The Detroit Lions are somehow sitting on a 2-1 record heading into Week 4. It’s a wild start to the season when you consider what’s actually going on with this squad. They’re by no means perfect, but in the NFL, who is, right? What really stands out is that head coach Dan Campbell is finding ways to get wins, even when things aren’t exactly clicking for the team. That’s a serious skill in this league.
USA Today Calls Out the Lions’ Biggest Problem
So, what’s the deal? Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz over at USA Today recently graded every NFL team, and he slapped a B grade on the Lions. While a B isn’t terrible, he pointed directly to their biggest problem: the secondary and the defense as a whole. And honestly, it makes total sense when you look at it. He even wrote that the team entered the season with a secondary “that looked liable to subject the Lions to repeated shootouts.” Ouch. On top of that, slow starts are reportedly hurting them, too. It’s not exactly a perfect storm out there.
Campbell Is Pulling Wins Out of Thin Air
Here’s the kicker though: even with all those headaches, they’re still pulling off wins. Close calls against the Saints and Jets, for example, just reinforced that nothing’s going to come easy this season. But despite the struggles, Campbell is getting “enough big plays on both sides of the ball to finish off some uncomfortable contests.” That’s the real story here. It’s not about being flawless; it’s about grinding out those Ws no matter what the scoreboard says at kickoff.
The Lions aren’t performing at their absolute peak right now. But what matters most is they’re winning, and that’s the bottom line in this game. They’ve got the talent, that much is clear. Now, it’s all about executing it. Can they keep this momentum going, especially with those defensive question marks? It’s going to be a ride, and you gotta believe they’ve got their eyes on those playoff hopes and even that championship game belief.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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