PHILADELPHIA \u2013 It was an uncharacteristic night for the Detroit Lions’ usually high-powered and high-scoring offense.<\/p>\n
Detroit struggled to maintain drives and convert them into points as their issues on third down persisted in a 16-9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.<\/p>\n
Detroit entered the game 21st on third down converting just 37.5 percent of the time. They were 3-for-13 (23.1 percent) on third down against the Eagles and 0-for-5 on fourth down.<\/p>\n
Head coach Dan Campbell took an aggressive approach to Sunday’s game, going for it five times on fourth down, but Detroit failed to convert one, which ended up being the biggest difference in the contest.<\/p>\n
“There are some things I wish I would have done differently,” Campbell said after the game. “If you go totally conservative in the way this game played out and the way it was, you have a better chance of winning that game. Some of those decisions, I understand that. Also, that’s who we are. That’s who I am. And it bit us today.”<\/p>\n
The Lions were without tight end Sam LaPorta<\/a> due to a back injury, and LaPorta is usually a very reliable target on third down. Detroit’s other key target on third down, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown<\/a>, caught just two of his 12 targets on the night.<\/p>\n Campbell said it wasn’t anything unusual from Philadelphia’s defense. He chalked Sunday night’s offensive performance up to just one of those games where they were a little bit off and could never get it on track consistently.<\/p>\n