ALLEN PARK, Mich. – Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell knows what to expect when his team faces the New York Jets on Sunday: a physical football game against a team he believes is better than its 1-1 record suggests.
Campbell also knows the man leading the Jets defense.
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Aaron Glenn, Detroit’s former defensive coordinator, spent five seasons with the Lions before becoming New York’s head coach.
Campbell said Glenn has built the Jets into a more talented team with a clear identity in his second season.
“This is not the same team as it was last year,” Campbell said. “It was about building it from the ground up. And they’re in year two. They’re much more talented. They play hard. They have an identity. They play a physical brand of football.”
Campbell said New York wants to control the ball, establish the run and create opportunities for explosive plays downfield.
He also pointed to the Jets’ defense and special teams as reasons the Lions will have to be prepared.
“There’s an argument they should be 2-0 right now,” Campbell said. “So we have a good idea what’s coming in here and what we need to be ready for. But we’re ready to embrace this challenge and looking forward to it.”
The familiarity between Campbell and Glenn adds another layer to the matchup.
Campbell said Glenn’s ability to work through difficult stretches was one reason he continued to have confidence in him during Glenn’s time as Detroit’s defensive coordinator.
“When things get a little rocky, that’s where you really find out what your conviction in something is and in someone,” Campbell said. “You don’t just let go of good coaches.”
Campbell pointed to a difficult stretch during the 2022 season when Glenn’s defense shifted toward a more aggressive, attacking style before eventually adjusting its approach.
Campbell said Glenn showed an important quality by recognizing the need for change and making it.
“That’s a sign of a good coach,” Campbell said. “And Shep’s got that, too. But that’s why AG just checked all those boxes.”
Now Glenn has the Jets defense forcing turnovers at a high rate.
Campbell said New York’s emphasis on punching the ball out is evident on film and requires attention from Detroit’s offense.
“It’s an emphasis every week,” Campbell said. “Every week we show what the opponent, how they’re getting balls out, what they’re doing.”
Campbell specifically praised Jets linebacker Demario Davis for his aggressive approach to creating takeaways.
“He bites the football, he hits with violence, and he punches at the football,” Campbell said. “And you watch them, they’re all doing it. And so that goes a long way. It’s an identity, an attitude that’s developed.”
The Lions also will have to account for quarterback Geno Smith, whom Campbell said has played well against Detroit at Ford Field.
Campbell said keeping Smith in the pocket will be a major point of emphasis.
“He is doing a good job of this whole thing about them possessing the football and finding the completions, taking the shots when they’re there, just playing smart football,” Campbell said.
Smith can hurt defenses when he escapes pressure, Campbell said, making containment particularly important.
“If he makes throws in the pocket, then we’ve got to fight the next play,” Campbell said. “But if we let him get out of there in the open field and run or find a throw downfield because he broke contain, that’s where that could be problematic.”
Campbell dismissed the idea that the Jets could present a trap game for the Lions.
Detroit enters the matchup at 1-1, and New York is also 1-1.
Campbell said the Lions understand the challenge because of Glenn’s familiarity with the organization and because of what they have seen from the Jets early this season.
“This is not going to be a trap game,” Campbell said. “This is going to be a knockout, 60-minute brawl. It’s going to go down.”
Detroit also has areas it wants to clean up offensively.
Campbell said the Lions have scored 31 points through their first two games but have been inconsistent and need to improve on third-down conversions.
He highlighted missed opportunities in the red zone and self-inflicted mistakes as areas to correct.
“We just have to be more consistent, and we’ve got to convert on some of these third downs,” Campbell said.
Campbell also said the Lions must continue protecting the football against a Jets defense that aggressively attacks it.
“When our opportunity is there, we have to strike,” Campbell said. “We have to be able to strike because that alone is going to alleviate a lot of stress on our defense.”
Campbell also addressed defensive tackle Alim McNeill’s workload after he played nearly 150 snaps through the first two games.
Campbell said the Lions would ideally keep McNeill fresh but noted that young defensive lineman Skyler Gill-Howard is continuing to develop as a backup.
“The more he grows, the more he’ll play,” Campbell said.
Campbell also discussed adding safety Bishop Fitzgerald to Detroit’s 53-man roster.
He said Joseph stood out to the Lions during the pre-draft process because of his versatility and range.
“He’s a football player,” Campbell said. “He’s somebody that’s got some versatility to him. We felt like he’s got some range, can play top down.”
The Lions will host the Jets on Sunday at 1 p.m.
