The Detroit Lions dropped to 1-1 after a brutal 41-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills, and head coach Dan Campbell is pointing fingers squarely at his coaching staff for the anemic run game that set them back. Jahmyr Gibbs, their “too good” back, managed only 52 yards on 16 carries, contributing to a dismal 66 total rushing yards from the team. You can’t win games like that, especially against a potent opponent.
The Run Game Fell Apart, And Campbell Saw It Coming
Campbell didn’t mince words after the game, making it clear the coaching staff shares responsibility for the run game’s collapse. “We had some run-throughs,” he stated. “Bottom line is we didn’t handle this well enough. I’m talking about us as coaches. All right, we have a hand in this.” He’s convinced his star running back has the ability, but they just aren’t creating the opportunities. He called out defenders busting through blocks, backside pursuit running them down, and Buffalo’s heavier safety pressure than they anticipated. Even with starting offensive linemen Christian Mahogany and Blake Miller out, Campbell said they had answers. “Nothing that we couldn’t handle,” he emphasized. “We’ve got somebody for them. We just didn’t get them blocked.” That’s a direct shot at the preparation and in-game adjustments, isn’t it?
Stalling Out Early Cost Them Everything
This lack of a run game was a problem from the jump. Detroit went scoreless in the first quarter and found themselves trailing 27-10 by halftime. Campbell explained that being down three scores so early, without any offensive rhythm, put immense pressure on the passing game to bail them out. Jared Goff threw for 327 yards, four touchdowns, and zero picks, and Amon-Ra St. Brown hauled in nine passes for 142 yards and two scores. Those are big numbers, for sure, and they clawed their way back into it, but that early deficit meant Buffalo could just sit back and anticipate the pass. Campbell said it best: “Offensively, when you play an opponent as potent as this, you don’t have the luxury of spitting and sputtering early. You don’t have that luxury. And we knew that coming into this game.”
So, what’s next? The Lions coaching staff is under the microscope. Campbell expects corrections, especially with getting that run game going consistently. If they don’t fix those “run-throughs” and get Gibbs established, it’s going to be a long season for Detroit.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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