The frustration around the Lions after Thursday night is real, and it’s easy to see why. Detroit went into that game with the chance to steady itself after nearly coughing up a 21-0 lead of its own, only to fall behind 21-0 against the Bills and never show much resistance on defense. That kind of start leaves a mark.
Still, if you’re looking for reasons to believe this thing isn’t unraveling after two weeks, the offense is the obvious place to start.
There’s plenty to like about what offensive coordinator Drew Petzing has put together so far. The play design has shown creativity in both the run game and the passing game, and the red zone work has been especially sharp. Detroit has turned nine trips inside the 20 into seven touchdowns, which is the kind of efficiency that keeps a team afloat even when other parts of the roster are shaky.
The ground game still has a real engine in Jahmyr Gibbs, who continues to look like an absolute stud. The Lions are also working him into the passing game more, giving the offense another layer. And once the offensive line gets healthy again, there’s reason to believe that group will settle in.
Jared Goff is still operating at a very high level. Amon-Ra St.
Brown has looked uncoverable at times. Sam LaPorta appears to be back to himself after last year’s scary back injury.
If that side of the ball keeps producing anywhere near the 31 points per game Detroit is averaging now, the Lions will be in just about every game this season, even if the defense never fully comes around. That’s the source of the optimism right now: the offense still looks like a unit that can carry its weight.
In Other News...
Lions Fans Had Another Reason To Be Furious During Bills Loss
The Lions already had plenty to stew over after Thursday nights 41-31 loss to the Bills, but the frustration did not stop with the scoreboard. As Buffalo pulled away behind Josh Allens five total touchdowns, the broadcast managed to add another jolt for Detroit fans when a graphic incorrectly listed the Bills at 3-0 and the Lions at 1-2.
It was the kind of small but glaring mistake that tends to feel bigger in the middle of a disappointing national showcase. For Lions supporters, it only sharpened an already sour night, one where the team left with a loss and the broadcast booth gave them one more reason to grumble. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Rookies Suddenly Have A Chance To Fix A Growing Secondary Problem
The Lions first game at their new stadium did more than hand them a 41-31 loss to Buffalo. It also underscored how much youth and depth matter on a secondary that is still sorting itself out, with several rookies sidelined or inactive while the team tried to piece together its back end. First-round pick Blake Miller missed the game with a knee injury, and cornerback Keith Abney was inactive as Christian Izien returned, leaving Detroit with fewer young options than it had hoped to evaluate in a high-profile setting.
Avonte Maddoxs foot injury only adds to the uncertainty, because the Lions are now looking at a defensive backfield that could use quick answers. For a team that has leaned on development at key spots, the situation creates an opening for rookies to get back into the mix and potentially stabilize a problem that became harder to ignore in a lopsided home debut. [Read more 🡒]
Jahmyr Gibbs Just Gave Lions Fans An Uncomfortable Week 1 Issue
Jahmyr Gibbs Week 1 tape added a little extra edge to an already eventful start for the Lions, with the NFL deciding after the fact to punish a play that officials let go in the moment. The running back was fined $23,027 for lowering his helmet and making forcible contact with a Saints cornerback, a ruling that puts a spotlight on how closely the league is watching contact at the point of attack.
The fine was the biggest of the 20 handed out across the league after the opening week, and it serves as an early reminder that even routine-looking runs can carry consequences once the league office reviews them. For Detroit, it is the kind of small but uncomfortable development that can linger for a player whose impact depends on physicality and timing, especially when the next few weeks are already about settling into the season. [Read more 🡒]