Detroit Lions Key No. 1 – offensive balance
Even without Decker, the Detroit Lions offensive line still has a good amount of talent and needs to flex its muscles in the run game. Rookie First-round pick, Penei Sewell, has been practicing at left tackle with Matt Nelson on the right side to cover for Decker’s absence, according to Detroit beat writer Dave Birkett. Regardless of whatever shifting of the line might happen, running backs D’Andre Swift, Jamaal Williams, and possibly Jermar Jefferson all need to make the most of their opportunities on Sunday to give the Lions a chance at winning.
The San Francisco defense is an attacking defense and they were 7th against the run in 2020; unfortunately, they were even better versus the pass, ranking 4th in the NFL, per the NFL’s website. The Lions still have their greatest concentration of talent along the offensive front and backs, so if they’re going to win any battles, that seems like a have-to place to start.
A bevy of talented defenders will try to penetrate the line and stop the backfield from being productive but if the Lions are to find success, they will also prove that they can threaten the Forty-Niners via the air. Whether it’s using tight ends, receivers, or running backs, someone has to beat their matchup and make some catches to keep quarterback Jared Goff from becoming a holiday piñata.
Detroit Lions offensive coordinator, Anthony Lynn, will have to mix in quick passes, misdirection, runs up the middle, motion, play-action passes, rollout passes, stretch runs to get backs out onto the edges of the defense- the proverbial kitchen sink; all to confuse and force the San Francisco defense to think and not react. In essence, they will have to out-Shanahan the Forty-Niners.