Not long ago, the Detroit Lions were considered one of the easiest teams to face on the road. However, they have now become the NFL’s top road team.
With their 24-6 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, the Lions improved to 10-1 on the season—their best start since 1934—and maintained an undefeated 6-0 record away from home. The speed of this turnaround is remarkable.
“We really come together on the road,” said quarterback Jared Goff, who has witnessed the transformation firsthand. “We have an us-against-them mentality when we’re on the road. We embrace it.”
Just two seasons ago, the Lions struggled to win a game away from home. Head coach Dan Campbell recently reflected on the team’s 0-11-1 road record to start his tenure, which stretched into the 2022 season. Many key players from that difficult period have played a significant role in the team’s current success.
“Just thinking about where we were, and now we’re 16-5 since then,” Campbell said after the game. “It’s a testament to the guys who have stuck with it—Goff, Frank (Ragnow), Taylor (Decker), Penei (Sewell), Alim (McNeill), Amon-Ra (St. Brown)—they’ve all been part of this turnaround.”
The Lions’ strong road performance bodes well for their playoff chances, as four of their last six games are at home. Their only home loss this season came in Week 2 against the Buccaneers.
Since that defeat, they’ve won road games against Arizona, Dallas, Minnesota, Green Bay, Houston, and Indianapolis. The only one of those teams currently out of playoff contention is the Cowboys.
The Kansas City Chiefs, who also won Sunday, are the only team in the NFL with just one road loss, while every other team has at least two.
The Lions’ success on the road is due in part to their preparation for both opponents and environments. As tackle Taylor Decker put it, “We prepare for hostile crowds. We have a group of guys who love the challenge of playing in tough environments. It’s fun for us. We’re competitors, and we embrace the test.”
Detroit still has a chance to finish with a perfect road record. They will play the Chicago Bears in Week 16 and the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football in Week 17. Both teams are on losing streaks, with the Bears having dropped five straight games and the 49ers losing two in a row.
