The Lions head to Germany to face the Patriots on Sunday, but they’ll have to do it without D.J. Reed, and that changes the look of Detroit’s secondary in a hurry.
Reed has been ruled out with a hip injury, marking his second straight missed game. The timing is brutal for Detroit, because he had been on a serious run before getting hurt, grading out as Pro Football Focus’ highest-rated cornerback from Week 6 to Week 8.
Without Reed, the Lions are likely to lean on Roger McCreary on one side and then sort through a mix of Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Rock Ya-Sin and Khalil Dorsey on the other. Rookie defensive back Keith Abney II is also in the mix for snaps. That’s a group that doesn’t exactly inspire much fear in opposing quarterbacks.
And that matters against a Patriots offense that likes to push the ball downfield. Drake Maye enters the game fourth among qualified passers in average depth of target at 9.57 yards per SumerSports, and Dan Campbell knows exactly what makes the young quarterback dangerous.
“Drake is as good as they come, getting out of the pocket right now,” head coach Dan Campbell said. “I mean, he's playing- that's where he's very dangerous. Buying time, you know, these five-plus second throws- he's dangerous.”
Maye has also been loose with the football, tying for the NFL lead with 11 interceptions. With New England’s top two running backs, Rhamondre Stephenson and TreyVeon Henderson, questionable and out for this game respectively, and top receiver AJ Brown questionable with an ankle injury after appearing in only three games this season, the Patriots could be forced to lean even harder on the passing game. If Brown can’t play, Romeo Doubs, Demario Douglas and tight end Hunter Henry would be the top receiving options.
New England is ninth in the NFL in passing yards per game at 249.6, one spot behind Detroit.
For the Lions, Reed’s absence arrives just as the defense had started to settle in. After opening the season near the bottom of the league in most defensive categories, Detroit has allowed only 15.5 points per game over its last four outings. The pass rush has been a big part of that climb, with the Lions tied for third in the NFL in sacks at 27.
Campbell said the formula works when pressure up front and tight coverage on the back end come together.
“When when your front is able to apply pressure, your D-line, your outside linebackers, and
coverage on the back end is the way it's supposed to be-play very tight coverage, make them have to make very accurate throws under heavy pressure- that's the way we want to play,” Campbell said. “And that’s the way we’ve been playing for about four weeks now. That gives us the ability to play the game any way we need to play the game, or want to play the game, more importantly.”
Now Detroit has to find a way to keep that standard without one of its best corners. The Lions didn’t add to the cornerback room at the trade deadline, though the safety group got a major lift with the acquisition of Andre Cisco from the New York Jets. Brian Branch is back from a torn achilles and has already helped across the board, while there’s hope All-Pro Kerby Joseph can return soon - just not for this game.
If the secondary slips back toward the form it showed in September, Detroit could be in for a long day against a Patriots offense built to test it.
In Other News...
FAA Grounding Suddenly Puts One Michigan Team In A Tough Spot
The Federal Aviation Administrations grounding of flights across the country has created a messy travel picture for several Michigan and Detroit teams, but most of the local pro and college clubs appear to be in decent shape for now. Michigan States football trip to face Washington is the one drawing the most immediate concern, since the Huskies have not left Seattle and the game remains in doubt.
For the Lions, along with the University of Michigan football and basketball teams, the Pistons and Red Wings, the situation is less urgent because those teams have either already completed travel or are currently positioned without immediate flight issues. Even so, the broader disruption is a reminder of how quickly a league schedule can get complicated when air travel suddenly becomes the problem instead of the game plan. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Campbell Had Lions Fans Cracking Up Before Patriots Clash
Dan Campbell brought a little levity to the Lions week in Munich before the matchup with the Patriots, turning a routine press conference into something closer to a comedy bit. The Detroit coach poked fun at his own limited German, then told a story about trying to work a German profanity into a motivational phrase, a reminder that even on a business trip overseas, Campbell still finds a way to keep things loose.
He also said he planned to sample German beer during the visit, adding another small detail to a trip that has already given Lions fans plenty to smile about. For a team trying to stay focused on football in an unfamiliar setting, Campbells humor offered a familiar touch, the kind of personality that has become part of Detroits identity under his watch. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Campbell Just Gave Lions Fans Another Reason To Love This Team
Dan Campbell spent part of the Lions trip to Germany doing what he does best: leaning into the identity of his team and the city it represents. Speaking with foreign reporters in Munich, the Detroit coach talked about the hard-working nature that connects his roster to its fan base, a theme that has become central to the way he has built the Lions.
Campbell also took a moment to acknowledge the supporters who made the trip overseas to be part of the experience, another reminder of how far this franchises reach has grown. Before the team heads back to Detroit, he even said he planned to try a German beer, a small detail that fits the kind of grounded, relatable presence that has made him such a favorite in the first place. [Read more 🡒]