When you’re an NFL head coach and your team is putting up numbers like Dan Campbell’s Detroit Lions are, there are bound to be unintended consequences of winning. But their current predicament, admittedly, is a new one. The Lions have a plus-159-point differential — the 11th-best mark through 10 games in NFL history.
They’ve scored 50 or more points twice and 40 or more four times. They beat the Titans by 38 points, and handed the Cowboys their worst loss of the Jerry Jones era and the Jaguars their worst loss in franchise history. Advertisement It doesn’t happen every week, but it has happened enough to spark the conversation: At what point in these games should the Lions bench their starters? “This is another one of those bizarre things that you’re running into,” head coach Dan Campbell said after Sunday’s 52-6 win over the Jaguars.
“Normally, this doesn’t happen. It’s just like the third time this has come up this season, which, it’s a good problem to have.” Except, it’s not that bizarre.
At least not for this team. The Lions are the third in the Super Bowl era to record three wins of 35 points or more through the first 10 games of a season. After obtaining such a large lead, their starters have gotten the hook early in the fourth quarter.
Naturally, there’s a balancing act to it all. One worth discussing. NFL teams are allowed to have up to 48 active players on game day.
In the rare instances where leads feel insurmountable and mass subs oc.