ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — The Detroit Lions have shown plenty of Dan Campbell-inspired swagger thanks to a 10-1 start.
It doesn’t matter if they are playing at home at Ford Field or on the road.
Their latest example was a 24-6 win over the Colts at Indianapolis on Sunday.
Detroit has won six consecutive road games, extending its single-season record-long streak. This run ties the overall franchise record for consecutive road wins from the 2010-11 seasons.
It’s a far cry from Campbell’s first season and a half in Detroit when the Lions were 0-11-1 on the road. Since a 31-30 win in Chicago on Nov. 13, 2022, they are 16-5 in road games.
“Everybody that’s in that locker room is responsible for (the flip). It says a lot, if you can win on the road you’re normally a pretty damn good team and we can win on the road," Campbell said. “We’re in a good place, we’re just playing ball trying to get the next win.”
The Lions (10-1) have a quick turnaround facing the Chicago Bears (4-7) on Thursday at home.
"This one is going to be huge, a division opponent, it’s a big one. Win another one and we’re all happy, but you lose a division game and all of a sudden, man, it doesn’t feel real good," Campbell said. “Minnesota and Green Bay are sitting right there. Chicago is not out of this either. This is a big week."
The Lions lead the NFC North followed by the Vikings (9-2), the Packers (8-3) and the Bears.
The run game continues to hum. RBs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery each produced a scrimmage touchdown in the same game for the 10th time in Sunday’s win. Gibbs scored two while Montgomery added one. Detroit is 10-0 in games in which both players score a touchdown.
They now have become the first RB duo in NFL history to rush for 10 or more touchdowns in consecutive seasons.
With starting rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold (groin) out Sunday, the banged-up secondary struggled at times. CB Kindle Vildor, who stepped in for Arnold, was targeted by Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, giving up three completions for 60 yards.
After the Lions beat the Jaguars the previous week without punting, punter Jack Fox was back in business with four punts averaging 48 yards.
“Field position was going to be big, we were going to lean on Jack Fox and boy he came through for us,” Campbell said. "What a monster day pinning those guys inside the 20 numerous times."
Tight end Sam LaPorta returned after missing a game with an injured shoulder and was not in sync with Jared Goff. Targeted six times, he caught just three passes for 19 yards. At least one pass sailed high over his head.
Look for possible game-time decisions on who will be available Thursday. Campbell said he’s most concerned about whether T Taylor Decker (knee), WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (knee), WR Kalif Raymond (foot) and CB Carlton Davis III (knee, thumb) will be ready. None would have practiced on Monday, per the estimated injury report. Also, RB David Montgomery (shoulder) and D.J. Reader (illness) would not have practiced. CB Terrion Arnold (groin) would have had a full practice.
17 — The Lions have allowed just 17 touchdowns in the first 11 games. It’s their fewest allowed through the first 11 games of any season since 1962. The defense has not allowed a touchdown in 10 consecutive quarters and hasn’t given up a second-half point in three consecutive games.
The Lions have not won a Thanksgiving game since 2016 and look to snap that seven-game losing streak on Thursday against the Bears at Ford Field. Detroit is 8-11 against Chicago on Thanksgiving.
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Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff throws during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) is tackled during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (1), defended by Detroit Lions cornerback Khalil Dorsey (30), is unable to catch a pass during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) prepares to slide during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
A judge on Monday rejected a request to block a San Jose State women’s volleyball team member from playing in a conference tournament on grounds that she is transgender.
The ruling by U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews in Denver will allow the player, who has played all season, to compete in the Mountain West Conference women’s championship opening this week in Las Vegas.
The ruling comes in a lawsuit filed by nine current players against the Mountain West Conference challenging the league’s policies for allowing transgender players to participate. The players argued that letting her compete was a safety risk and unfair.
While some media have reported those and other details, neither San Jose State nor the forfeiting teams have confirmed the school has a trans woman volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player’s name because she has not commented publicly on her gender identity. School officials also have declined an interview request with the player.
