Allen Park — Facing a third-and-17 late in the second quarter during last week’s victory over the Eagles, Lions offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter initially planned to call a play that would create an easier field-goal attempt.
Instead, he chose to be aggressive, and it paid off when quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson connected for a 25-yard touchdown to give the Lions a 24-7 halftime lead.
“Just kind of field position and trust in our offense kind of allowed that to happen,” Cooter said Monday.
Trust goes both ways, and as Cooter increasingly has earned the trust of the players, the offense has been playing better.