Dan Campbell still has his mojo, even without his prized coordinators from last season.
The Detroit Lions’ risk-taking head coach made the big-time call on fourth-and-2 from midfield while protecting a 31-24 lead with just over two minutes to play during a “Monday Night Football” classic.
Campbell drew up an impressive play-action pass to stud receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown as quarterback Jared Goff perfectly dropped the pass in the bread basket for a first down after his receiver roasted cornerback Marlon Humphrey.
“He’s got big onions. I mean, this is a bold move,” ESPN broadcaster Troy Aikman said prior to the play that eventually helped seal the 38-30 win over the Baltimore Ravens.
Detroit would score on the very next play as David Montgomery would scamper in from 31 yards for the touchdown to go up 38-24.
After some garbage time offense by the Ravens to pull the score to 38-30, the Lions recovered the onside kick to end the game and improve to 2-1.
“I got a tremendous amount of trust in those guys and that’s been built up now in five years,” Campbell said in his postgame press conference.
“And that helps. And that offensive line and the way they were playing, it felt like that was the right call. It’s those guys. It’s the players, man. They’re the ones who make this stuff come to life and they’ve earned that trust. They step up and make huge plays at critical times and it’s unbelievable, it really is. It’s a thing of beauty.”
Many expected the Lions to take a step back this year after they lost highly touted offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, as well as defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.
Johnson has taken over as Bears head coach, while Glenn is the leading man with the Jets now.
The Lions head home for a date with the Cleveland Browns next week.