After the Detroit Lions dropped their first primetime game of the year to the Buffalo Bills in Week 2, you kind of got the feeling that you were likely to be exposed to some searing hot takes once you opened up your phone or computer to read or listen about the game.
And man, were those takes flying.
Understandably so - Detroit came into this season with fairly high expectations thanks to an easier schedule, a then-healthy offense and line, and a defense with another year under Kelvin Sheppard. Things couldn't look worse than they did in 2025, right?
It's too soon to say that the Lions aren't taking advantage of their "easy" schedule, with just two games having been played. And, it's far too soon to be begging for some coaching changes when the team isn't even at full strength yet - on either side of the ball. But, there are some other reactions to Thursday's loss that feel more grounded in reality.
Let's parse through our own reactions - and overreactions - here.
- The Lions need to clean house on defense
- Detroit didn't do enough this offseason to address secondary
- The offense is just as much to blame for Lions' 1-1 start
- Detroit's O-line depth should've been better addressed
- Detroit's Super Bowl window is closed
The Lions need to clean house on defense
Verdict: Overreaction
We will continue to bang the drum that the Lions should be looking to add another starter to their cornerback room. That's been the case since before the season started, and it's still the case with Rock Ya-Sin having yet to prove he can be a reliable starter for them the entire season.
Couple that with injuries to DB Avonte Maddox, and the Lions' continued placement of Ennis Rakestraw Jr. on the inactive list, and it's clear they're missing another starter here. That's not an overreaction. But, to suggest that they need to also get rid of Sheppard just two games into the season is a little laughable.
Sheppard's yet to work with a fully-healthy defense in his time with the Lions as their defensive coordinator, and two games is not enough time to give him to adjust to what's working, and what isn't. And, a lot isn't working - to the point where even star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson told reporters that he expects some changes for the defense following Week 2.
"They got after us today, for sure. That was...not good enough. Things will definitetely be changing. I don't know what that is necessarily but, I know there will be change, because we're not going to keep banging our head against the wall, you know what I mean?"
Let's wait and see what those changes are before fully deciding that it's time to get rid of Sheppard.
Detroit didn't do enough this offseason to address secondary
Verdict: Valid reaction
While it's a little too soon to be throwing Sheppard under the bus, it is not too soon to say that general manager Brad Holmes did not do enough to patch up the teams' secondary this offseason. Cutting Terrion Arnold was the right move by this front office, but then they decided that they'd just run a competition in camp to find their next CB2 following that move.
That's all well and good, but the competition being between Rock Ya-Sin, Nick Whiteside, a rookie in Keith Abney II, and an oft-injured 2024 draft pick in Rakestraw isn't exactly inspiring. And, the results of that competition are proof that it was a bit of a waste of time. Ya-Sin has been really bad to start the season, and it's hard to imagine that he has a higher level to reach.
Holmes knew this, but wanted to save money on that side of the ball for this season with two key extensions on the horizon: Sam LaPorta's, and Brian Branch's. As a result, Detroit is without any starting CB aside from D.J. Reed. That's on Holmes' shoulders.
The offense is just as much to blame for Lions' 1-1 start
Verdict: Overreaction
If we're cutting Sheppard slack in his second year with the Lions, we have to cut Drew Petzing some slack in his first season with the team as their offensive coordinator.
Sure, he could've probably stopped some of his 2nd and 10 runs against the Bills, which were often leading to a loss of yardage due to how bad Detroit's offensive line was in the game, but the team also put up 31 total points with some really great play-calling down the stretch.
They've gotten off really slow since the second half of their Week 1 game against the New Orleans Saints, but they could still use some time to gel, for sure. Additionally, blaming anything on an offense that's scored 30+ points in back to back games and with Jared Goff playing out of his mind is kind of laughable.
READ MORE: Jared Goff's noble 4 TD effort not enough to catch up to the Bills in loss
Detroit's O-line depth should've been better addressed
Verdict: Valid reaction
Larry Borom looked down right awful in his debut for the Lions in Week 2. He had multiple penalties that killed Lions drives, and did a poor job of creating running lanes for Jahmyr Gibbs. On the bright side, the team reportedly expects Blake Miller and Christian Mahogany to be good to go for Week 3...which is great for Miller. Not so great in regard to Mahogany.
I say that because Mahogany is often injured, and often ineffective. Him coming back just revamps a silly left guard competition between two not-so-great options at the position, similar to the cornerback competition the Lions had in camp. Adding a more legitimate backup or starting option at LG would've been wise this offseason, but Holmes loves a reclamation project - enter Ben Bartch.
Aside from guard, though, it's clear that we're one worse Miller injury away from another year of terrible offensive line play. That would deliver an unbelievable blow to Detroit's run game, and to Goff.
If we could go back in time, we would urge Holmes to hone in on talent along the line in past drafts - specifically from 2024 and 2025. Aside from Miller and Tate Ratledge, he's had little success drafting linemen for the Lions. It's leaving them exposed if injuries further come into play.
Detroit's Super Bowl window is closed
Verdict: Overreaction
I know that a lot of Lions fans were probably, once again, thinking of that famous Dan Campbell quote last night: "This might've been our only shot," said after the Lions blew a halftime lead in the NFC Championship to miss out on a Super Bowl appearance in 2024.
Detroit can still get back to the top - top of the NFC North, top of the NFC in general, and hopefully to the pinnacle of the sport, the Super Bowl itself. They are far too talented to have seen their window completely closed, but there's got to be some significant changes to their operation to make it remain propped open.
Fixing their secondary by simply replacing Ya-Sin, as well as changing their philosophy on defense, could do wonders for the team. Additionally, they're a few healthy linemen away from really revamping their offense to 2024 standards - Cade Mays and Miller are the main components on that front.
The team is 1-1. As annoying and frustrating as their first two games have been, it's far too soon to be declaring their window closed.
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