Detroit Lions: After starting 0-2 there is plenty of blame to go around

One of the things I found most distressing was how often I was hearing the talking heads on the radio applauding the Lions defense against San Francisco. Sure I get that they played the pass pretty well and sacked Jimmy Garappolo six times, but they still had a couple of costly mental mistakes that allowed an easy 49ers touchdown and negated what could have been the game-winning interception by Tracy Walker.

But the thing that was most overlooked was again how poorly they played the run. The 49ers ran for an unacceptable 190 yards and again the Lions allowed big runs due to poor discipline while setting the edge and awful run fits.

Yes, we can blame Patricia for this, but much of the blame has to also be passed on to the Lions defenders that seem to absolutely refuse to just do their job and execute their assignments.

Sure the fact that the Lions are fourth in the league in pass defense and tied for third in sacks looks good. Yet when we examine the total picture and see that the Lions are last in the NFL in rushing defense (and it’s not even that close) as well as being tied with Buffalo for giving up the most average points per game, it paints a much more complete and dreary picture.

Last season the Lions were horrible against the run after Haloti Ngata was lost for the season to injury in week five. This year they are even worse if that is at all possible.

Let’s put it like this; if I was New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick despite having the GOAT, Tom Brady at quarterback, my game plan for this week wouldn’t include one single pass play. Because as long as you keep handing the ball off against this Lions defense, you will not only pile up yards and control the clock, but there will most likely be at least a few long runs for scores.