Things started out pretty well for the Lions on Thursday. Really well, by the standards of their offense. Jared Goff launched -- launched, we tell you! -- a 39-yard touchdown to Josh Reynolds on Detroit's first drive of the game for a 7-0 lead over the Bears. And the Lions were looking for more midway through the second quarter with a first down inside Chicago's 30.
Three penalties and two plays later, they were back in their own territory. It was third and 32 from Detroit's 49. And instead of playing for a field goal -- or, imagine this, a first down -- Dan Campbell dialed up a draw to Jamaal Williams that went for one yard. Punt.
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The Lions went into the half down 13-7. Their offense came out of it with a three-and-out that ended with a short pass for no gain to Kalif Raymond on third and 4. And the offense came back on the field after a missed field by the Bears with a three-and-out that ended with a short pass to Raymond for no gain on third and 5.
Inside Ford Field, Campbell's play-calling had a lot of fans scratching their heads -- or screaming themselves hoarse. Likewise in living rooms around America. We take you to the living room of Hall of Famer O.J. Simpson.
"Just sitting here watching the game. I don’t get it," Simpson said in a video posted to Twitter. "Detroit is throwing three-, four-yard passes and on third and 3 you throw the ball to a guy behind the line of scrimmage. You’re not throwing the ball downfield, so the defense is playing up, they're coming forward, what makes you think a swing pass behind the line of scrimmage is going to gain any yards?? I don’t get it. Just saying."
We don't get it either.
But! The offense went 79 yards in seven plays on its next drive, capped off by a 17-yard touchdown pass from Goff to T.J. Hockenson. Midway through the fourth quarter, the Lions were leading 14-13 and Goff was 21-25 for 171 yards and two touchdowns.
Maybe Campbell knows what he's doing.