In a stunning turn of events, the Detroit Lions, who entered Week 7 with the NFL’s best record, were handed a harsh reality check by the Baltimore Ravens, succumbing to a decisive 38-6 defeat in Baltimore. The game saw Detroit trailing by a substantial 28-0 at halftime, marking the largest halftime deficit for a team with the league’s best record this late in the season in NFL history.
Head coach Dan Campbell did not mince his words postgame, acknowledging, “They kicked our ass,” as he addressed reporters, according to ESPN.
This loss halted a remarkable four-game winning streak for the Lions, all of which were won with convincing margins of at least 14 points. Additionally, it marked their first road loss of the year, following a promising 3-0 start away from Ford Field. Despite the resounding defeat, Campbell saw some value in the loss, suggesting that it was a needed reality check for his team.
Campbell stated, “You don’t want these to happen, but when it does, it re-centers you, it refocuses you. And that’s all I know. I don’t want it to happen. Nobody wants it to happen,” he added. “Nobody likes to look over there and watch them having a great time because they kicked our ass. Nobody thinks that’s fun, but I know that motivates me for next week. It motivates our team. You’ll do any and everything you can not to have that feeling again. That’s all I mean by that.”
The defining factor in the Lions’ defeat was their inability to contain the extraordinary talents of Lamar Jackson, the Ravens’ quarterback. Jackson demonstrated his prowess by completing 21 of 27 passes for 357 yards and contributing four total touchdowns, including three through the air and one on the ground.
Campbell recognized Jackson’s exceptional performance, stating, “Lamar beat us. He hammered us with his arm. He threw the ball extremely well, he ran when he needed to, and we did not handle it well.” Campbell also pointed out the Lions’ lapse in detail and discipline, attributing it to a self-induced aspect, and underlined that both the wins and losses are collective team efforts.
The Lions now have some extra time to regroup and prepare for what they hope will be a comeback performance against the Raiders on “Monday Night Football” in Week 8. This game will serve as a platform for the Lions to rebound and head into their bye week on a positive note.
