The Detroit Lions are coming off a victory in Week 1, but their performance left room for improvement. This is not a shock considering it was the first game of the season, but there are some areas many are looking for improvement.
The Lions secondary held up against the deep ball, but allowed a number of short passes and had some issues with tackling. Look for that group to improve this week as the players finally have a week of playing together under their belt. We’ve said from the get go that with so many new editions, this group should improve steadily as the year progresses. Facing a quarterback like Matthew Stafford to start the season was a tall test and it’s one they passed.
The receiving corps is another area that left something to be desired. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta were both held to numbers no Lions fan was expecting. Even though Jameson Williams had a breakout performance, expect the Lions to elevate one of their bigger receivers from the practice squad for this game. They need a bigger and more veteran player out there to help in multiple facets. Donovan Peoples-Jones is the receiver with the most experience in the offense, but both Tim Patrick and Allen Robinson were both brought in for a reason. It will be interesting to see who gets elevated and the role they play Sunday.
The Buccaneers team coming to Detroit this time around is a bit different from the one the Lions faced twice last year. One of the biggest changes is cornerback Carlton Davis changing teams. Not only did Tampa Bay lose a starting defensive back, the Lions got a scouting report on some of Tampa Bay’s offensive strategies (even if they have a new offensive coordinator).
On the new episode of the "Not The Same Old Lions Podcast", we discussed all of this and more as we look ahead to Week 2.
To listen to the entire conversation on these topics and for more Detroit Lions content you can find Not The Same Old Lions Podcast on Spotify, Apple and other major podcast platforms . Also find us on YouTube or via the show link here.