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Eric Woodyard, ESPN
INDIANAPOLIS — Ninety years ago, former NFL owner George A. Richards bought the Portsmouth Spartans, moving the franchise to Detroit as the Lions and they got off to a stifling 10-1 start that first season.
On the road Sunday in Indianapolis, head coach Dan Campbell helped the team achieve a feat that had not happened since 1934, with a 10-1 start, after beating the Colts 24-6, but he did not get caught for now. .
“We’re so focused on the here and now that it’s hard,” Campbell said. “It’s a little bit like last year, you get over it and maybe you can take a breath to turn around and look back and see what you did, but right now, we’re just going. We’re moving forward.”
After the win, Campbell acknowledged the history, but was more impressed with his team’s unbeaten road streak. The Lions are the NFL’s last undefeated road team (6-0) this season, which is a testament to the franchise’s turnaround since Campbell’s arrival in 2021.
The Lions finished 3-13-1 in 2021, then improved to 9-8 in 2022 before finishing 12-5 last season with an appearance in the NFC Championship Game.
Following Sunday’s win, the Lions are now officially the first NFC team to reach 10 wins this season, the first time they have done so in franchise history.
“It reminded me of 2022 and at that time we were 0-11-1 on the road. And just thinking about that, now I think we’re 16-5 since then and just that group of guys,” Campbell said. . “I said something in the locker room about it. I’m looking at Frank [Ragnow] and [Jared] Goff and cover [Taylor Decker] and [Penei] Sewell, Alim [McNeill] and holy [Amon-Ra St. Brown]and it’s like, ‘man, remember that?’
“But all those guys are responsible for the turn,” he said. “That says a lot. If you can win away from home, you’re usually a very good team and we can win away from home.”
The Lions also recorded their ninth consecutive regular season victory with the victory over the Colts. The only other time in franchise history they had a nine-game winning streak was also in 1934, when they won 10 straight games, according to ESPN Research.
“We’re road warriors. We love it,” said Lions quarterback Jared Goff, who finished 26-36 with 269 passing yards. “We get together on tour and we have an us-against-the-world mentality and it’s fun when we can bring our own fans here. The way they perform is really incredible. They do an incredible job.”
While the offense has dominated the headlines, the defense has also shined under defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. Detroit hasn’t allowed a touchdown in 10 straight quarters as the defense continues to hold each other accountable in moments of victory and loss.
By the third game of this season, Detroit’s defense has allowed fewer than 10 points, the most in a Lions season since 1983.
“We expect to win. It’s not a feeling where you come in and you’re guessing if it’s going to happen,” Lions nose tackle DJ Reader said. “Guys expect excellence from themselves and each other on our team, so I think that’s the best part. Even if you see the result today, we’re still out there against each other.”
The Lions will now shift their focus to the annual Thanksgiving game on Thursday, which they haven’t won since 2016. Detroit will host the Chicago Bears, a division rival, and the team will look to reach new heights in pursuit of becoming a championship team.
“We have a group of selfless humans. I call this place ‘The Land of Misfit Toys,'” said Lions running back David Montgomery, who scored a rushing touchdown in the second quarter. “You’ve gotten to a point where people are saying you’re not good enough or this team isn’t supposed to be exactly what we are and we’re not proving anyone wrong, but we’re in the mix to try to prove ourselves right. So, I think that’s great.”
