Oh no...here we go again.
After yet another slow start from the Detroit Lions' offense, the Arizona Cardinals drove down the field for an easy touchdown to a tight end. Looks like defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard's days are numbered.
But wait, what's this? A third down stop? And then another?! And another? And another? And another?
Sheppard's defense held the Cardinals' offense to a three and out in five consecutive drives, allowing a grand total of 12 yards. That run ended on a 23-yard completion from quarterback Jacoby Brissett to Kendrick Bourne with 36 seconds left to go in the first half.
With the Cardinals at midfield, the Lions' defense didn't allow those wheels to come off as they so often have. They responded with a sack of Brissett and then a first career interception from cornerback Keith Abney II to end the half.
The excellent defensive performance extended into the second half as the Cardinals' first drive out of the half ended with a miss field goal attempt. The Cardinals would score a TD on their following drive, but the Lions' offense responded with a TD of their own.
The Cardinals marched back down the field, culminating in a 4th & 1 attempt on the Lions' 19-yard line. EDGE Aidan Hutchinson and linebacker Malcom Rodriguez combined for a clutch sack, which was one of the five total sacks the Lions had on Sunday.
Two of those sacks came from free agent signee, and absolute revelation, EDGE D.J. Wonnum, who is up to five sacks this season. This was his third straight game with at least one sack, which is a career high according to Lions PR on X.
Back to the game at hand, with a score of 45-14 and just under three minutes to go, the Cardinals would add a garbage time TD to TE Trey McBride, which will be one for the highlight reel for the star TE. But by then, the game was done and dusted.
Speaking of dusted, it's time to dust off a word that hasn't been used for the Lions' defense in a while: dominant. The defense played with heart and grit after weeks of endless noise about their performance.
It was a full endorsement from the players to keep Sheppard as their DC, and head coach Dan Campbell will be inclined to listen.
Sheppard gets a reprieve entering the Bye week
Few seats have been hotter through the first four weeks than Sheppard's. If you can think of a defensive stat chances are the Lions near last in it. Well, outside of anything pertaining to the front seven. They've been fantastic, accounting for 20 sacks, which is the most in franchise history through five weeks, per Lions PR.
No team had given up more yards and only one (the New Orleans Saints) have given up more points. On Sunday, the Lions allowed 327 yards. Total. Not just passing yards this time. Total. By comparison, QB Bryce Young had 329 yards passing in the Carolina Panthers' win over the Lions a week ago.
There are still clear and obvious holes in the Lions' defense. They did give up three TDs to TEs, making this the fourth game this season the Lions have surrendered multiple TDs to TEs. Those three TDs now give TEs nine receiving TDs against the Lions' defense this season compared to just five given up to wide receivers.
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That's what the Bye week is for. Sheppard will have time to hash out what's gone wrong this season. He now has a great week he can truly build on, and has reinforcements in the secondary on the way as safety Brian Branch nears a return. Who knows? Maybe a new CB as well if the Lions make a trade.
Sheppard will be able to rest up and study film in peace for the next two weeks. For now, free from all the noise questioning his job. But nothing can bring that talk back faster than another dud against the Green Bay Packers coming out of the Bye, so he has to make sure his defense will be up for the task again.
He now has some evidence to prove he can.
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