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Head coach Dan Campbell has taken the Lions’ offense into his own hands. After an inconsistent start to the season under offensive coordinator John Morton, Campbell seized play-calling duties in order to, in his own words, find a little “rhythm.”
Campbell put his stamp on the offense, using different personnel packages, formations and play-calling tools than the offense had featured the first two months of the season.
Campbell wasted no time making the offense his own. On the first play of last Sunday’s win over the Washington Commanders, the Lions came out with an extra offensive linemen on the field. Over the course of the game, the Lions ran seven such plays — the most for them in a single game this season, and their first game with more than four of those plays.
It was clear Campbell wanted to get bigger and run the ball, and things got off to a good start with this eight-yard run.
It wasn’t all ground-and-pound for the Lions offense under Campbell. In fact, many of Detroit’s best plays were won by alignment before the ball was even snapped, including a receiving touchdown by Gibbs to cap off the opening drive.
Jameson Williams’ 41-yard reception on a short crossing route also shows how the new-look Lions can use smart formational play and the threat of the run game together.
The Lions had sort of lost their way for the first half of the season, but they’re taking the right steps to get back on track. Jumbo personnel packages, sharp offensive design, and crafty play-action passes — that’s the kind of stuff that made the Lions a force to be reckoned with over the last four years. Seeing them tap back into that identity is a good sign for their chances in the NFC race.
For more in-depth film breakdowns, subscribe to The Athletic YouTube channel or The Athletic Football Show channel. Derrik Klassen, Robert Mays and Chase Daniel are providing weekly breakdowns throughout the season, ranging from quarterback analysis and X’s and O’s breakdowns of key moments in tight games to bigger-picture looks at how teams have reshaped their identities mid-season.
Nov 17, 2025
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