It was a player who had once been told he was too small that came up with arguably the biggest performance Sunday night in Detroit’s 31-9 NFC North clinching win over the Minnesota Vikings.
Amik Robertson (5-9, 183) has been a jack-of-all-trades for the Lions’ secondary starting in the slot for most of the season, but more recently moving outside after the Lions lost outside cornerback Carlton Davis III to a jaw injury.
With the NFC North title and the NFC’s No. 1 seed on the line vs. the Vikings, Lions head coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn went to Robertson last Monday night and told him it would be his responsibility to cover one of the best wide receivers in the NFL in Vikings All-Pro Justin Jefferson.
“When AG and Dan gave me the assignment, I knew we had a chance to win,” Robertson said after the game. “I knew they were going to put me in a good situation to be myself within the scheme.
“I’ve been anxious for this opportunity for so long. Everything I did out there I expected – I knew I was going to play that way, the only thing I kind of (thought) was shocking, that I got Player of the Game. I never got one of those, man, that was an unreal feeling.”
Robertson was awarded a game ball from Campbell postgame after holding Jefferson to two catches for 48 yards on six targets in his coverage area and also breaking up a pass. Robertson also chipped in five tackles as he’s been stellar supporting the run and the quick screen game all season.
“It’s the reason we signed him, you know,” Campbell said of Robertson. “We were fortunate enough to be able to play against him, had crossover tape last year. He is competitive, he’s as competitive as they come. He doesn’t turn down any challenge, and you know no matter what you can say, ‘Hey, go cover that guy,’ and he’s going to give you his best – he’s not going to shy away from it, he’s not going to fear from it.
“Amik’s just been, he’s really one of the guys that has helped us play really good defense this year and play the style of defense that we want to play, and AG wants to play, to be able to challenge more on the perimeter. It’s big for us.”
Robertson signed a two-year contract with the Lions this past offseason after beginning his career with Las Vegas and playing both in the slot and outside for the Raiders. His personality and play style are a perfect fit for this defense. He’s physical and his inside-outside versatility is a trait the Lions covet.
“When I signed here, I told Dan. I told Brad (Holmes). I told AG (Glenn) that I appreciate them, man,” Robertson said. “I’ve been through a lot, man. They tried to bury me, say I was this, I was too small, this and that. But you can’t bury what comes from the dirt. I got here by earning everything.
“Just having coaches like that. A GM like that. They believe in you, and it makes you want to run through a wall for them. I tell them all the time that I appreciate them.”