Crews' ruling referred to the athlete as an “alleged transgender” player and noted that no defendant disputed that the San Jose State roster includes a transgender woman player.
San Jose State will "continue to support its student-athletes and reject discrimination in all forms," the university said in a statement, confirming that all its student-athletes are eligible to participate under NCAA and conference rules. “We are gratified that the Court rejected an eleventh-hour attempt to change those rules. Our team looks forward to competing in the Mountain West volleyball tournament this week."
The conference did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
The players filed a notice for emergency appeal with the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Crews said the players who filed the complaint could have sought relief much earlier, noting the individual universities had acknowledged that not playing their games against San Jose State this season would result in a loss in league standings. He also refused a request to re-seed the tournament without the forfeited losses.
The judge said injunctions are meant to preserve the status quo. The conference policy regarding forfeiting for refusing to play against a team with a transgender player had been in effect since 2022 and the San Jose State player has been on the roster since 2022 -– making that the status quo.
The player competed at the college level three previous seasons, including two for San Jose State, drawing little attention. This season’s awareness of her reported identity led to an uproar among some players, pundits, parents and politicians in a major election year.
Crews' ruling also said injunctions are meant to prevent harm, but in this case, he argued, the harm has already occurred. The games have been forfeited, the tournament has been seeded, the teams have made travel plans and the participants have confirmed they're playing.
The tournament starts Wednesday and continues Friday and Saturday. Colorado State is seeded first and San Jose State, second. The teams split their regular-season matches and both get byes into Friday's semifinals.
San Jose State will play the winner of Wednesday's match between Utah State and Boise State — teams that both forfeited matches to SJSU during the regular season. Boise State associate athletic director Chris Kutz declined to comment on whether the Broncos would play SJSU if they won their first-round tournament game. Utah State associate athletic director Doug Hoffman said the university is reviewing the order and the team is preparing for Wednesday's match.
The conference tournament winner gets an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. San Jose State coach Todd Kress, whose team has not competed in the national tournament since 2001, has said his team has been getting “messages of hate” and that has taken a toll on his players.
Several teams refused to play against San Jose State during the season, earning losses in the official conference standings. Boise State and Wyoming each had two forfeits while Utah State and Nevada both had one. Southern Utah, a member of the Western Athletic Conference, was first to cancel against San Jose State this year.
Nevada’s players stated they “refuse to participate in any match that advances injustice against female athletes,” without elaborating. Nevada did not qualify for the conference tournament.
The nine current players and others now suing the Mountain West Conference, the California State University Board of Trustees and others include San Jose State senior setter and co-captain Brooke Slusser. Slusser says the player is transgender and hits the volleyball with more force than others on the team, raising fear during practices of suffering concussions from a head hit, according to the complaint.
The Independent Council on Women’s Sports is funding a separate lawsuit against the NCAA for allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports.
Both lawsuits claim the landmark 1972 federal antidiscrimination law known as Title IX prohibits transgender women in women’s sports. Title IX prohibits sexual discrimination in federally funded education; Slusser is a plaintiff in both lawsuits.
Several circuit courts have used a U.S. Supreme Court ruling to conclude that discriminating against someone based on their transgender status or sexual orientation is sex-based discrimination, Crews wrote. That means case law does not prove the “likelihood of success” needed to grant an injunction.
An NCAA policy that subjects transgender participation to the rules of sports governing bodies took effect this academic year. USA Volleyball says a trans woman must suppress testosterone for 12 months before competing. The NCAA has not flagged any issues with San Jose State.
The Republican governors of Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming have made public statements in support of the team cancellations, citing fairness in women’s sports. President-elect Donald Trump likewise has spoken out against allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports.
Crews was a magistrate judge in Colorado’s U.S. District Court for more than five years before President Joe Biden appointed him as a federal judge in January.
Gruver reported from Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Hanson from Helena, Montana.
FILE - The San Jose State University Spartans line up for the playing of the national anthem and player introductions for their NCAA Mountain West women's volleyball game against the Colorado State University Rams in Fort Collins, Colo., on Oct. 3, 2024. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP, file)
