The Detroit Lions need to stop bending and play defense
By Robert Jones
It has not been a banner year for the Detroit Lions defense so far. They need to stop bending while trying not to break and just start attacking.
The Detroit Lions season is now officially on life support. After starting the campaign with a 2-0-1 record they dropped four of their last five games and are watching their playoff hopes disappear.
The truth is that stranger things have happened then the Lions possibly making a run to get back in the playoff picture, but if we’re being honest with ourselves, what gives us any hope that such a run could occur?
For anyone paying attention, the Lions offense has improved over last seasons dismal performance. Under new offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, Matthew Stafford has found new life and bounced back from one of the poorest seasons of his career.
As the Lions prepare to take on the Chicago Bears today, Stafford is among the top passers in the NFL. He has not only been more efficient this year, but he has also re-discovered the joys of stretching opposing defenses with deep passes. Something that seemed to have been completely missing from last season’s playbook.
Receivers Marvin Jones, Kenny Golladay, Danny Amendola, and even Marvin Hall have helped open up the airways and taken turns burning opposing secondaries. Meanwhile, tight end T.J. Hockenson is a promising young player and Jesse James and Logan Thomas have also both made positive contributions.
Even the offensive line is giving Stafford time to make the passing game work, however, the ground game has been disappointing. While the line has afforded Stafford time to throw, they have not opened holes with any kind of consistency for Lions ball-carriers and Detroit’s top rusher, Kerryon Johnson, has gone down for the second consecutive season to injury.
So while the offense would have to be considered the bright spot, it still leaves a bit of a sour taste in your mouth when you consider it’s inability to fire on all cylinders consistently. But not nearly as sour as the other side of the ball…