In last year's Divisional Round playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Derrick Barnes made the game-sealing interception to clinch a trip to the NFC Championship Game for the Detroit Lions. But he's treating Sunday's rematch at Ford Field the same as would any other regular season game, as he should.
"Obviously, I got a little bit of thought of last year but I'm a next year, next play type of guy," Barnes said Thursday, via Jared Ramsey of the Detroit Free Press. "So, I have to go out and try to have the same expectations for myself and try to make more big plays."
In Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams, Barnes played the second most snaps among Lions' linebackers (64, to only Alex Anzalone's 78). The game plan, with less nickel (five defensive backs) deployment than is typical, attempted to force the Rams to throw the ball and they followed through by doing so plenty.
That also meant Barnes lined up all over the field against the Rams. According to Pro Football Focus and Next Gen Stats, he lined up as an edge rusher, in the box, over a guard as a standup rusher, as an off-ball linebacker and in the slot covering someone. His raw numbers in the game (four total tackles, three solo) don't fully reflect the impact he had.
Derrick Barnes has become a critical piece of the Lions' defense
Over the course of the past week, head coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn each praised Barnes for his ability to be flexible and the mental capacity to do it all like he did against Los Angeles. Barnes expressed gratitude for that belief.
"It's a blessing that my coaches once again believe in me to go out and do that," Barnes said. "It's amazing to just be all over the field and see different aspects of the field. I just think it's fun to be able to go out there and do all that — play inside, play outside, set the edge a little bit, make plays in the backfield."
An attempt to tap further into Barnes' versatility, particularly since he played defensive end in college at Purdue, was somewhat foreshadowed heading into training camp. In Week 1 it was on full display, in some ways that were unexpected. It will surely look a little different every week for the fourth-year man, and he suggested as much to Ramsey going into this week against the Buccaneers.
"It'll be kind of different from last week," Barnes said. "I was off the line of scrimmage more than I probably will be this season. ... Obviously, everyone schemes for different teams in different ways, but I'm definitely preparing to play more on the edge this game."
However his deployment looks on Sunday and moving forward, Barnes has become a trusted player and someone who will play a key role in the Lions' success defensively this season.