DETROIT — Coming out of the bye week, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell called third-down efficiency, or the offense’s lack thereof, the “most glaring” issue that needed fixing. Coaches spent their week off addressing it, with offensive coordinator John Morton taking a look “at all the third downs” up to that point in the season. His takeaway: It’s a collective issue (ranging from staff to personnel), and “what it boils down to is just execution.”

The Lions certainly didn’t execute well enough in Sunday’s 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, when they converted on 29.4% (5-for-17) of their third downs. Two of those conversions came when the line to gain was 1 yard away, and another came with 3 yards to go. On third-down attempts longer than 3 yards, the Lions went 2-for-13.

“I ju

See Full Page