The Detroit Lions might play their home games in the climate-controlled comfort of Ford Field. But call the Lions a "dome team" at your own risk.
The Lions went to a cold, rainy Lambeau Field on Sunday and appeared to be the team better equipped to handle the elements in a 24-14 win over the Green Bay Packers. It's just another feather in the cap of the team with the best record in the NFC.
"I am not shocked one bit that we came over here and played pretty good football out in the elements," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said after the win, per the official transcript. "We are built for this, man, and it doesn't matter just because we play indoors. It doesn't matter.
"We can play anywhere. We can play in the snow. We can play in the rain. Play in the mud. That is just us and we are built to win, man."
Lions defensive back Kerby Joseph, who had a crucial pick-six right before halftime, was perhaps feeding off Campbell's confidence or feeling the bliss of the Lions' conference-best 7-1 record when he made an even bolder statement about Detroit's potential.
"It's a statement to the NFC," Joseph said, . "We control the NFC."
The way the Lions have won games recently, it's hard to argue. Even with the season-ending leg injury to Aidan Hutchinson and with Jameson Williamsmissing the past two games due to a PED suspension, the Lions have dominated more often than not after a slow start to the season.
Winning at Lambeau isn't easy, but the Lions did so again on Sunday, which was their third straight victory there -- the longest streak there for Detroit since the early 1990s. And the Lions won Sunday in what might be called "Packers weather."
Jared Goff certainly didn't look uncomfortable throwing in rainy, windy conditions. Wearing gloves, Goff completed 18 of 22 passes for 145 yards -- his third straight game and the fourth time in his past five games completing at least 80% of his passes. Indoors, outdoors, he has been as accurate as any quarterback in the ąú˛úÍâÁ÷Ířrecently.
Goff seemed to have fun with the weather question in his with FOX's Erin Andrews, noting that the rain got heavier in the second half.
"It was a fun game," Goff told Andrews. "Whenever you get in these games -- once a year, you kind of get one like this. In Green Bay. In Lambeau. We're supposed to be the dome team. We come in here, and we're supposed to be the team that can't play outside, and we come in here and win."
For a second straight game, the Lions were outgained by more than 100 yards but won each one by double digits. They also lost defensive back Brian Branch, who was ejected from the game, but the Lions controlled the game, leading 24-3 late in the third quarter before the Packers scored twice to make it a 10-point loss.
Goff said after the game that the Lions' ability to adjust to their opponents and whatever game conditions are presented have made them a tough opponent to deal with.
"We're supposed to be the dome team who can't play outside," Goff said, per the official transcript. "We're supposed to be the team that can only win one way. I think we've shown a handful of times we can win in multiple ways. We're chameleons."
Chameleons who like the wind and rain, apparently.
