The Detroit Lions defeated the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, but it didn’t feel like a dominant outing. With a final score of 19-9, some Lions fans may believe they let a team that entered the day 1-6 hang around for most of the afternoon and it could bring some concerns as they head down the stretch this season.
But in the mind of Jared Goff, Sunday’s win could be a good thing. Speaking to reporters, including Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News, Goff said that “the hallmark of a good team is being able to find different ways to win repeatedly.”
Over their first eight games, the Lions have shown exactly that and it could be a good omen as they hit the midway point of the season with a 6-2 record in the middle of a competitive NFC North race.
Detroit Lions are proving they can win even when their offense struggles
The most notable way for the Lions to beat a team is with their offense. Detroit came into Sunday’s game ranked third in the NFL with 29.0 points per game. With Goff playing efficiently at quarterback and top-tier weapons such as running back Jahmyr Gibbs, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and tight end Sam LaPorta at his disposal, scoring shouldn’t be a problem most weeks.
But Sunday was an example of what could happen when they have an off day. Perhaps capitalizing on the Lions' decision to bench Christian Mahogany for Miles Frazier, they sacked Goff three times, held Gibbs to 74 rushing yards and held Detroit to 270 yards of total offense.
In past years, this would normally end in a loss. But the Lions showed other ways to earn a notch in the win column.
The Lions defense is missing plenty of players, including linebacker Jack Campbell, edge rusher D.J. Wonnum and cornerback D.J. Reed. But it’s shown signs of turning a corner after a rough start. After allowing 31.75 points per game over their first four contests, Detroit has held teams to 15.5 points over the last four games.
Playing the struggling offenses of the Minnesota Vikings and the Dolphins helps those numbers, but if the Lions can stop teams, it would reduce the pressure to light up the scoreboard in order to win games.
Jake Bates has also been solid, converting 16 of 17 field goal attempts, including all four in the win over the Dolphins. Punter Jack Fox also averaged 43.7 net yards per punt coming into Sunday’s game and parked a 54-yarder inside the 20-yard line in Miami.
Put it together and the Lions are a tough team to beat and that matters in a tight division race.
Lions' ability to win games in different ways makes them a playoff threat
The Vikings currently lead the division with a 6-1 record, but they have won most of their games on the strength of their defense. The Chicago Bears have also loaded up, acquiring Jeffery Simmons ahead of the trade deadline, but their biggest strength is a high-octane offense led by Caleb Williams.
The Green Bay Packers can also light up the scoreboard, but they were stymied by the Lions in Week 7 as Detroit kept them in check with a 20-17 victory at Ford Field.
This also pays dividends in a wide-open NFC playoff picture where not coming away with a division title could mean going on the road and having to win in a similar way that they beat the Dolphins.
While the Lions didn’t get any style points, they can still find positives from the win. And no matter what game they have to play, they have the tools to get the job done and make a run in the second half.
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