Two weeks are not enough to evaluate basically anything about an NFL team, but there's been one area in which the Detroit Lions' next opponent, the New York Jets, have been struggling with: getting their run game going.
Despite a healthy Breece Hall back on board and a much-improve offensive line, New York took a step back with their rushing in Week 2. They only posted 67 total rushing yards, and are averaging just 3.3 yards per carry through two weeks of games. Of course, the weather played a huge part in these struggles, with rain and slick turf preventing a lot of effective carries.
But, it's something that Detroit has to be keeping their eye on ahead of Week 3, especially after they just gave up 203 rushing yards to the Buffalo Bills. Containing the run was a huge issue in that game, but they have a great opportunity to get some of their flow back on that end of their defense against the Jets.
Lions' defensive line could firmly bounce back against struggling Jets run game
Now, this sort of talk got the Tennesee Titans in trouble against Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles, but it applies here: the Lions have to force Geno Smith to play quarterback.
Smith has been far from bad for New York through two starts, but he also hasn't been able to consistently get the Jets' top receiving weapon, Garrett Wilson, involved. That's a big problem for their passing game overall, as he's far and away their best chance at any major yards after the catch, and he's the biggest threat to a secondary like that of the Lions.
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Forcing him to play quarterback by shutting their run game down could benefit Detroit. While testing just how bad their secondary is seems like a terrible idea, there's a huge difference between the threat that Josh Allen poses and the one Smith does. He's not as mobile as Allen, nor is he as accurate on the move.
This could be a great game to get Detroit back on track defensively, although they shouldn't immediately write-off the Jets' ability to muck things up in this one, to be sure. New York, under Aaron Glenn, has been far more organized than in recent seasons - take my word for it, as a Jets fan since birth. They aren't going to roll over in his game, especially with major bragging rights for Glenn on the line.
However, this feels like a perfect set up for the Lions' defensive line and, specifically, their interior defenders.
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