Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals and kicker Jake Bates won in Week 7 after drilling a 44-yard game-winning field goal to beat the Minnesota Vikings.
Goff is number 1 in passing efficiency with a 74.1 completion percentage. He was announced as the NFC Player of the Month for October. He turned his ankle in the game. Campbell brought in backup Hendon Hooker, 2-for-3 and 6 yards passing.
LIONS NOTES: Detroit ranks eighth in total yards rushing; 15th in total receiving yards and first in punt return yards with 19 for 315 yards and 1 TD. They ranked second in punting with Fox at a lofty 52.5 average, trailing only the Las Vegas Raiders punter at 52.9.
The Lions are 7-0 when both Gibbs and Montgomery score touchdowns in the same game; a streak that started last season.
Kicker Bates has made each of the first 11 field goal attempts of his career. This is the most consecutive field goals a player has had to start a Lions career.
Reach George Eichorn at geichorn@yahoo.com or @Sandgsports99 on X (formerly Twitter). Order his book:
Detroit’s Sports Broadcasters: On the Air: Eichorn, George B, Introduction Harwell, Ernie.
