Detroit Lions are chameleons who make history, change perspectives and break records
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Oh, go ahead, give them a challenge.
You want the Detroit Lions to play in a wet, sloppy, muddy, windy game that looks like it’s being played in a car wash?
Yes, they can do that, quite well actually, as they did on Sunday in a 24-14 win over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
You want the Lions to compete in a dry, fast, shootout? They can do that, too — this team can put up 40 points without blinking.
You want them to win through the air?
Yep, of course. Because they got “JA-RED GOFF! JA-RED GOFF!” Sorry, the chants of Lions fans were still ringing through my ears, as Lions fans walked out of Lambeau Field, drowning out those suddenly quiet Packers fans.
How ‘bout the ground?
Get real — have you seen the two-headed beast that is the Lions' running attack? They have power and speed and an offensive line that simply dominates.
They can win by coming from behind, or by holding onto a lead. Whatever you want. Whatever you need.
“We’re chameleons and whatever it takes to win and whatever way, that’s what we’re going to do,” Goff said.
Indeed. They are able to change how they look in different situations; it’s the biggest strength of this team.
It’s why they are 7-1 for the first time since 1956.
It’s why they are in first place in the NFC North — they have won six straight games in a season for the first time since 1995.
It’s why they're sitting in the No. 1 position in the NFC — they have won three straight games in the state of Wisconsin for the first time since 1986-88.
And it’s the kind of offense that travels — they have won four straight road games in a single season for the fifth time in franchise history, following 2011, 1956, 1951 and 1934.
Let me pause here to put some things in perspective: When you start digging out stats that go directly back to the 1950s? Yes, we’re in special territory.
This team has turned into history-making, history-altering chameleons.
“They are absolutely the best team in the NFL,” former Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said on NBC's "Football Night in America" on Sunday night.
Yes, the nation has taken notice.
“They’re the best team in the NFL right now,” Chris Simms, the former NFL quarterback, said on the same show. “The best NFC offense. ... They can run, they can throw it. ... They’ve got a two-headed monster at running back. ... (Jahmyr Gibbs) is as explosive as any running back in football.”
Credit that offensive line
It all starts with the offensive line that handled the Packers’ aggressive, penetrating front.
“I think our guys took that challenge and handled them pretty well today,” Goff said. “Our O-line is the core of our team. The building block of our team and they allowed us to do all the things we did on offense today.”
Yes, that offensive line starts everything, especially for the rushing game.
The Lions have gained at least 100 yards and a touchdown on the ground in each of the first eight games of a season for the first time since 1936.
Again, let’s pause here to put that in perspective: 1936 was the year Charlie Chaplin released the silent film “Modern Times.”
Oh, the irony of it all.
That was also the year that Jesse Owens won the 100 in front of Adolf Hitler at the Berlin Olympics.
So ... a while ago.
Speaking of ridiculously fast dudes, let me say a word here about Jahmyr Gibbs.
He set an NFL record by producing his seventh straight game with a rushing average of at least 5 yards per carry (with a minimum 10 attempts per game).
Yes, a freakin' NFL record. Let that sink in. This gets nuts when you try to consider it all.
Gibbs joined Barry Sanders (1993) as the only players in franchise history to log at least 70 yards from scrimmage in each of the first eight games of a season.
Again, these tidbits are so fantastic you need to say them out loud, think about it for a second and try to let it sink in.
And he did this on a wet, windy day in Lambeau.
“We are built for this man and it doesn’t matter just because we play indoors,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “It doesn’t matter. We can play anywhere. We can play in the snow. We can play in the rain. Play in the mud. That is just us and we are built to win man.”
Mr. Perfect once again
Now, a word about Goff.
He was perfect on his first 11 passes.
And then he missed one, throwing it away to avoid a sack.
So I guess you could say he was perfect, even when he wasn’t.
“He has been playing at such a high level and then there again, I know it is not identical, but we practice outside,” Campbell said. “Thursday was as windy as it was today. We didn’t have the rain, so those two days just watching him in the elements, throwing it like he was, we will be fine. We just trust the heck out of him and it worked out good for us.”
Goff became the first player in NFL history to complete 72% of his passes, post a passer rating of 105 and throw a touchdown in six straight games.
Now, consider how he did that — on a wet sloppy day with a swirling wind and cold rainstorm.
Now, let me say this slowly: In his past six games, Goff has the highest completion percentage (82.8%) in NFL history, not to mention the highest passer rating (140.1).
“Goff played clean football man,” Campbell said, in the understatement of the year. “He got us in the right play. He was very efficient. I just have a lot of trust in him, in what he is doing and how he is playing.”
Oh, and Goff is the first player in NFL history to complete 80% of his passes in three straight games (with a minimum o 15 attempts per game).
In ... NFL ... history!
“I’ve just grown so much mentally and physically obviously,” Goff said. “As you get older, you just start to learn when to take chances and when not to. I know I’ve said this before, but I just feel like I’m playing pretty disciplined. Trying to take care of the ball and get it in our playmakers' hands.”
Then you have St. Brown, who has a touchdown catch in six straight games, tying the franchise record set by Herman Moore in 1994.
How does St. Brown rank in history? He is the fourth player in NFL history to record at least 350 catches, 4,000 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns in his first four seasons, following Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb and Michael Thomas.
“The connection between those two is special,” Campbell said, in the second-biggest understatement of the year. “It is special, and they make each other better.”
So, yeah, he’s been historic, too.
It’s darn ridiculous when you try to comprehend it all at one time. It's basically nuts, considering where this franchise was, not too long ago.
I mean, consider this: this team has a 110-point scoring differential — the fourth-highest through eight games in franchise history, behind 1934 (151), 1954 (144) and 1936 (121).
Not to disrespect the 1936 Lions but I don’t think I’m going too far on a ledge to say: It’s just not comparable, right?
This team is not just fun to watch, but it’s making history, too. And it's freakin' amazing.
Every time they take the field.
In the rain. On the turf. It doesn’t matter.
And if you want to challenge them to a headstand contest — I’m taking St. Brown with my first-round pick — well, I’m certain the Lions would win that, too.
Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on X @seideljeff. To read his recent columns, go to freep.com/sports/jeff-seidel