Lions head coach Dan Campbell spoke to the media Monday following Detroit's terrific come-from-behind victory in Houston Sunday night for their seventh straight victory and fifth straight on the road to improve to 8-1 on the season.
Detroit will have the luxury of some home cooking this week as they host the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-8) at Ford Field Sunday afternoon.
Here are all the key questions from Campbell's Monday presser:
How big was Sunday night's come-from-behind win to prove this team can find different ways to win?
It was a total team effort for the Lions once again Sunday night in Houston in a 26-23 win, which has become a theme for this team this season.
"Every time you figure out how to win in that adverse environment, conditions, you get better and learn from it," Campbell said Monday. "We just continue to be harder on ourselves and we just go, man. I feel like we're gaining momentum going uphill. We're in November and the teams that can begin to gain momentum going uphill are the ones that are dangerous."
What was most impressive to Campbell about the defensive performance Sunday?
The way thy shut down running back Joe Mixon and the Houston rushing attack.
Mixon had just 46 yards on 25 carries, which is the lowest yardage total for a player with 25-plus carries since 2013, according to CBS Sports.
"To me, he was the most dangerous player that we had to deal with for them. He was the guy," Campbell said.
Houston tried to force the issue with Mixon and the Lions' defense shut him down. That kept Houston's offense one-dimensional which was big in allowing the comeback.
Will the Lions have Za’Darius Smith for Sunday's game against Jacksonville?
Smith was in Houston but didn't play because the team wanted to honor his scheduled bye and give him a week of rest. Smith was on the sideline coaching teammates up, however, and Campbell said he was pumped about getting the team's eighth win.
"He wholly embraced the eighth win. 'Hey, we got eight,'" Campbell said Smith was announcing after the game.
How big has the addition of veteran cornerback Carlton Davis III been for this defense?
He's been so good for this team not just on the field but in the cornerback room and the locker room. Campbell said Monday he's been everything they hoped he'd be and then some when they traded for him in the offseason.
"That's been an outstanding addition," he said. "As a matter of fact, I told him Saturday night, we're in the special teams meeting, I sit right behind him and I told him, 'One of the best moves we made was getting you here.'
"There is nothing better than a cover corner who hits, runs, tackles, fills the run, no fear and then you see what he's able to do with those takeaways yesterday. And he is good for that room. He is a veteran guy. A guy that's been around it for a while. There are things that he understands and can kind of help the young guys with technique-wise or things you see when it comes to the game planning."
Campbell said Davis is all in with this team and playing at a high level. Campbell feels like he's another guy on the roster who is gaining momentum at the right time.
Did Campbell ever consider moving Penei Sewell to left tackle?
He thought about it for a minute after Taylor Decker injured his shoulder in practice Thursday, but said by then the game plan was already installed and the 'hay was already in the barn.' Sewell already had all the reps at right tackle, and they felt confident Dan Skipper could step in and fill the role. Skipper allowed two hurries and one quarterback hit in the contest. Not bad at all.
What are the injury updates for tight end Sam LaPorta and Decker?
LaPorta injured his shoulder against the Texans in the second half and ultimately left the game and didn't return. Campbell said he's day-to-day and hopeful he can play Sunday vs. Jacksonville but that's still questionable.
Decker is also questionable but 'trending the right way.'
