Goff, Gibbs and Campbell lead the Lions to a 44-22 win over the Commanders in front of Trump

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Dan Campbell’s Detroit Lions do not lose consecutive games. They simply don’t. And he made sure that three-years-plus streak of following any defeat with a victory would continue emphatically by donning his reading glasses Sunday so he could see the play sheet while taking over his team’s offense.

With Campbell in charge of play-calling instead of offensive coordinator John Morton, Jared Goff threw for 320 yards and three TDs and Jahmyr Gibbs found the end zone three times and ran for 142 yards in a bounce-back 44-22 win over the Washington Commanders in front of President Donald Trump.

“It’s been a long time since he’s done it. … He was great,” said Goff, who completed 25 of 33 passes with no interceptions and touchdown connections with Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown — who celebrated with a “Trump dance” — and Jameson Williams.

“He’s not just this rah-rah guy,” the QB said about Campbell. “He’s extremely smart.”

With Trump watching from a suite after arriving late in the first half — making him the first sitting U.S. president at a regular-season NFL game since 1978, and just the third ever — the Lions (6-3) put up the first 22 points and never looked back.

They scored on each of their initial eight possessions.

“Shout-out to Dan and how he controlled the game,” said Williams, who had six catches for 119 yards. “It was kind of funny seeing him with the glasses. … It’s a different look, for sure.”

More than enough to keep intact a streak that began in Campbell’s second season in charge and is the longest active such run in the NFL: The Lions have not lost two regular-season outings in a row since a five-game skid ended in October 2022.

After his club’s sloppy performance in last week’s 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Campbell decided during the week to make the change with his offense.

“It was just: Let’s try something a little different,” Campbell said. “Maybe a different play-caller can get us a little more rhythm.”

The Commanders (3-7), playing without injured quarterback Jayden Daniels and wideout Terry McLaurin, lost their fifth game in a row, one season after going 12-5 in the regular season and beating Detroit in the playoffs en route to the NFC championship game.

Washington moved defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. from the booth down to the sideline for this game, but that did little to fix the club’s problems on that side of the ball. As often has been the case this season, the Commanders put up little resistance.

Washington trailed 32-10 early in the second half, marking its fourth straight game that was not competitive — each was lost by at least 21 points. Commanders fans headed to the exits early — as did Trump, after making an appearance on the game broadcast.

Daniels dislocated his left elbow in Week 9 and sat out his fourth game of the season after not missing any while earning AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

He was replaced by Marcus Mariota, who went 16 for 22 for 213 yards and a pair of touchdowns without receivers McLaurin, Noah Brown or Luke McCaffrey.

“Everyone’s frustrated, upset,” Mariota said. “Those are emotions you want to feel at this point.”

Payne ejected

Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne was ejected in the first half for unnecessary roughness after punching St. Brown.

Injuries

Lions: C Graham Glasgow went to the sideline late in the second quarter with a bad back. … CB Terrion Arnold left with a concussion.

Commanders: CB Trey Amos left the game in the second quarter after hurting his ankle. … RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. injured his shoulder. … LB Ale Kaho got a concussion. … CB Jonathan Jones departed in the third quarter with a groin injury. … McLaurin (quadriceps) was sidelined for the sixth time in the past seven games.

Up next

Commanders: Head to Spain to face the Miami Dolphins in Madrid next Sunday.

Lions: At the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday night.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl