Eagles' DC Vic Fangio Faces New Challenge as Dan Campbell Takes Reins
The Detroit Lions, who were 5-3 through eight weeks of the season, made a shocking move by stripping their new play-caller Dan Campbell of his play-calling duties during the Week 9 game against the Washington Commanders. The reason behind this decision was clear: the team's offense wasn't living up to its expectations.
Campbell took over following John Morton's departure and replaced Ben Johnson, who had orchestrated a Lions offense that gained momentum each year under his leadership until a breakthrough in 2024. That season, they led the NFL in scoring with about 33 points per game. However, through eight weeks of this season, Detroit wasn't far off from last year's marks.
In Week 9, Campbell made subtle changes to player alignment and usage, which can directly be traced to the team's resurgence. Two-time Pro Bowl running back Jahmyr Gibbs, one of the NFL's top dual threats, was a key factor in this turnaround. Gibbs had been asked to stay in for pass pro more often than usual due to the Vikings' high blitz rate, but Campbell opted to play him more freely, allowing him to exploit the Commanders' defense on third down.
This change paid off as Gibbs finished with 178 total yards on 18 touches and three touchdowns. His 88.9 route-run percentage was his most since Week 1, and he became a quick outlet for quarterback Jared Goff against pressure.
Another significant adjustment Campbell made was altering the alignment of wideout James Williams. Before taking over play-calling duties, Williams had lined up in the slot on more than 25 percent of his snaps. However, with Campbell at the helm, Williams saw a decrease in slot snaps and played outside on a season-high 88 percent of his snaps.
This newfound freedom for Williams unlocked one of the NFL's best vertical threats, allowing him to carve up the Commanders for 119 yards and average 19.8 yards per reception. The change also led to significant gains after the catch, with Williams' 58 yards being his most this season.
As a result, the Lions' offense seems to be humming again under Campbell's guidance. Their 44-point, 546-yard performance against the Commanders was an offensive masterclass, one that will undoubtedly test the Eagles' defense in Week 11. With their strong run game and play-action passing game, Detroit is well-equipped to exploit any weaknesses in the Eagles' secondary.
Campbell's ability to make these subtle adjustments will be crucial in determining how effectively his offense can counteract the Eagles' defense led by Vic Fangio. The stakes are high as the Lions look to continue their resurgence, and Campbell's play-calling prowess will be under a microscope.
The Detroit Lions, who were 5-3 through eight weeks of the season, made a shocking move by stripping their new play-caller Dan Campbell of his play-calling duties during the Week 9 game against the Washington Commanders. The reason behind this decision was clear: the team's offense wasn't living up to its expectations.
Campbell took over following John Morton's departure and replaced Ben Johnson, who had orchestrated a Lions offense that gained momentum each year under his leadership until a breakthrough in 2024. That season, they led the NFL in scoring with about 33 points per game. However, through eight weeks of this season, Detroit wasn't far off from last year's marks.
In Week 9, Campbell made subtle changes to player alignment and usage, which can directly be traced to the team's resurgence. Two-time Pro Bowl running back Jahmyr Gibbs, one of the NFL's top dual threats, was a key factor in this turnaround. Gibbs had been asked to stay in for pass pro more often than usual due to the Vikings' high blitz rate, but Campbell opted to play him more freely, allowing him to exploit the Commanders' defense on third down.
This change paid off as Gibbs finished with 178 total yards on 18 touches and three touchdowns. His 88.9 route-run percentage was his most since Week 1, and he became a quick outlet for quarterback Jared Goff against pressure.
Another significant adjustment Campbell made was altering the alignment of wideout James Williams. Before taking over play-calling duties, Williams had lined up in the slot on more than 25 percent of his snaps. However, with Campbell at the helm, Williams saw a decrease in slot snaps and played outside on a season-high 88 percent of his snaps.
This newfound freedom for Williams unlocked one of the NFL's best vertical threats, allowing him to carve up the Commanders for 119 yards and average 19.8 yards per reception. The change also led to significant gains after the catch, with Williams' 58 yards being his most this season.
As a result, the Lions' offense seems to be humming again under Campbell's guidance. Their 44-point, 546-yard performance against the Commanders was an offensive masterclass, one that will undoubtedly test the Eagles' defense in Week 11. With their strong run game and play-action passing game, Detroit is well-equipped to exploit any weaknesses in the Eagles' secondary.
Campbell's ability to make these subtle adjustments will be crucial in determining how effectively his offense can counteract the Eagles' defense led by Vic Fangio. The stakes are high as the Lions look to continue their resurgence, and Campbell's play-calling prowess will be under a microscope.
and it's all thanks to Dan Campbell making some savvy adjustments 
. But you know who's got to deal with this newfound offense? Vic Fangio, the Eagles' defense coach 
. He's been doing a great job as the defensive coordinator, but I'm not sure if he can keep up with the Lions' firepower 
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. A team makes some adjustments and suddenly they're on top, but then the opposition has to adapt or get left behind 
. In this case, the Eagles are going to have to figure out how to stop the Lions' offense, which is essentially a chess match between Campbell's play-calling and Fangio's defensive strategy 
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. Can the Eagles' coaching staff come up with a plan to contain this high-powered offense? I think they'll need to dig deep and find some creative solutions, just like how Campbell did in that Week 9 game 
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️. I'm curious to see how Vic Fangio's defense responds to these changes. Will they be able to shut down Gibbs and Williams? Only time will tell 
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. The stakes are high, but it's exciting to see a team find their rhythm and start playing like a well-oiled machine 
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! I mean, they were struggling big time before he came in, but now they're cooking on all cylinders 
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. Now, I'm not saying he's going to be the next great coach or anything, but he's definitely doing a heck of a job so far 
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. But I'm still feeling good about the Lions – they've got some talented players and a real team dynamic going on 
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. Playing him more freely outside was a stroke of genius and completely unlocked his vertical threat abilities 
. And with the team's strong run game and play-action passing, they're looking like a real force to be reckoned with 
. Can Campbell's offense continue to hum along under his guidance? The stakes are high, but I think he's got what it takes 
. But, you know what? The changes he made were genius 
. Like, altering James Williams' alignment and playing him more outside was pure magic 
. And don't even get me started on Jahmyr Gibbs 
. Can Campbell and his offense keep up? Only time will tell 
. Still, it's cool to see him getting another shot at it - maybe this is his chance to prove himself as more than just a play-caller 
... he just got taken away from calling plays in his own game and it's like his team is losing its rhythm 
. But at the same time, I gotta give credit to him for making some smart adjustments that paid off so big 
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... and I'm here for it 
. Bring on Week 11!
can't wait to see how this plays out in week 11 
88% of his snaps? that's crazy! i'm hyped for week 11 tho, det is gonna give the eagles a run for their money 
they had a good run last year but this season was kinda meh. think campbell's changes are key tho, especially with gibs and williams. now that jimmy garoppolo (not jared lol) is injured they're in trouble again 
The addition of James Williams' newfound role as an outside receiver is also super exciting - that dude's got some serious skills 
. They're playing some seriously good football right now, and it'll be interesting to see how they match up against the Eagles' defense in Week 11