DETROIT – Head coach Dan Campbell apparently has taken over calling plays for the Detroit Lions against the Commanders, and the offense immediately exploded.
Campbell was seen on the sidelines with a play sheet actively communicating plays during the first half.
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The Lions offense has been struggling, failing to surpass 24 points each of the last three games -- two of those losses.
It only took a half to get past 24 on Sunday, as the Lions scored on all four drives before the break. They had a 25-10 lead at halftime, thanks to 289 total yards of offense.
That rhythm carried over into the second half, as the Lions took the opening drive 72 yards for another touchdown.
First-year offensive coordinator John Morton had a tough act to follow after Ben Johnson left Detroit to lead the Chicago Bears. But through eight games, the offense was unrecognizable from a year ago.
Most of that blame seemed to fall on the offensive line, which has struggled to get a push in the running game or protect quarterback Jared Goff.
But Campbell didn’t seem to have any trouble. The running game was clicking and Goff was on time with all of his receivers.
Maybe that says more about injury-plagued Commanders, but it doesn’t exactly bode well for Morton that the offense improved as soon as he became less involved.