Forget the new stadium hype in Orchard Park, because the Detroit Lions’ defense made history on Thursday night, and not the good kind. They let the Buffalo Bills convert 9-of-12 third downs, including an insane 8-of-9 at one point, basically handing them the game on a silver platter. Take out the kneel down at the end, and the Bills were converting at an 81.1% clip. That’s not merely bad, that’s historically bad for a team that supposedly re-tooled its pass rush and secondary this offseason. It’s early in the season, two games in, and the opponent third-down conversion rate for the Lions already sits at a whopping 58.6%. Last year’s 36.9% rate, which ranked ninth, suddenly looks like a masterpiece.
This Is Not The 2024 Defense
Remember the 2024 season? The Lions’ defense was absolutely battered, more guys on injured reserve than you could even field on a practice squad. Everyone talked about it, and Aaron Glenn, the defensive coordinator, definitely felt the heat from fans on social media. But here’s the kicker: that banged-up 2024 defense still finished first in the NFL with a 32.5% opponent third-down conversion rate. They were fifth in DVOA on defense, a top-10 run defense, and a top-10 pass defense. What they’re putting out there now, two seasons later, is in no way comparable. Sure, they played a grueling five quarters against New Orleans, and it was a short week before Buffalo. Yeah, they’re shorthanded at safety with Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph still on PUP, and D.J. Reed was playing through a foot injury. But honestly, those are just excuses. No matter the situation or the opponent, a defense cannot look like that. It is absolutely inexcusable.
Holmes’ Secondary Fixes Are Not Sticking
General Manager Brad Holmes has worked tirelessly, reimagining this secondary over four consecutive offseasons. For every hit, like Carlton Davis, there’s been a clear miss, like Cam Sutton. Amik Robertson was a fruitful move back in 2024, but the team’s top two draft picks from that same year are either in Seattle or a healthy inactive on game day. That’s a tough look when you’re trying to build a consistent defensive unit. The time for dismissing these growing problems as mere circumstance is clearly over. Something has to give. This kind of defensive collapse, especially on third downs, is not a trend anyone wants to see.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pride of Detroit.
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