The Detroit Lions entered their Week 15 matchup against the Denver Broncos reeling a little bit for the first time all season. They had lost two out of their last three games and their defensive production has slipped from earlier in the season.
Needing to stop their skid in the worst way, the Lions put forth a dominant performance on Satruday night. Detroit defeated Denver 42-17, getting them back on track and improving their record to 10-4 on the season.
Because the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Minnesota Vikings earlier on Saturday, the Lions now have a three-game lead in the NFC North with three games to play. But, there is work left to be done, as the division rivals will face each other twice in the final three weeks of the season.
It was an excellent response by the Lions to their recent skid. Following the victory, quarterback Jared Goff offered some words about the team’s resiliency and ability to rebound. He believes that is one of the strengths of this team.
“Our superpower is how we respond as a team, as a unit, as a group,” Goff told reporters in his postgame press conference. “We’ve been through a lot of adversity as a group. A three-game lull where we won one of three is not the worst thing we’ve been through.
“So, being able to bounce back is something we’ve prided ourselves on, and tonight was a big one to bounce back with.” (H/T Heavy)
Goff was a big reason for the Lions getting back on track in Week 15. He torched the Broncos’ secondary, completing 24-of-34 passes for 278 yards and five touchdowns, which tied a career-high in a single game.
Goff, one of the more experienced players on the team, was able to help convey the message head coach Dan Campbell was sharing before the game. Nothing had changed, they just had to iron a few things out and get back to work.
“We’re the same team. Nothing has changed,” Goff said Campbell emphasized before the Broncos matchup. “Every team goes through ups and downs and lulls, and we hit a little bit of a stumble there for, maybe call it 2-3 weeks of certainly with our offensive play.
“But we’re the same team, we’re the same guys, the same people, the same players.”
The Lions may not be on the same tier as the San Francisco 49ers or Philadelphia Eagles in the opinion of some people, but they are certainly on that trajectory. What Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes have been able to accomplish during their tenure together has been impressive and Goff has played a major role in doing it.