The Detroit Lions watched Washington beat Philadelphia on the way back after a bounce-back win in Chicago helped them keep pace with Minnesota in the race for the NFC North title and first place in the conference.
“I had it on my phone,” Jared Goff said after throwing for 336 yards and three touchdowns in one game 34-17 victory against the Bears. “Everyone seemed to have it on their phone too.”
The Lions and Vikings are 13-2 with two games remaining, including the regular season finale on Jan. 5 at Ford Field. The Eagles fell to 12-3.
Detroit will face San Francisco on the road next Monday night, a rematch of the NFC championship game in which the Lions blew a 17-point lead in the second half.
“We know we have to win,” coach Dan Campbell said Monday.
Minnesota faces Green Bay (9-4) on Sunday at home. Philadelphia ends the regular season at home against Dallas and the New York Giants.
“It’s exciting to be here,” Campbell said. “To me, that’s why you want to coach and play in this league.”
Give the ball to Jahmyr Gibbs. He had a season-high 23 carries – three short of his career high – for 109 yards and a touchdown, along with four catches for 45 yards. He’s more than capable of being featured while David Montgomery attempts to recover from a knee injury.
Gibbs has rushed for at least 70 yards in 15 consecutive games, matching the franchise record held by Hall of Famer Barry Sanders in 1997.
Sanders, Billy Sims and Gibbs are the three players in team history to have 1,500 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns in a season.
Pass the defense. Chicago’s Keenan Allen had nine receptions for 141 yards and a score. The Lions have allowed an opponent to have at least 114 receiving yards in three straight games and 96 or more receiving yards in five straight games.
Goff. He threw for at least 275 yards and two touchdowns with a passer rating of 135 for the fifth time this year, becoming the first player in league history to do that in a season.
He had the 41st 300-yard passing game of his career, tying the total of Hall of Famers Dan Marino and Matt Ryan in their first nine seasons and behind Patrick Mahomes’ total of 47 in the during his eight-year career.
Goff leads an offense that has scored a franchise-record 493 points in 15 games, surpassing the 2011 team that scored 474 points during a 10-6 season with quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson Hall of Fame.
The maturity of Jameson Williams. He was called out for taunting Chicago, giving them a 15-yard penalty for leaving questions about his decision-making lingering. Williams heard about his latest mistake from Campbell on the sideline. Williams powered through and finished with a career-high 143 yards, including an 82-yard touchdown, in what Campbell called the best game of his three-year career.
Starting goalie Graham Glasgow, who was inactive with a knee injury in Chicago, is expected to return to the lineup in San Francisco. … Safety Ifetu Melifonwu made his season debut against the Bears after suffering an Achilles tendon and finger injury. … Campbell said linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin could be available against the 49ers, adding that linebacker Alex Anzalone is close to being cleared to practice.
7 — Detroit has won seven straight NFC North games, dating back to last season.
The NFL’s only undefeated team in road games will look to extend its franchise record with an eighth road win this season against the 49ers to set up a showdown with Minnesota.
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