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Eric Woodyard, ESPNSep 22, 2024, 10:09 PM ET
- Eric Woodyard covers the Detroit Lions for ESPN. He joined ESPN in September 2019 as an NBA reporter dedicated to the Midwest region before switching to his current role in April 2021. The Flint, Mich. native is a graduate of Western Michigan University and has authored/co-authored three books: “Wasted, Ethan’s Talent Search” and “All In: The Kelvin Torbert Story”. He is a proud parent of one son, Ethan. You can follow him on Twitter: @E_Woodyard
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Following a gritty 20-13 win at State Farm Stadium on Sunday, Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was happy with the victory but noted an area for improvement to get to their stated goal of a Super Bowl.
“Our defense is playing great. I feel like we, as an offense, got to put more points on the board,” St. Brown said after the win over the Arizona Cardinals. “I know it sounds kind of crazy, but we feel like as an offense, 20 points is nice, but in that type of game we’ve got to put up [more]. … It’s nice to get a win, but we feel like as an offense we can get a lot better.
“A lot of room for improvement and we will get better. I don’t think we’re too worried, but we’ve got to keep improving.”
The Lions (2-1) posted their ninth straight win following a loss and haven’t lost consecutive games since 2022. St. Brown ended with a team-high seven receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown. Coach Dan Campbell discussed the identity of this year’s team after the Lions won their season opener against the Los Angeles Rams in overtime and then bounced back from the Sept. 15 loss to Tampa Bay to secure their first road victory.
“What I know of this team and what we know of each other is very much intact and we’re a pretty resilient group, and that’ll always be part of who we are, I believe,” Campbell said. “Because we have the right guys, right coaches, right players.”
Through three weeks, however, the offense hasn’t taken off as expected and is averaging 20.7 points per game, which ranks 13th in the NFL. The team’s 38.5% red zone efficiency ranks 25th in the league.
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During the Week 2 loss to the Buccaneers, the Lions went 1-for-7 in the red zone. Those six red zone drives without a touchdown were the most by a Lions team in a game since 1981. That turned around against the Cardinals, with running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery both scoring touchdowns, after a point of emphasis throughout the week was to correct the issue.
In 2023, the Lions finished as a top-five offense, averaging 27.12 points while posting the third-best red zone efficiency (64.1%) during their run to the NFC Championship Game.
Inside the visitors locker room Sunday after the win, members of the Lions’ offense could sense the room for growth.
“There’s always going to be things to clean up and I don’t think we’ve played a complete game yet as an offense, and I don’t think that’s any secret,” left tackle Taylor Decker said. “But we’re doing some things well and I think we’re improving in areas. I think the sky’s the limit for this team if we keep playing complementary football.”
Veteran quarterback Jared Goff completed 18 of 23 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns but threw his fourth interception of the young season in Arizona. Goff’s four interceptions are his most in his team’s first three games of a season in his career, per ESPN Research. Last year, he didn’t throw his fourth interception until his seventh game.
Meanwhile, the Lions’ defense nearly pitched a second-half shutout against the Cardinals, allowing only three points.
Now, the offense is looking to catch up, but the players were still happy to walk away with the victory.
“I think it is resiliency and the ability to adapt, too, and [to] play different kinds of games, win in different ways, and that was always our way last year as well,” Goff said. “I know the way Dan [Campbell] wants to be is multiple, have the ability to win it through the air, through the ground and by our defense. Today was kind of a combination of all that.”
