3 Lions who need to play a lot better if Detroit is going to make it to the Super Bowl
2. OG Kayode Awosika
With Jonah Jackson set to miss the conference championship game after surgery to repair a torn meniscus, Awosika is in line to start at left guard for the Lions on Sunday.
Awosika had not played an offensive snap since Week 14 before being called on to replace Jackson mid-game against the Buccaneers, so that has to be noted. Head coach Dan Campbell had good things to say about him right after the game, but the numbers backing up Awosika's work against Tampa Bay were not good.
Lions backup left guard Kayode Awosika allowed a team-high 7 pressures on 28 pass blocking snaps (25.0%) after Jonah Jackson left the game in the 2nd quarter (0 pressures on 18 pass blocking snaps).
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) January 21, 2024
Vita Vea generated 4 pressures in 5 matchups vs Awosika.#TBvsDET | #AllGrit
As much as the Buccaneers' interior defensive line was a great challenge (Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey), the 49ers defensive tackles are just as tough (Javon Hargrave, Arik Armstead, Javon Kinlaw).
Awosika really can't be a whole lot worse than he was last week, when (again) he faced the not-ideal situation of coming into a game cold and trying to hold his own against a strong set of interior defensive lineman. But the 49ers will put a bullseye on him during Sunday's game, as a spot to attack on an otherwise great offensive line. He needs to be up to that task, and at minimum not be noticeable for the wrong reasons.