Week 16 brings a bruising, late-season test for Detroit as they welcome the Pittsburgh Steelers to Ford Field.
With Pittsburgh fighting to clinch the AFC North and Detroit continuing its push toward January positioning, Sunday sets up as one where execution in the middle of the field could decide the outcome.
Let's peel the layers back a little bit.
A fight up the seams can make or break the Lions' postseason dreams
For Pittsburgh, their offensive identity has become increasingly clear down the stretch. With Aaron Rodgers under center, the Steelers are at their most efficient when the ball comes out quickly, particularly when targeting tight ends in the short-to-intermediate areas.
Whether it's the de facto offensive tackle at tight end in Darnell Washington at 6-foot-7, nearly 300 pounds, or Pat Freiermuth working option routes, or Jonnu Smith creating yards after the catch, Pittsburgh wants to punish defenses that fail to control the second level.
So for HC Dan Campbell, that reality places an enormous spotlight on Detroit’s linebackers, and one specifically in Alex Anzalone.
One of the most reliable coverage linebackers in football, Anzalone’s versatility allows the Lions to stay sound structurally without sacrificing aggressiveness up front. With Aidan Hutchinson and a front four that can create push, Detroit’s success hinges on preventing Rodgers from neutralizing the rush with quick completions before Hutchinson and company can even establish leverage.
But Anzalone excels in exactly that environment.
He has the range to run to the fringe areas, the physicality to hold up between the tackles, and -- most importantly for this week -- the instincts to match routes in space. Whether dropping into zone, carrying crossers, or playing man coverage against tight ends releasing underneath, his awareness and timing consistently shrink throwing windows.
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Against Rodgers, that skill set becomes a necessity, rather than a luxury. Pittsburgh's 42 year old signal-caller thrives when defenses lose discipline in the middle, creating easy completions that turn into chunk gains.
For Anzalone, his ability to gain depth quickly, read route combinations, and close downhill limits those explosive opportunities and forces the Steelers into longer, more methodical drives. And by chasing the sticks, the Lions have more opportunities to put Rodgers in the turf.
Diving deeper, it's also where Detroit’s defensive balance comes into play. By trusting Anzalone in coverage, the Lions can remain aggressive with their front, keeping pressure on Rodgers without exposing the middle of the field. And that complementary relationship between pass rush and coverage is vital in a game where patience will be tested on both sides desperate for a win.
It's easy this time of year to highlight the game-changing talents on offense or explosive pass rushers that each side will deploy this week, but oftentimes games like this come down to the unsung parts of football. The little things, the small, finite details that are either executed, or taken advantage of.
For Detroit, earning a win this week starts with the core of their defense, and one of the more underrated players at his position operating at his best in a must have it ballgame.