The Lions’ defense has spent the last month finding its footing, and now it gets another chance to keep rolling against a Patriots offense that has plenty of problems of its own.
Detroit’s turnaround has been real since Week 9. After opening the season with a historically bad stretch, the defense has looked far more aggressive over the last four weeks, and that showed up in a strong road outing against the Miami Dolphins. The group is playing faster, more confidently and with a little more bite.
That matters here because New England has not exactly been a clean operation on offense. The Patriots may still carry the label of last year’s Super Bowl finalist from the AFC, but this season has been rough in a lot of ways.
They could be without Tre’Veon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson, and the offensive line has had a hard time holding up, giving up 20 sacks. That pressure has helped fuel 11 interceptions and made the passing game harder to trust.
Detroit’s front should like this matchup. Aidan Hutchinson, Tyleik Williams, a resurgent Alim McNeill and rookies Derrick Moore and Skyler Gill-Howard have been driving the turnaround up front, and the way that group has taken over games lately makes another disruptive performance feel very much on the table.
That pressure has done more than just create havoc at the line of scrimmage. It has also helped the secondary, which has still had its shaky moments, settle in and use more varied coverages. If the Lions can shut down New England’s run game early, that only makes life easier for the back end.
Moore, in particular, looks like a rookie whose patience may be starting to pay off. He broke through in Miami with two sacks, his first of the season, and was around the quarterback all afternoon. He also nearly added another sack, and after missing on one earlier in the game, he leaned on the moment to steady himself.
"Going back into somewhere in the second-quarter where I missed missed Malik (Willis) the first time, I went back on the sideline (and) I told myself 'Stay calm.' I feel like a lot of the guys also told me to stay calm (and) be patient.
'It's going to come, (your opportunity is) going to come again. When it comes, you got to finish that time.'
It came back twice. I'm just thankful for the (veteran) guys to be somebody that I can lean on and just talk me through things."
Dan Campbell also made it clear after the game that he believes Moore is only going to keep getting better as he gets more snaps and more chances to make impact plays.
With Moore, Gill-Howard and the rest of the front set to work in Germany against the Patriots, Detroit has a real chance to keep the trench dominance going. If the Lions keep winning there, this defense should have every opportunity to extend its recent run.
In Other News...
Lions Enter Munich With One Clear Edge In A Shorthanded Fight
The trip to Munich arrives with both Detroit and New England trying to manage the kind of injury list that can change a game plan before the opening kickoff. The Patriots are missing cornerback Carlton Davis III and left guard Ben Brown, and they may also be without running back Rhamondre Stevenson, while the Lions head overseas without linebacker Jack Campbell, center Cade Mays, cornerback D.J. Reed and safety Kerby Joseph.
Even with those absences, Detroit still carries what looks like the cleaner edge into Week 10, especially in a matchup that could hinge on which side handles the shorthanded conditions better. The Lions have been more stable in recent weeks, and with both teams forced to adjust on the fly, the margin may come down to which roster can absorb the losses without losing its identity in an unfamiliar setting. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Just Put More Pressure On Two Unproven Defensive Backs
The Lions passed on adding a cornerback at the trade deadline, sticking with the group they have and leaving Khalil Dorsey and Keith Abney II in line for more important snaps. It is a vote of confidence in a defense that has looked sharper since shifting from zone to man coverage, with those two helping stabilize key situations as the staff sorted through its options.
Now the pressure shifts to whether that internal bet holds up when the schedule gets tougher. Detroit clearly believes its current approach can keep working, but without an outside addition, the margin for error at cornerback gets thinner fast, and the next stretch will show whether Dorsey and Abney can keep answering the call. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Offense Is About To Test A Patriots Weakness
Jared Goffs practice week has been worth watching as the Lions get ready to meet the Patriots in Munich, but the quarterback is still expected to be available. That matters because Detroits offense comes into the matchup with real punch, led by Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown, and it is the kind of unit that can force a defense to answer early and often.
For New England, the trip overseas adds another layer to a game already carrying pressure after a rough defensive showing last time out. The Patriots are trying to tighten things up after allowing 45 points in their previous game, and now they draw a Detroit attack that has enough speed and playmaking to expose any lingering issues. [Read more 🡒]