GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Detroit Lions were halfway there.
Halfway to a stunning upset.
Halfway to respectability.
Halfway to making a huge statement.
Halfway to showing how much they have grown and improved under coach Dan Campbell.
They played a tremendous half on Monday night, doing just about everything right, taking a 17-14 halftime advantage over the Green Bay Packers. It was both entertaining and encouraging, a vindication of the coaching, the offensive line and the overall plan.
Unfortunately for the Lions, they had to play the second half, too.
Which wasn’t as good. Or as perfect. Or as entertaining — at least for Lions fans.
At one point, it got downright ugly, if not familiar, as the Packers rolled to a 35-17 victory in a steady rain.
“Crap happened and it’s on us,” Campbell said. “They they didn’t have those errors. They didn’t have the fumbles. We did and that’s on us.”
But I take far more encouragement than anything negative. Because that first half showed what is possible when this team is perfect, when it follows the plan.
Now, the Lions just need to learn how to win a game.
Oh, getting a whole bunch more talent sure would make it easier.
When a plan comes together
So let’s go back to that first half, because that is what felt new. The Lions came out with a fascinating, complimentary game plan. The Lions sat back in a two-safety defense, taking away Green Bay’s explosive plays and forcing the Packers to run the ball and take short passes. That seemed wise, considering the Lions were starting two rookie corners.
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That defensive game plan paired perfectly with the offensive game plan: Try to control the clock by running the ball while relying on an efficient, play-action passing attack.
This entire organization is built on that principle: if you control the line of scrimmage, you control everything.
And for one half, it worked beautifully. The Lions looked well coached, prepared and tough as heck.
Penei Sewell started the game at left tackle — the premier spot to protect quarterback Jared Goff — and he was so outstanding that you didn’t notice him.
Shoot, the entire offensive line was impressive, controlling the line of scrimmage.
The big test came with 1:46 left in the second quarter. The game was tied, 14-14, and the Lions had to run a 2-minute drill. But again, they didn’t panic. They didn’t start chucking the ball downfield. They stayed with who they are, relying on the run, keeping Aaron Rogers off the field and moving downfield, taking an occasional deep shot.
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This is how it’s supposed to work.
Set up the pass with the run.
Just as importantly, keep Rogers off the field in the final 2 minutes.
The Lions got a field goal and the lead.
It was a vindication of the Lions’ plan, as well as an affirmation that these coaches know what they are doing, using their talent, squeezing every drop of potential out of them.
It was also a vindication of this offensive line. The Lions controlled the Line of scrimmage through most of the first half. And Goff opened the game by hitting 11 of his first 12 passes for two touchdowns, 116 yards and a 146.5 rating.
It was a stunning start for the Lions and it quieted the Lambeau Field crowd.
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When a plan falls apart
Then, reality hit.
The Lions had to be perfect to beat the Packers. But they were far from it in the second half.
Everything started to go wrong and the defense fell apart.
“We’re not allowed to make mistakes or have turnovers because we can’t rebound from those,” Campbell said.
The Lions went for it on fourth-and-1 but Goff threw incomplete. Of course, it’s ridiculously easy to second guess the decision. I loved the risk. But I would have loved it even more if they would have run it. At that moment, the Lions were controlling the line of scrimmage and averaging 4.8 yards per carry.
“We still got a one-on-one,” Campbell said. “And now you guys got to win and and it didn’t work out. So, you know, it’s easy to second guess it.”
Later, the Lions missed a huge scoring chance wen Goff didn’t see Trinity Benson wide open in the post — or perhaps, there was a miscommunication. Which is understandable. Benson has only been around for a few weeks.
Then, the Lions defense dropped its own chance when Tracy Walker couldn’t come down with an interception.
All those moments started to add up.
And when Goff started fumbling and throwing an interception, and it was all over.
“Jared will be the first one to say he’s got a he’s got to take care of ball better,” Campbell said.
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The Lions just don’t have enough talent to make mistakes and beat the Packers.
No way. Not against Aaron Rogers.
“We just kept shooting ourselves in the foot in the second half,” Goff said.
The next step will be learning how to win these games.
Which will be a heck of a lot easier when they have more talent.
But the blueprint is there.
We saw it for a half.
Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @seideljeff. To read his recent columns, go to freep.com/sports/jeff-seidel.