Detroit Lions film review: Taking a microscope to ground game, third downs and explosive plays after 44-point surge vs. Washington
Allen Park — Eight possessions, eight scores. The Detroit Lions cruised up and down the field against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, scoring five touchdowns, with each of their first three drives ending in the end zone.
The final tally: 534 yards and 44 points.
That’s more like it and a hell of a 2025 play-calling debut for coach Dan Campbell, who assumed the duties from coordinator John Morton earlier in the week.
Almost everything the Lions dialed up against the Commanders, run and pass, worked as designed. We’re going to break it down with a fine-toothed comb, from the ground game to third down to the explosive gains in this week’s film review.
And, as always, if you don’t have the time or aren’t interested in the nitty-gritty details, there will be some concluding thoughts at the end of the post.
Run-game efficiency
Everything starts with the run. When the ground game is highly efficient, the Lions are tough to stop.
And while there are multiple formulas to determine an efficient run, I’ve largely stuck with the first one shared with me by former Lions coach Jim Schwartz.
Four or more yards on first-and-10
At least half the remaining distance on second down
A successful conversion on third or fourth down
The tip-off that the Lions were in for a good day offensively on Sunday wasn’t the touchdown on the game’s opening possession, but how the team accomplished it.
The Lions ran the ball five times during the drive — including four first-down handoffs — and were efficient on all of them. That kept Detroit ahead of the chains, setting the tone for the afternoon.