Tag: Kerby Joseph

The Detroit Lions have been waiting for this moment. Monday Night Football. A national stage. A chance to prove they’ve grown since their last trip to Baltimore, a nightmare game in 2023 where the Ravens embarrassed them 38-6.

This time, it’s not just about showing up. It’s about redemption. Dan Campbell’s group has the toughness, the playmakers, and the motivation. But to pull off a win at M&T Bank Stadium, the Lions must execute with precision.

Here are the five keys in this week’s Grit Guide to knocking off the Ravens.

1. Start Fast — No Repeat of 2023

The last time Detroit played at M&T Bank Stadium, the game was over before it really began. Lamar Jackson scored four touchdowns in four possessions, while Detroit’s offense sputtered with two straight three-and-outs. By the time the Lions picked up a first down, they were already buried in a 28-0 hole.

That’s not just a bad start; that’s a death sentence against a team like Baltimore. Tight end Sam LaPorta admitted the Lions hit the panic button too early, and once they fell behind, they pressed instead of sticking to their identity.

This year, that can’t happen. The Lions don’t necessarily need a touchdown on the opening drive, but they do need to sustain possessions. A couple of first downs, a few runs from Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, and maybe a chain-moving grab from Amon-Ra St. Brown would go a long way in settling nerves. Keeping Lamar Jackson on the sideline early and avoiding another frantic start is priority number one.

2. Gang Tackle Derrick Henry

Stopping Derrick Henry isn’t a one-man job. At 6’2” and 252 pounds, the Ravens’ new battering ram running back is built to break arm tackles and run through defenders. Dan Campbell made it clear: if you want to slow Henry down, you need “population of the football.” That means 11 guys swarming to the ball every play.

The defensive line will set the tone, but this is where the linebackers and safeties must shine. Jack Campbell has the size and strength to meet Henry head-on, while Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph have to be sure tacklers in space. The goal isn’t just to stop Henr, it’s to stop his feet. If Detroit can force Henry to hesitate in the backfield, they’ll have a chance to bottle him up before he rumbles downhill.

If Henry gets rolling, Baltimore controls the tempo. If the Lions swarm him, they flip the script.

3. Contain Lamar Jackson, Don’t Chase Him

The temptation for edge rushers is always the same: pin your ears back and try to sack the quarterback. But with Lamar Jackson, that’s the worst thing you can do. Overpursue, and he slips through a crease for 20 yards. Lose contain, and he turns broken plays into highlight reels.

That’s why Aidan Hutchinson, Al-Quadin Muhammad, and possibly Marcus Davenport (if healthy) must be disciplined. Rushing in their lanes, collapsing the pocket without giving Jackson an escape hatch, is more important than tallying sacks. Campbell praised his defense for how they handled Caleb Williams in Week 2, but Lamar is a different level of problem.

Detroit gave itself a boost by signing Malik Cunningham to the practice squad. Cunningham, Jackson’s former Louisville teammate, has been mimicking Lamar in practice this week. That preparation should help the Lions’ defense understand the speed and unpredictability that’s coming on Monday night.

4. Feed Amon-Ra St. Brown Early and Often

When in doubt, get the ball to Amon-Ra St. Brown. The All-Pro wide receiver has become the heartbeat of Detroit’s passing game, and his chemistry with Jared Goff is as sharp as any QB-WR duo in the league.

St. Brown is especially valuable against Baltimore’s defense because of how he works the middle of the field. The Ravens’ linebackers and safeties will already be preoccupied with stopping Gibbs and Montgomery in the run game. That opens windows for St. Brown on crossing routes, slants, and in-breaking patterns. If he starts moving the chains early, the Ravens can’t load up the box.

And when Baltimore does adjust? That’s when guys like Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta can exploit single coverage down the field. It all starts with St. Brown forcing the Ravens to respect every inch of the field.

5. Win the Turnover Battle

It’s cliché, but it’s also true: turnovers decide games. The Lions learned that lesson the hard way against Baltimore in 2023, when short fields only made a bad day worse. On the flip side, Detroit’s three takeaways against Chicago last week fueled their 52-point explosion.

The Lions need the same type of opportunistic defense on Monday. Whether it’s Hutchinson forcing a strip sack, Kerby Joseph jumping a route, or Branch knocking the ball loose in the open field, the Lions must flip possessions.

Baltimore’s offense is too good to give extra chances. If Detroit finishes with a +2 turnover margin, history says they’ll almost always walk away with a win.

The Ravens embarrassed Detroit the last time these two teams met. That memory still stings, and it’s fueling this week’s preparation. But this Lions team is built differently.

Follow the Grit Guide, start fast, swarm Henry, contain Lamar, feed St. Brown, and win the turnover battle, and Detroit won’t just compete. They’ll have every chance to walk out of Baltimore with a statement win on Monday Night Football.