Defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell spoke to the media Tuesday following last week's loss to the Chicago Bears and ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Dallas Cowboys at Ford Field.
Here are 10 takeaways from those media sessions:
1. The Lions had to start Jeff Driskel at quarterback last week in Chicago after a Friday night scan of Matthew Stafford's back showed an issue that would make him unavailable Sunday. Bevell said Driskel handled the offense well and played with good tempo. The offense functioned properly and had only two pre-snap penalties. Bevell obviously lamented the interception Driskel threw deep in Lions territory, but overall Bevell thought Driskel performed well in a tough situation on the road against a good defense.
2. Detroit's defense gave up three scoring drives last week and one started at the Lions' 25-yard line after an interception. Pasqualoni overall seemed to like the defensive effort forcing Chicago into nine punts. He said that unit has to do a better job in "sudden change" moments like turnovers that send them back into the game.
3. With running back Ty Johnson in the concussion protocol, the Lions could potentially be in a situation where they might need practice squad running backs Wes Hills (6-0, 218) or Bo Scarbrough (6-1, 235) this week vs. Dallas. Both are bigger backs with power and speed. Hills has been around a little longer than Scarbrough, but Bevell said he'll have confidence in either player if they are called upon to join the 53-man roster.
4. Consistency has been the key word this week for Pasqualoni and the defense. They forced four Chicago punts to begin the game, and five to end the game, but gave up three straight scoring drives in the middle, which proved to be the difference.
5. Bevell didn't know much about wide receiver Kenny Golladay before he took the OC job in Detroit. He said he's quickly learned that Golladay is one of the best around at playing the ball in the air. Golladay plays a strong and physical brand of football for the position. Bevell said there were a couple plays Sunday Golladay would probably want back – he was credited with three drops – but overall he's been good this year and leads the NFL with eight receiving touchdowns.
6. The Lions have faced some pretty good quarterback, running back & wide receiver trios this year, but Sunday will rank right up there with Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Amari Cooper and the Cowboys' No. 1 ranked offense. Prescott aims for his third game in row with three-plus touchdown passes and a fourth in a row with a 100-plus passer rating. Elliott's had 120-plus scrimmage yards in six of his past seven games on the road. Since joining Dallas in Week 9 of 2018, Cooper leads the NFL with 13 touchdown receptions and ranks fourth in receiving yards (1,573).
7. Dallas' defense ranks in the top 10 in the NFL. The one thing that really sticks out to Bevell is their pass rush featuring Robert Quinn (7.5 sacks), Demarcus Lawrence (4.5) and Maliek Collins (3.0). Bevell was impressed by their three linebackers, too, but the front is what caught his eye on tape first.
8. Detroit's defense has forced just one turnover in their last four games. Pasqualoni said they've been close to a couple others and just have to just continue to attack the ball. If they do, he expects more turnovers to come their way.
9. If Driskel is called upon to start again Sunday, don't be surprised if Bevell taps into his ability to scramble and use his feet even more than he did last week when Driskel rushed for 37 yards on five carries.
10. The traits Elliott possess that Pasqualoni says makes him a terrific back, besides the obvious strength and speed, are his vision, balance and feel for the run game.
