Detroit Lions: 5 numbers that have to change in 2020

Detroit Lions second number to change

28

The Detroit Lions defense can be further broken down into some key areas that doomed the season; the above number is the number of sacks that the defense had in 16 games.

There is also a correlation between their blitz percentage, 18%, where the Lions were 30th in the league, and the pressure percentage that they achieved, 18.8%, 29th in the NFL. Their quarterback knockdowns percentage wasn’t quite as bad, 7%, and was 21st in the league.

Ten teams make the playoffs from each conference, thus being the 21st team in many things decides your postseason fate regardless of doing some things well.

They were also 24th in quarterback hurry percentage (per dropback) at 8%. Those are all telling stats from Pro Football Reference, where all statistics are taken from unless otherwise noted.

The pass rush should improve with Jamie Collins spending time at Jack linebacker (the standing rusher), rookie Julian Okwara getting time there, the other additions along the defensive interior, and hopefully better health for Lions veterans Da’ Shawn Hand and Romeo Okwara.