The Detroit Lions downed the Miami Dolphins, 19-9, on Sunday from Hard Rock Stadium. With the win, Detroit improved to 6-2 and won their fourth straight game.
For the first time this season, Jared Goff didn't throw a touchdown pass. Goff finished 17 of 25 passing for 170 yards. Jahmyr Gibbs had an 8-yard touchdown run to help the Lions separate in the second half.
Detroit now readies to head to Germany where they will meet the New England Patriots (5-4). After the win, Lions head coach Dan Campbell broke down some of his thoughts on Detroit's win over the Dolphins.
Why Detroit has turned the corner defensively
Chuck Clark picks off Malik Willis! pic.twitter.com/pjhjooUtdS
— The Lions Wire (@thelionswire) November 8, 2026
The Lions limited the Dolphins to just 228 yards of offense, 12 first downs, and three field goals. Chuck Clark had a third-quarter
interception off Malik Willis.
After a dreadful start to the season defensively, the Lions have now surrendered just 15.5 points per game across its four-game winning streak. That 15.5 points per game allowed would rank third in the NFL, and it's a massive departure from the 31.8 points per game allowed that the unit was allowing in the season's first four games.
Campbell commented on what's changed defensively.
"We've cleaned a lot up, and guys are trusting what they're being taught. They are executing it. And then with that execution comes confidence. So, their confidence has grown and their trust in one another. That's always going to help you play better. Once we tightened a few things up on the back end, our front's been playing at a pretty high level. We've been able to shut down the run and we can get to the Q. It took us a minute. We couldn't quite get there in the first half. Second half though, we started making some hay. That's the big thing. I'm proud of those guys. We use all of them. Rock and Dorse and Rakestraw and obviously McCreary and obviously our safeties. That was a huge pick by Chuck (Clark). That was big-time. Chuck's a rock for us back there and obviously BB. And Abney goes, we use every one of those DBs. They're in there. Proud of those guys," Campbell said.
Importance of Jared Goff's third-quarter connections to Jameson Williams, Amon-Ra St. Brown
31 yards to Jamo to start the drive! pic.twitter.com/3VHq05KCZ6
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 8, 2026
The Lions' 270 yards of offense were a season low. But, Goff and the Lions managed to orchestrate a pivotal 6-play, 65-yard touchdown drive that was capped by Gibbs' touchdown run.
Afterwards, Campbell discussed the importance of Goff's third-quarter connections to Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown which jumpstarted that touchdown drive. Goff started the drive with a 31-yard chunk to Jamo and then came right back with a 17-yard hookup with St. Brown.
"That was big, and look what it did. That's the thing. We finally got something. And honestly, we had some guys open early and we couldn't hold up in protection long enough. We got edged on a couple of things, and where we can be better. I thought we tightened some stuff up in the second half. Some of it is, you watch the tape, we got a lot of crossover and certainly this week, but, like Minnesota, you know, chopping those guys down, they bring it off the perimeter and Sieler's slippery inside, man. He's big. And so, they're running some of these games, and it took us a minute. Those guys have got, they've got speed now. They've got speed on the perimeter and it's a little different. They play hard, and it just took us a minute to get in it and figure a few things out. But, once we did, we tightened it up," Campbell said.
On Derrick Moore's big day, Detroit's defensive line
The rook got 'em. Derrick Moore with the timely sack of Malik Willis! pic.twitter.com/0Fsf8MKIbR
— The Lions Wire (@thelionswire) November 8, 2026
The Lions' defensive line continues to be a major bright spot. Detroit sacked Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis three times, including two sacks from rookie EDGE Derrick Moore.
Campbell reacted to D Moore's big day and what the Lions have up front defensively.
"That's what we're about. That's why we got these guys, because we think they can help us and they bring something. I mentioned this before. D Moore, with every rep, he's going to get better. That's how he is. And so, the more reps he gets, the better he gets. He got a pretty good dose today and he's improving. That's important. He stepped up for us. Hutch is Hutch. He does what he does and he uses up a lot of resources for their offense, so you've got to win. (McNeill) won today, D Moore won today. I thought Sky was (good). Man, he got after it today. There was some stuff just out there effort wise that I was so impressed with. Running the quarterback down. Sky did it, Tyleik did it. Man, I love the way those guys hustle up front. We can get an edge, we can stop the run, and we hustle, man. We run out of the stack. That's big time. Kacy's doing a hell of a job with those guys," Campbell said.
Detroit's defensive line having star power on the interior and on the EDGE
Alim McNeill blows it up, Derrick Moore finishes it off. pic.twitter.com/ZzDcILIYeA
— The Lions Wire (@thelionswire) November 8, 2026
Alim McNeill had Detroit's other sack of Willis. McNeill also directly led to Moore's second sack on the day. The 6-foot-2, 310-pounder was incredibly disruptive on Sunday.
Afterwards, Campbell talked about what it means to the Lions' defense to have a pair of game wreckers in Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill.
Campbell said McNeill is playing the best football of his career.
"I mean, you see it. You see it firsthand. It's a difference maker. We've got an edge and we've got a guy in the middle who can get after it. And we've got more than that by the way. I mean, we've got a little bit of everything. But, those two guys, they do require resources. You have to take notice of where those two guys are at, and Mac is taking advantage of some of these where, at some point in time if you can give one of those guys a one-on-one somehow, some way, they've got to win. And they're winning. Mac is winning right now. And there again, I'm just proud of all those guys, because, man, they get after the run game and then they earn the right to get after the quarterback. That's how they treat it and that's what they're doing right now. Mac is huge. He's playing some of the best football. He's playing the best football I've ever seen him play. He's locked in, he's wired right, he's one of our veteran guys. It's hard to believe. We had all these pups and they're full-grown, man. They're our dudes, and they're playing at a high level right now," Campbell said.
On executing the fake punt
It's a fake! Jack Fox with a bullet to Tay Martin to move the chains. pic.twitter.com/snVz2AK9Gf
— The Lions Wire (@thelionswire) November 8, 2026
Lions punter Jack Fox showcased his quarterbacking background with this laser to Tay Martin on a 4th-and-7 fake punt early in the second quarter.
The Dolphins would return the favor later on, executing their own successful fake punt early in the fourth quarter.
Now, the Dolphins with a fake! Play was wide open. pic.twitter.com/QOwgGxEq0t
— The Lions Wire (@thelionswire) November 8, 2026
Campbell talked about the Lions' successful fake and tipped his cap to Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley.
"We just felt like it was the right time. As always, we practice a lot of stuff and so it just felt like it was the right time. And really there on that one, I probably should have gone safe when they hit us on that. It was a good call by them. We'd just scored. I know they got all three timeouts, two scores, eight minutes, whatever that was. I'll take that. But, it was a good job by them. That certainly wasn't on our guys. That was on me. But, listen, sometimes that's the way it goes. You're trying to get (DeAndre) Carter a return, and they got us. Good for them," Campbell said.
For more Lions coverage, follow us on X, @TheLionsWire, and give our Facebook page a like. Follow Josh on X, @JoshOnLions
This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Lions vs Dolphins: Dan Campbell's postgame notebook
