The NFL Trade Deadline is over, and it was a quiet one for the Detroit Lions beyond the trade for depth safety Andre Cisco on Monday.
It was also a quiet deadline for the Lions' next opponent, the New England Patriots, as well.
The Patriots had mounting needs, with injuries on offense to wide receiver A.J. Brown and running backs TreyVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson. Patriots also had serious needs at EDGE and the offensive line as they hope to repeat as AFC champions.
Alas, the Patriots came up empty in their potential trade pursuits. This sets up a showdown in Munich, Germany between two teams with high expectations, but sat and watched as many of the contenders around them made aggressive moves to get better.
The silver lining of a quiet trade deadline
The Lions will face off against a Patriots teams that's the same as the one that got blown out on their home field by the Green Bay Packers 45-27, with the exception of losing Stevenson.
Stevenson was the Patriots' lead running back, accounting for 399 of the Patriots' 1,079 total rush yards on the season. Add in Henderson's 203 rushing yards, and that over half of the Patriots rushing yards this season out against the Lions.
The Patriots will likely lean heavily on quarterback Drake Maye on Sunday, going up against a stout Lions' rush defense and a questionable pass defense, who will again be without safety Kerby Joseph. Maye threw for multiple interceptions for the third time this season against the Packers and is tied for the league lead in the category (11).
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Lions should expect to see tight end Hunter Henry get a lot of targets amid their struggles to defend the position. Henry leads the Patriots in receptions (32) and is second on the team behind wide receiver DeMario Douglas in receiving yards (361) and touchdowns (2).
On the other side of the ball, the Patriots' defense is 14th in yards allowed per game (328.6), which is just one spot behind the Miami Dolphins, who the Lions just beat after a flurry of field goals. However, they're 25th in passing yards given up (231.9), while having the worst turnover differential (-11) in the league. Granted, they're tied with the Lions near the bottom of the league in total turnovers (8).
As frustrating as it is to the Lions not be more aggressive at the deadline, we can at least find some comfort knowing they won't be going up against a refreshed and retooled Patriots team when their game in Munich kicks off on Sunday at 9:30 A.M. (EST).
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