DETROIT -- Despite scoring 52 points in an all-around drubbing of the Chicago Bears, the Detroit Lions know they could have done even more damage.
Dan Campbell mentioned it after the 52-21 win, and the Lions coach made sure to point to that when addressing reporters on Monday. It was also one of those realizations made by MLive’s Dungeon of Doom podcast in the latest post-game episode.
“It was a total domination by the Lions on both sides of the ball,” co-host Kory Woods said. “Had it not been for a couple of miscues in the first half, they could have at least put up... It’s not crazy to say they probably could have put up a 70-burger.”
To that point, the Lions forced two takeaways and got the Bears off the field for two turnovers on downs, and scored 14 points on those chances. While that’s solid, two of those chances started with prime field position, and it was one of Campbell’s thoughts about where they can improve.
See below to listen to the latest post-game Dungeon of Doom podcast:
After Lions safety Brian Branched forced a fumble that linebacker Jack Campbell recovered, the offense went three-and-out.
Detroit’s defense held strong on third-and-1 and fourth-and-1, stuffing two quarterback sneaks by Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. The offense took over at Chicago’s 37-yard line in the second quarter, but the offense went nowhere, with kicker Jake Bates missing the 55-yard field goal.
On the next possession for the Bears, Kerby Joseph grabbed his first interception of the season, again giving the offense a chance to put their foot on the gas in a 14-7 game. This time, the Lions took advantage, with Jared Goff hitting Brock Wright for the touchdown on a perfectly called and executed play to extend their lead to 14 points.
And just as they did from Week 1 to Week 2, the Lions adjusted, improved and came out looking better than they started the day because they added another touchdown after the Bears failed to convert another fourth-down attempt.
The Lions took over in Chicago territory. Goff hit Jameson Williams for a 44-yard score to put the game away in the third quarter, hitting the deep shot to make good on another prime opportunity.
“We’ve got to do better than that, though. We had an opportunity, we missed on two, went three-and-out after a turnover and a fourth-down stop,” Campbell said on Monday. “We have to capitalize when those come up, but we talk about takeaways and that’s good, game two, to be able to get some of those, and now we’ve got to just build on that and get better and better and better.
“So, wasn’t perfect, but it was much better than game one, so I’m proud of the players, proud of the coaches.”
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