“Very proud,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said of the defensive effort from the front seven Monday night. “A number of guys stepped up.”
The Lions signed wide receiver Malik Cunningham to their practice squad this week and he played the Jackson role in practice. To say Cunningham had a good day of practice on Wednesday would be a bit of an understatement, per Campbell.
The defense was better Thursday and even better Friday, and Campbell said after Friday’s practice he felt pretty good about the front seven’s ability to corral Jackson.
“I felt really good about what we were going to be able to do,” Campbell said. “The rest is just wait until Monday night to see it in action.”
Hutchinson credited the secondary with playing sticky coverage throughout the night to allow the pass rush to get home. He said Monday’s contest was a great example of what this defense is capable of when they marry the rush and cover as well as they did in Baltimore.
The Lions now have 11 sacks over the last two weeks. It’s the first time they’ve recorded at least 11 sacks through the first three games of the season since 2010.