After the Green Bay Packers fell to 1-2 with a loss to the Atlanta Falcons in their home opener, the NFC North already looks wide open. That makes Week 3 feel like a reminder for the Detroit Lions: even as heavy favorites against the New York Jets, nothing can be taken for granted.
The Jets of 2026 are not the Jets of 2025, and their defense has the kind of teeth that can drag this game into something far tighter than expected. Detroit has more than one path to a win, but a few areas stand out as the ones it can control.
The first priority is simple in theory and tougher in practice: put a competent starting offensive line on the field. Blake Miller and Christian Mahogany are set to return in Week 3, which gives the Lions a group much closer to what they rolled out in Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints.
That unit looked sharp, and it helped Jahmyr Gibbs get over 100 yards on the ground. If Detroit can’t keep Jared Goff upright and open lanes for Gibbs, the Jets can start dictating terms with their front.
New York’s pass rush and interior defensive line deserve respect, and David Bailey is one to keep an eye on there.
Defensively, the Lions also need to rethink how much zone they lean on. They’ve used a lot of it this season, but without the right personnel, that approach leaves them exposed in the intermediate passing game.
Geno Smith thrives on those shorter throws, and New York has receivers who are too dangerous to leave uncovered. Detroit doesn’t exactly have the bodies to live in man coverage, either, so the hope here is that the linebacker group - especially Jack Campbell - can hold up in coverage and keep the Jets from finding easy answers underneath.
The final piece is about being aggressive early. So far, the Lions have centered the offense around Gibbs and, for the most part, fed Amon-Ra St.
Brown. The bigger passing plays, though, have been missing.
The offensive line has played a part, and so have the Week 1 drops from Jameson Williams. Still, Detroit should test the Jets’ secondary sooner rather than later.
New York’s ability to limit explosiveness will be one of its biggest challenges in this game, and the Lions could make that challenge start right away. It would also help Detroit shake off the slow offensive stretches it has dealt with since that first half against the Saints in Week 1.
In Other News...
Lions Fans Are Losing Faith But Still See One Immediate Chance
A rough Week 2 has clearly taken some shine off the Lions early-season buzz, at least in the eyes of the fan base. In the latest SB Nation Reacts survey sponsored by FanDuel Sportsbook, confidence in the direction of the organization slipped from the previous week, and fewer than half of respondents said they still felt good about where things are headed.
Even so, the mood is not close to panic just yet, because Detroit has an immediate chance to steady itself in Week 3 against the New York Jets. Fans may be cooling on the bigger picture after the loss, but the upcoming matchup still looks like the kind of spot where the Lions can quickly remind everyone why optimism had been running so high a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
Amon-Ra St. Brown's Bills Fallout Just Got More Complicated
The aftermath of the Lions Week 2 loss in Buffalo has extended well beyond the final whistle, with Amon-Ra St. Brown among the players hit by the NFL for postgame discipline tied to celebration-related penalties. St. Brown was fined $59,704 for multiple unsportsmanlike conduct infractions, adding another layer to a night that already left Detroit with plenty to sort through.
He was not alone in feeling the leagues reach, either. Five other Lions players also drew fines for a range of violations, including Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs, Penei Sewell, Tyler Lacy and Devin White, pushing Detroits total in Week 2 past $120,000. For a team still trying to settle in after a tough loss, the financial hit is a reminder that the fallout in Buffalo reached well beyond the scoreboard. [Read more 🡒]
Three Underused Lions Could Decide More Than Fans Expect Vs Jets
Through two games of the 2026 season, the Lions have gotten only modest early returns from a few players who may still matter plenty as the year unfolds. Kerry Wonnum, Jalen McCreary and TeSlaa have all been around the action without making much of a dent yet, but that can change quickly in a league where roles expand fast and one strong Sunday can alter a rotation.
Week 3 against the Jets gives Detroit a chance to see whether that quiet start was just a slow opening or the beginning of something more limited. Each of those players is in position for more playing time and a bigger statistical footprint, and for a team trying to stack wins early, even the lesser-used pieces can end up shaping how far the depth chart reaches. [Read more 🡒]