Dan Campbell remains confident that the Detroit Lions possess the solid defense they displayed in the season’s first three games, despite its absence during the recent 42-29 victory against the Seattle Seahawks.

Acknowledging the team’s shortcomings, Campbell remarked, “I don’t think what we witnessed last night represents our defense.

It was not our finest showing, and I don’t think anyone would argue otherwise. Geno (Smith) had an exceptional game, but we know we can improve.

We need to be better.”The Seahawks amassed a staggering 516 total yards, with Smith throwing for 395 yards and adding 38 on the ground.

Kenneth Walker III contributed significantly with 116 total yards and three touchdowns, while DK Metcalf was a reliable target, catching seven passes for 104 yards.

In a rare feat, Seattle set an NFL record by achieving 38 first downs in a loss, while penalties hindered the Lions, costing them 101 yards.

Cornerbacks Carlton Davis III and Terrion Arnold were penalized for pass interference or holding seven times, a recurring issue for Arnold in the early stages of his career.

“Twelve penalties is excessive,” Campbell commented after the game.

“Carlton faced a strong, physical receiver, so we needed to match that intensity. We have to address this; we can’t survive with 12 penalties each game.

We’ll continue to refine our skills.”Despite the penalties, the Lions managed to secure two crucial takeaways.

Davis made a notable impact with a 49-yard fumble return, propelling the Lions to an early 14-0 lead.

Kerby Joseph sealed the game with an interception in the end zone with just over a minute remaining.“We secured the takeaways and halted their progress on downs near the end,” Campbell said.

“That’s what we emphasize: resiliency.”

After a heavy reliance on Jared Goff in a Week 2 loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he threw 55 times, the Lions have shifted back to leveraging his strengths—connecting with receivers for short passes and allowing them to gain yards after the catch.

In recent victories against the Arizona Cardinals and Seahawks, Goff completed 36 of 41 passes, achieving an impressive 87.8% completion rate for 491 yards.

This equates to an average of 13.6 yards per completion, including 8.8 yards gained after the catch.

Notably, during Monday night’s game, Goff went 18-for-18, with 215 of his 292 passing yards occurring after the catch.

The Seahawks have visited Ford Field for the past three seasons, consistently averaging just under 500 yards while holding a 2-1 record there.

Interestingly, no other team has surpassed the 500-yard mark in Detroit during this timeframe, but Smith’s success may soon attract attention.

Chants of “JAR-ED GOFF” have echoed around the city since the Lions’ playoff run in January.

Recently, these chants were heard as the Tigers neared their first playoff spot in a decade, and while Michigan faced off against Minnesota.

Goff’s performance on “Monday Night Football,” where he not only achieved a perfect game but also caught a touchdown pass, has significantly boosted his reputation.

However, the Lions’ secondary has been a cause for concern. Safety Brian Branch is expected to return from illness after the bye week, but there remains a lack of competition for the starting cornerback roles held by Arnold and Davis.

Fortunately, the Lions emerged from the Seattle game without any major injuries and are heading into their bye week, allowing players time to recover and regroup.

In an interesting note, Goff and St. Brown became part of a select group—four pairs of teammates who have thrown touchdown passes to each other in the same game.

They joined the ranks of Blake Bortles and Marqise Lee (Jaguars, 2016), Jim McMahon and Walter Payton (Bears, 1985), and a previous Lions duo, Gary Danielson and James Jones in 1984.

As the team prepares for the upcoming bye week, the focus will be on addressing the secondary issues while also supporting the Tigers as they face the Astros.

If the Tigers make it to the ALDS, it will mark a historic moment, as it would be the first time since 1935 that both the Tigers and the Lions host playoff games in the same year.

With opportunities for improvement ahead, Campbell and the Lions are determined to refine their strategies, enhance their defense, and maintain their competitive edge as they navigate the remainder of the season.

The focus remains on getting back to their defensive roots while capitalizing on their offensive strengths as they look forward to the challenges ahead.