Lions' Keys to Victory against Raiders
In Week 8, the Lions are set to take on the Las Vegas Raiders, in a battle of teams looking to bounce back from ugly losses.
Detroit is looking to move on from a demoralizing loss to the Baltimore Ravens, while the Raiders are seeking to recover from a blowout defeat at the hands of the Chicago Bears.
From all accounts, the Lions have the upper hand in this Monday Night Football contest, set to take place in front of a sold-out crowd at Ford Field.
However, here are two major things that Dan Campbell's squad must do in order to secure the Week 8 victory.
Get Jahmyr Gibbs going
There were very few positives to take away from the Lions' blowout loss to the Ravens in Week 7. However, if you were trying to find one, you could point to Jahmyr Gibbs' performance.
In the defeat, the rookie back showcased his dual-threat versatility, rushing for 68 yards and his first career NFL touchdown and adding another 58 yards as a pass-catcher. It marked the first time in which the Alabama product amassed 100 or more all-purpose yards.
“Yes, he (Gibbs) is explosive. You can see it there on a couple of those runs. He did a good job of catching the ball out the backfield. He’s explosive, and getting him the ball in space is always something we are aware of doing, and I am aware of doing. I thought he did a great job," Lions quarterback Jared Goff said of Gibbs' performance in Baltimore. "I thought he protected pretty well, too. For being a guy that we don’t ask to do that much, he did a good job."
Now, Gibbs, the No. 12 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, has a chance to go up against a Raiders defense that has not fared all that well against the run so far in 2023.
Through seven weeks, Las Vegas has allowed the ninth-most rushing yards in the league (903) and the seventh-most rushing scores (nine). Along with that, the Raiders have permitted a healthy chunk of yards per carry (4.4).
And, just a week ago against the Bears, Las Vegas allowed Chicago to produce 173 yards on 38 carries, good for an average of 4.5 yards per rushing attempt. D'Onta Foreman accumulated 89 of those 173 yards for the Bears, and also found the end zone three times (two on the ground and one as a receiver).
It makes me believe that Gibbs, who is averaging 4.9 yards a carry, could be in store for a solid day on the ground in Detroit's Week 8 Monday Night Football tilt with the Raiders.
"Like I said last week, saw an improving player (who) took a step up,” Campbell said of the first-year back Thursday. “And, that’s all you can ask for, is growth. So, we anticipate he’ll take another step up, and keep doing things we feel like he does well, and continue to grow. But, we’re pleased with where he’s at.”
Additionally, with David Montgomery likely to be sidelined for a second straight week, it enhances Gibbs' chances of receiving an ample amount of touches as the Lions' lead back on Monday night.
I believe the first-year pro delivers a solid performance – rushes for at least 70 yards and records another 30 receiving yards – in the Week 8 contest.
Limit Maxx Crosby's productivity
Easier said than done, but Detroit must make a concerted effort to curtail the production of Crosby.
Crosby, a two-time Pro Bowl EDGE defender, is the Raiders' most feared player and one of the most prolific pass-rushers in the entire National Football League. He's already amassed 6.5 sacks, nine quarterback hits and 43 total pressures on the season. Additionally, for his efforts, he's earned a 91.1 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, including a 90.8 pass-rush grade.
He'll certainly be a handful for the Lions' offensive line to deal with on Monday night.
"I think you got to look forward to these matchups when you’re in the league," Detroit right tackle Penei Sewell said of facing Crosby. "They happen once in a while, and you’ve got to be grateful that they’re in the league and in their prime. So, it’s a great challenge. He’s one of the best in the league right now, and you can turn on the tape and see what he does. So, me and 'Deck' (Taylor Decker) know what we got — it’s not really just me and Deck, it’s really the whole O-line will probably see him. So, we know what the challenge is, and we're excited."
If Sewell & his offensive line counterparts can find a way to keep Crosby in check, it will go a long way toward helping the Lions capture the Week 8 win.
