Last year, the Detroit Lions entered the bye week with a solid 5-2 record coming off of a big win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This year, the Lions are 3-2 at the bye with a couple of narrow victories over the Jets and Saints and a couple of decisive losses to the Bills and Panthers.
Despite what it looks like on the surface, Campbell said that he actually feels more optimistic about this year’s team.
“We went in (last year), and I don’t remember what we were, but we had just won, and it seems pretty
good, but there were some things that you could feel a little bit,” Campbell said. “In some regards, I feel better going into this bye than I even I did last year, because I know we’re ascending and we’re young and we’re growing, and that’s exciting.”
Last year, there were plenty of warning signs with Detroit’s 5-2 start that would ultimately result in a 4-6 finish. None were clearer than a running game that wasn’t nearly as efficient as it looked on the surface. At the bye week, the Lions averaged 4.5 yards per carry (13th) and had 10 touchdowns (second), but posted just a 40.3% success rate (19th). In short, a handful of huge runs were boosting their numbers.
This year, it’s the opposite. They’re lacking the huge, explosive runs, but they’re much more efficient on a down-to-down basis. They’re averaging a very similar 4.4 yards per carry (12th) and have eight touchdowns (t-fifth), but the Lions’ 46.2% rushing success rate ranks fourth-best.
Detroit made a ton of investments in their offensive line this offseason, moving on from older players like Taylor Decker and Graham Glasgow. That mantle has been handed to Penei Sewell (26 years old), Christian Mahogany (26), Juice Scruggs (26), Tate Ratledge (25), and rookie Blake Miller (22). When free agent addition Cade Mays returns to the lineup this week, he’ll be the oldest starter on the front at 27 years old.
It’s not just the offensive line, either. Detroit is now leaning more heavily on other key, young players like running back Jahmyr Gibbs (24), defensive tackle Tyleik Williams (23), rookie defensive tackle Skyler Gill-Howard (24), and linebacker Jack Campbell (26). It’s only a matter of time before rookie defenders Derrick Moore and Jimmy Rolder get an increased role. And don’t forget the return of Brian Branch, who will turn 25 this week.
With that youth comes potential. These players are not just still growing into their NFL careers, but they’re building chemistry together. The key for Detroit is to keep their trajectory headed in the right direction.
“Sometimes you feel like you’re topped off and maybe you’re beginning to deteriorate because of issues, worn down, age, whatever it is,” Campbell said of last year. “So [this year] is exciting. I do feel like we’re on the rise here a little bit. We’ve just got to keep getting better. We’ve got to keep testing ourselves. And, look, we’re in for the long haul now, and it’s really about to get geared up. The competition is about to really raise up another level, and it starts with Green Bay.”
