If the Detroit Lions are going to leave Gillette Stadium with a win on Sunday, these seven players will have to play well.
The Detroit Lions would be better than 1-3 if they merely had an adequate defense to pair with the league’s highest-scoring offense through four weeks. But this week, likely facing rookie Bailey Zappe making his first NFL start under center for the New England Patriots, comes a get-right spot for the Detroit defense.
The Lions haven’t won in Foxboro since 1993, and even with trips there being rare that was a long time ago. They won the last meeting between the teams in Detroit back in 2018, Matt Patricia’s first season as head coach. Patricia is of course now back on Bill Belichick’s staff, and he took over offensive play calling duties this season with the departure of Josh McDaniels.
The Lions are only 3 or 3.5-point underdogs on Sunday, depending on your preferred oddsmaker/sportsbook. Three points is usually the spread advantage for home field, so Vegas sees this pair of 1-3 teams as equal if it were a neutral site game.
If the Lions are going to leave Foxboro with a win on Sunday, these players will have to play well.
7 Detroit Lions who must play well in Week 5 vs. the Patriots
7. DE Aidan Hutchinson
As of this writing, before the release of Friday’s final injury report, Lions’ defensive end Charles Harris is looking likely to be out with a groin injury against the Patriots.
Charles Harris went from full practice on Wednesday to limited practice on Thursday to no practice on Friday because of a groin injury
— kyle meinke (@kmeinke) October 7, 2022
That's not good
Hutchinson’s lack of production so far in his rookie season, outside of his three-sack game in Week 2 against Washington, has drawn ire from Lions’ fans and too-easy criticism. It might be a matter of playing more instinctually (which comes with experience), playing in a two-point stance more often, or moving him around more. Everything seems to be on the table to get him going.
In any case, if Harris isn’t out on Sunday his snap count will likely be limited and his overall effectiveness will be compromised. Against a strong New England run game and as a pass rusher to make Zappe uncomfortable when he does drop back, Hutchinson has to make a noticeable impact on Sunday.
6. CB Amani Oruwariye
Oruwariye has had a rough start to the season, coming in as Pro Football Focus’ lowest-graded qualifying cornerback through four weeks with penalties and missed tackles as the most troubling numbers. He missed Week 2 with a back injury, so it’s worth wondering if he’s not totally healthy–back issues don’t just fade away.
Against whichever Patriots’ receiver he’s lined up most against on Sunday–Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne, Nelson Agholor…–Oruwariye will get a little break from the A.J. Brown, Adam Thielen, Tyler Lockett matchups he has drawn this season and struggled with.
As it is for the entire Lions’ defense, this week is a get-right opportunity for Oruwariye, who looked like a breakout star last season (six interceptions). He needs to go into the bye week on a solid note.