Detroit Lions: 3 keys to victory in their Week 1 matchup
By Kellen Voss
The Detroit Lions open their season tonight on Monday Night Football against the New York Jets. Here’s what they need to do to start the season strong.
Football is back. The day that Motor City fans have been waiting for since last December is finally here, as the Detroit Lions open their season tonight with a home matchup against the New York Jets.
Despite the lovable-losers perception of this team, Detroit has actually been decent in season openers as of late, going 6-1 in Week 1 since 2011. They look to improve upon this impressive record Monday night at 7:10 p.m. ET.
In order to start this season off on a high note, the Detroit Lions need to come out strong in front of their home fans. Here are three keys to victory:
Establish the running game
The one the Lions have been missing from their offense for what seems like an eternity now is a running game. If they can manage to add that feature to their offense, it will put less pressure on quarterback Matthew Stafford and opens up the field for the rest of the passing game.
Improving upon the running game was the main focus of general manager Bob Quinn, as he used a first and second round pick to address the issue. Offensive linemen Frank Ragnow is a bruiser up front and has looked like a draft gem at left guard.
Second round pick running back Kerryon Johnson has been turning heads all preseason long and can elevate the Lions’ offense to an elite level. Combine him with Theo Riddick‘s agility and LeGarrette Blount‘s power, and the Lions finally have a complete backfield.
For the first time in a long time, the Lions have the pieces in place to have an above-average running game. It’s up to offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter to put those pieces together.