Every week during the regular season Tim Twentyman will answer 10 good questions from his X account @ttwentyman in a feature we call "10 Questions with Twentyman."
20man: You all know I'm a stat geek. Thanks for playing into my fixation like this. There are obviously a lot of good ones, but the consistency quarterback Jared Goff has played with all season has really stood out to me. That position is so difficult, and Goff has made it look so easy.
Goff has produced 11 games this season with a passer rating north of 100.0 and has completed at least 75 percent of his passes in seven games. Tom Brady has the record in the latter category with eight games set in 2007. That's how good Goff has been all year.
20man: It's a really good question that I was asked in a radio interview last week, and I'll give you the same answer I gave them – Ben Johnson.
How many 50-50 balls or contested balls do you see the Lions have each week? A handful maybe and most of those are in the red zone when things aren't called as tight.
Johnson's brilliance, at least when I watch it, is the way he schemes players open in space. He gets pass catchers open in space and lets their natural running instincts take over from there. The Lions lead the NFL with 2,392 yards after catch. It's hard to get PI penalties when there's not a whole lot of defenders around the pass catchers.
20man: It's a great question I hope I get to ask head coach Dan Campbell the first time we talk to him next week.
I can only really speak to what I would do, and I would play Goff and the starters in that situation for at least a half vs. Minnesota. There's a certain rhythm that comes with the game prep and the work week preparing for Sunday that I wouldn't want to disrupt. If Goff doesn't play, then Hendon Hooker and Teddy Bridgewater need the reps in practice and I just think that disrupts the rhythm they have going right now leading into the playoffs.
I wouldn't play them the entire game but I'd get them reps and keep the work week status quo.
20man: Reinforcements are on the way, Tom.
I'll include Week 18 vs. Minnesota in this conversation because depending on how things play out this weekend in Minneapolis that could essentially be a playoff game for both teams in Detroit Week 18.
- They should be getting linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin back this week.
- Wide receiver/returner Kalif Raymond has started his practice window and would most likely be back Week 18, according to Campbell.
- The expectation is that linebacker Alex Anzalone could be back either Week 18 or in the first playoff game. His rehab looks to be going really well. He said he's doing good last time I asked him in the locker room.
- We could see the practice window for rookie cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. begin in the coming weeks and maybe there's a chance he returns for the playoffs, but there's been no new update from Campbell on him.
- Edge rusher John Cominsky suffered a knee injury in July and the Lions have left open the possibility of a return in the playoffs, but the last time it was brought up to Campbell, he didn't seem too optimistic.
- Cornerback Carlton Davis III injured his jaw a couple weeks back and could potentially return if the Lions advance as far as the NFC Championship Game or Super Bowl, per latest reports.
- Defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson has publicly stated he'll be ready to return if the Lions advance to the Super Bowl. I'm not as convinced, but if there's anyone who can make it back, it would be Hutch.
- Linebacker Derrick Barnes tore his MCL and PCL in Week 3 vs. the Cardinals. He remains a long-shot to return this year, but speaking to the media back in November, he didn't dismiss the idea of a potential return in the playoffs.
20man: I think the way Amik Robertson played in Chicago last week should give them a lot of confidence in his ability to handle things outside until/if Davis returns. He gave up two receptions for 41 yards and was really physical in the run game on the edge. He was the fourth highest graded among Lions defenders by Pro Football Focus in the Bears game.
Ifeatu Melifonwu stepped in and played 80 percent of the snaps, allowing Brian Branch to play the slot more, a spot he's very familiar with having started there all last season. Most importantly, that combination allows defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to get his best five on the field in the secondary.
I listened to Kyle Shanahan's press conference on Thursday and one thing he talked about when asked about the Lions' defense was how much better he thought they were in the secondary vs. where they were last year in the NFC Championship Game. I think that speaks a lot about how others around the league view Detroit's secondary even with Davis out and the shuffling Glenn's done because of it.
20man: The coaches have a ton of confidence in the veteran Craig Reynolds. He can get tough yards, plays physical and most importantly, he's terrific in the protection part of the game and that's a must in Scottie Montgomery's running back room.
Jermar Jefferson has impressed all season long on the practice squad and scout team and has a ton of upside, but Reynolds is the trusted vet who has been there, done that and can be counted on just about every time he's on the field.
20man: We haven't spoken to Teddy Bridgewater since his arrival to know his immediate plans after chasing a Super Bowl as a player this year, but I think that could certainly be in the cards someday if he decides that's what he wants to do. Campbell raves about him.
"It's great for our team," Campbell said of Bridgewater's signing. "I think everybody in that locker room respects Teddy and what he stands for and the type of human being he is.
"He'll test those guys a little bit defensively, which is good in practice. And I just feel like when you get guys that you feel like make everybody around them a little bit better, it's hard not to have those guys around or add them if you can."
I think Campbell would find a spot on his coaching staff for a player/person he feels that strongly about when and if Bridgewater decides to hang the cleats up and go into NFL coaching.
20man: I think last week's usage in Chicago is what we can expect moving forward. The Lions trust Jahmyr Gibbs to handle the load and he carried 23 times for 109 yards and a touchdown in the 17-point win over the Bears. He added four catches on five targets for 27 total touches.
I expect 20-25 touches from Gibbs with Reynolds, Jefferson and Sione Vaki being worked in some depending on how the game is going and the success of the run game. The 49ers rank 15th in run defense this season, allowing on average 121.0 rushing yards per contest.
20man: I know Campbell is playing this game to win. He was asked this week what he'd do if the Vikings beat the Packers Sunday, and they know it doesn't matter what they do Monday night because Week 18 vs. Minnesota would be for the NFC North title (and the No. 1 seed for Detroit). Here was his response:
"Yeah, I'll make this easy for everybody that way all the critics can jump out and start attacking, but that way you don't have to debate them anymore. We're bringing everything that we have to this game, and we are playing, and I don't care what it looks like, and where it's at or who's this, who's that, we're going out to play and win this game out on the west coast. So, there you go."
Campbell and the Lions want to keep this thing rolling. I don't think it's revenge but more fix some mistakes and make sure they are playing their best football heading into the playoffs.
20man: I think that just like Campbell talks about this team playing their best football in December heading into the playoffs, he'd want his second-year back playing well, carrying the load and going into the playoffs with a ton of confidence with three good performances under his belt leading into the postseason.
I know injuries have been a big storyline this season, but you can't be scared of playing your brand of football and getting ready for the playoffs how you best see fit because you're worried about injuries. Campbell doesn't strike me as a head coach who plays scared.
