Shocking stat highlights the Detroit Lions offensive woes

The Detroit Lions need an offensive wake up call in 2019. Can new offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell help Motown overcome its offensive woes?

For eight games of the 2018 regular season, the Detroit Lions‘ offense scored 17 points or less in each contest. Averaging 20.3 points per game, the Lions ranked 25th in scoring offense last year. It’s one of the main reasons Detroit finished in the basement of the NFC North with a 6-10 season ending record.

It’s also why the Lions moved on from offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter this offseason. Cooter is now coaching running backs for the New York Jets. Which is ironic since running the football was strangely absent during most of Cooter’s reign as OC. In fact, during his four-year tenure in the position, the Lions’ rushing offense was ranked the worst in the entire NFL twice.

Despite the lack of offense on the ground, Detroit still found success through the air. In his first three years as offensive coordinator, Cooter’s passing offense would rank no lower than 11th. It reached a peak in 2017 where an average of 261 yards through the air per game had the Lions’ passing offense ranked sixth overall.

But last season, there was a hint of offensive balance. With the arrival of running backs LeGarrette Blount and Kerryon Johnson, Detroit put up 1,660 rushing yards. That was good enough to rank 23rd in the NFL.

Unfortunately, the passing offense took a nosedive, dropping from sixth the season before to 20th under first-year head coach Matt Patricia. Here’s what Dan Hanzus, End Around Writer for NFL.com, wrote on the league’s official website recently about quarterback Matthew Stafford‘s struggles last season.

"” … disconcerting was how the team got away from the advantage created by Stafford’s incredible right arm. According to Next Gen Stats, Stafford averaged 7.0 yards through the air on attempts last season, which put him second-to-last in football among qualifying passers. Thankfully, new OC Darrell Bevell wants to open up the offense.”"

On the surface, Stafford’s numbers from last season appear normal. The 10-year veteran passed for 3,777 yards, 21 touchdowns, only 11 interceptions with a completion percentage of 66.1. But a closer look reveals his yardage total was the lowest since an injury-shortened 2010. His touchdown total and yards per pass average were the lowest since 2012.

The immediate thought is the focus on running the football must have limited Stafford’s opportunities. But he had a total of 555 passing attempts in 2018. That’s only 10 less than the year before when the team fielded the worst rushing attack in the entire NFL.

Perhaps the offensive line didn’t do as good of a job protecting Stafford as they’ve done in previous years. But he was only sacked 40 times in 2018, his second lowest amount in the past five years.

There are a lot of maybes to consider. But the bottom line appears to be Matthew Stafford struggled last season, whatever the reason. And despite an improved rushing attack, the Detroit Lions aren’t going to be very good without Stafford playing his best football. Hopefully, new offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell can work some magic and help lift the game of the Lions’ veteran passer.