The Detroit Lions’ coaching staff preached consistency over their Week Five bye week
The Detroit Lions entered their Week Five bye having lost three of their first four games of the 2020 NFL regular season. Despite the single victory, the Lions now sit third in the NFL North division with the 1-4 Minnesota Vikings losing to the Seattle Seahawks over the weekend.
The Lions certainly hope to improve from their slow start and used the bye week to address some of their early issues. Entering the break, Detroit had some clear obstacles to overcome with both their offense and the defense ranking among the league’s worst.
The Motor City offense currently ranks 25th in the NFL posting an average of 334.0 yards per game. The Lions’ defense sits 28th allowing an average of 405.0 yards a contest. And Detroit still possesses the worst rushing defense in the league, allowing a whopping 170.3 yards on the ground per game to opposing offenses.
While not ideal, the early bye week allows the Lions to try and make some much-needed adjustments to attempt to salvage their season. Here’s what defensive coordinator Cory Undlin told DetroitLions.com about how the team can improve their struggling run defense.
"“I can pull off six different plays, one time it goes for zero (yards) and then the next time it goes for six (yards) and then the next time it goes for seven (yards), whatever it is. So, the big thing is watching with the players and going back through and having those discussions and then going out and practicing, we’ve just got to be more consistent up front, in the backend, linebackers, everybody.”"
The defense wasn’t the only side of the ball preaching consistency over the bye week. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell harped on consistency when it came to his offense limiting negative plays, limiting penalties, and executing better.
The next seven games could turn the Detroit Lions’ season around
If the Lions can find a way to quickly improve, they have a rare opportunity in front of them. Of Detroit’s next seven games, five of their scheduled opponents currently have a sub .500 record.
Although the Lions will need to become road warriors, with four of those seven matchups being away games. And that road trip starts this Sunday against the 1-4 Jacksonville Jaguars in Florida. The following week, Detroit will play the winless Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
In Week Seven, the Lions will return home to Ford Field. And they’ll face their potentially toughest opponents in this seven-game stretch in the 3-2 Indianapolis Colts. Afterward, Detroit hits the road once again to take on their divisional rivals, the Vikings.
The Lions will play the struggling 1-4 Washington Football Team in Week Nine at home. Then, the team will end this seven-game run with an away matchup versus the 3-2 Carolina Panthers and then it’s back to Ford Field to take on the 1-4 Houston Texans.