The Detroit Lions have been one of the best teams in the NFL through the first 11 weeks of the season.
If this year had ended after Monday night’s game, the Lions would have won their first district championship since the 1993 season and clinched a playoff berth with hopes of winning a playoff game for the first time since the 1991 season.
The last time the Lions won a playoff game, Herman Moore was a rookie. He developed into one of the best receivers Detroit had before Calvin Johnson came along. He had 670 receptions, 9,174 yards, and 62 touchdowns from 1991 to 2001. He finished his career with the New York Giants in 2002.
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Herman Moore (left) of the Detroit Lions makes a pass to Tyrone Williams of the Green Bay Packers during the third quarter at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, on September 28, 1997. (Matt Campbell/AFP via Getty Images)
Moore has enjoyed what he’s seen so far from the 8-2 Lions and has been surprised by what they’ve become so far.
“I’m impressed by the fact that they’ve remained so consistent and stuck to the process,” he told FOX News Digital in a recent interview. ”[Head coach] Dan Campbell came in with a plan, so when faced with adversity early on in a new coaching tenure, especially for a first-time head coach, he usually pivots and does a lot to break away from what he originally thought. That’s what we do. ”
“But I think Dan Campbell has been pretty true to that and the players understand the consistency of culture that he expects. And because of that, I’m not only surprised by the success, but the fact “I’m more than surprised. They’re doing it with great confidence and haven’t made the mistakes you would expect a team in a rebuilding phase to make.”
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell is pictured during the second half of a game against the Chicago Bears on November 19, 2023 at Ford Field in Detroit. (Gregory Shams/Getty Images)
Since arriving in Detroit, Campbell has become a fan favorite for his hard-hitting mentality, coaching the game he loves and throwing some irony that sticks with fans.
But Moore said it was much more than that, noting that it was only because he didn’t hold a clipboard throughout his career that his players were able to understand his philosophy and dynamics as a coach. He also played games.
“From day one, you could tell there was a difference with Coach Campbell, and I think that’s contributed to a lot of his success, is that he’s a coach who’s been in the game,” Moore said. “He understands that. I think it’s undervalued and not given as much credibility as it should be.”
Campbell was a tight end in the NFL from 1999 to 2008 and also played for the Lions late in his playing career before becoming a coach.
Moore also pointed to Campbell’s coaching staff, which includes former players in key positions, to help develop players.
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Detroit Lions receiver Herman Moore is shown playing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tampa Stadium. (Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY NETWORK/File)
“He created a blueprint of what happens when you bring in the right people, players who understand how to work with talent,” Moore said. “The players understand how important culture is, they understand how important accountability is, and there are usually more channels of communication than just coaches who only understand one side of the game. I think it’s much smoother now.”
Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and David Montgomery all contributed significantly to the team’s success this season.
Moore praised Brown for how he was able to emerge as a star wide receiver after the team selected him in the fourth round of the 2021 draft. He has 73 catches for 898 yards and five touchdowns this season.
“I have to take my hat off to him because we have a young guy coming in here who took the mantle and became a leader at the wide receiver position even though he was drafted later.” Moore said. “I think he’s consistently proven that he’s not only worthy of first-round status right now, but that he’s a perennial star at the receiver position in the NFL.”
“He continues the tradition that we’ve had over the years with this franchise of having superstar players. It’s great to see him do that and he does it very well.” I think it’s because you do it consistently and almost effortlessly that you might be overlooked. ”
Moore believes his team’s success could earn them a bye week, but they will need to beat the defending conference champion Philadelphia Eagles to get there.
“Looking at the remaining game schedule, I think they can still afford a loss or two and are in a very good position to get a bye or at least have a playoff game at home,” he said. he told FOX News Digital.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Chicago Bears on November 19, 2023 at Ford Field in Detroit. (Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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“As an alumnus, I’m so excited. It’s been a long time coming for this series and this fan base.”
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