DETROIT — The Detroit Lions are enjoying such a successful run that a major topic of discussion following their 52-6 victory is whether they kept their starters in the game for too long.
Head coach Dan Campbell elaborated on his rationale for the decision, describing it as a rare and “good problem to have.” In their Week 11 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, many starters played into the fourth quarter during a record-setting offensive display.
Campbell makes a valid point—it is indeed a favorable dilemma. This pattern is becoming common for the team, with three significant blowouts over the past six weeks. For instance, second-year quarterback Hendon Hooker has played in three of the last six games, stepping in during the fourth quarter.
“This is a strange situation we keep encountering,” Campbell remarked. “It’s unusual, and this is the third time it’s happened this season, which is a good problem to have.
“There are various factors to consider. You want to finish strong, maintain your rhythm, but then you have to decide when to pull the starters. The challenge is when you’re playing well, and then suddenly there’s a dip in performance—that can feel unsettling. You want to avoid injuries, but you also worry about how pulling them might affect the following week.”
Quarterback Jared Goff and the starting offense found the end zone on their first seven possessions, a feat not accomplished since the great New England Patriots did it in 2007. Goff finished his game with about 13 minutes remaining, capping things off with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown, making the score 49-6.
Most starters were resting after that, except for Penei Sewell, who completed the game on the offensive line. Graham Glasgow was the only other offensive player to play all 79 snaps, and Campbell had a solid explanation for that.
It’s evident that the Lions’ head coach has thoughtfully considered his approach in these scenarios, regardless of fan opinions.
“After that last touchdown with about 13 minutes left, I told the guys to pull the starters,” Campbell said. “You just have to manage the game and do what’s necessary to finish it. You want to get Sewell out, but we only have three reserve linemen available.
“You have to make decisions about your oldest or more experienced players, especially those who might be dealing with injuries. You do the best you can.”
Taylor Decker missed the previous week’s game due to a shoulder injury, and both Kevin Zeitler and Frank Ragnow have also missed time this season, supporting Campbell’s points.
Amik Robertson, the starting slot cornerback, shared that defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn’s philosophy regarding whether starters should continue playing is to “finish your food.”
Safety Kerby Joseph was the only defensive starter to play every one of the 48 snaps. Linebackers Jack Campbell, Brian Branch, and cornerback Terrion Arnold took just three plays off, while linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez and defensive linemen Josh Paschal and Alim McNeill also logged over 40 snaps in the win.
When responding to questions about the team’s defensive performance, Campbell took a moment to clarify his decisions about when to pull starters. He emphasized his thought process to ensure there was no confusion in the future.
“I refuse to let the fear of injury compromise our identity,” Campbell stated. “That’s always going to be my priority.
“The moment you start worrying about injuries is when things go wrong, so I wanted to make that clear. It’s been on my mind.”
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