Detroit Lions playoff hopes hinge on play of both lines

Defensive Line – Going Forward

This unit has a lot to prove. Last week’s poor performance as a whole defense, hopefully, will push them this week.

Getting Ansah back would be nice, but the Lions have almost no margin for error while chasing the Minnesota Vikings for the division title. Minnesota is two games ahead, but has to play us on Thanksgiving at home, and has a less favorable schedule to finish the year.

The Lions will have only home division games left after traveling to Soldier Field this week. So far, they are 2-0 in the division.

The Lions are tied for eighteenth in sacks, with Anthony Zettel, the leader, having six. Zettel has been a pleasant surprise all season, and a steady force at defensive end.

Tackles:Thornton, A’Shawn Robinson, Jeremiah Ledbetter, and Akeem Spence, plus ends: Zettel, Cornelius Washington, and Jeremiah Valoaga are all rotating into the lineup.

Of those players, only Robinson was a high draft pick, a second round selection last year.

Still, even with the big injuries to two of their best players, the Lions have stayed in the Top 10 against the run. They cannot afford to let the Chicago Bears, ranked ninth in rushing and featuring second-year runner Jordan Howard, repeat the success that Cleveland had.

Mitchell Trubisky, the Bears rookie quarterback, needs for his team to run the ball for them to win. They simply don’t have a lot of outside weapons due to their injuries.

Next: Detroit Lions - Midseason awards, top plays, key games

What do you want to see happen to our offensive and defensive lines? Do you think that they can improve and propel the Lions to illusive playoff success? Let me know in the comments. Thanks for reading! Go Lions!