The Detroit Lions’ defense is an absolute disaster through four weeks, and honestly, even folks close to the team can’t figure out why. This is a head-scratcher, especially as the Arizona Cardinals get ready for their matchup against them. You’ve got a defensive line that is absolutely dominant, yet somehow, opposing offenses are just slicing through their secondary like butter.
Petzing’s Offense Is Getting Potent
Over on the other side of the ball, it’s a completely different story. Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, who Arizona Cardinals fans were reportedly “excited for the era to end” on, has his offense looking “progressively more potent each week.” They’re lighting up the scoreboard, sitting fifth in the league with 29.8 points per game, sixth in yards per game at 389.3, and seventh in EPA/play with a +0.10.
Sure, Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints was a bit uneven, but they smartly capitalized on turnovers, turning short fields into touchdowns. For three consecutive weeks, they were dropping 31 points like it was nothing. Then came “Sunday Night Football” against the Carolina Panthers, where they stalled in the red zone a couple of times, settling for field goals instead of those sweet, sweet touchdowns. That was weird, especially since they had a 78.6% red zone conversion rate going into Week 4, which was sixth-best in the NFL.
You can tell there’s still another level this offense can hit, especially when it comes to explosive plays. They’re trying, but execution has been a problem, whether it’s drops, errant throws, or breakdowns in pass protection. Once they start breaking off those big runs and connecting on more deep shots, this offense is going to be one of the most lethal units in the league. Mark it down.
The Defense Is Just, Uh, Bad?
Now, let’s talk about that defense. Honestly, it’s a fool’s errand trying to make sense of how bad it’s been. The defensive line is legitimately good, no doubt about it. Alim McNeill is crushing it, first among interior defenders with 20 pressures. Aidan Hutchinson is tied for first among edge defenders with 29 pressures, and Tyleik Williams, in his second year, has been playing “really well against the run.” So you’ve got these absolute studs upfront.
But for all that front-line goodness, the back-seven has been nothing short of a “disaster.” This isn’t just a little problem; Detroit is the worst in the NFL, allowing a staggering 109.3 net passing yards per game when they’re getting pressure. To put that in perspective, the Atlanta Falcons, who are 31st, only give up 65.3 net passing yards when their D-line gets home. Woof, that’s a huge difference!
Last week’s performance against Carolina was a prime example of poor preparation. The Panthers RPO’d the Lions “into oblivion.” Bryce Young was just identifying the blitz and throwing the ball right to the vacated part of the field. Plus, the cornerbacks are playing off coverage often, which was not a staple during the Aaron Glenn era. So, when the Arizona Cardinals roll into town, this Lions team needs to figure out which squad is showing up, because right now, their defense is a head-scratching mess.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Revenge of the Birds.
Leave a Reply