The Detroit Lions’ defensive problems have created a dangerous opening, and the New York Jets may be the team best positioned to take advantage in Week 3.
Detroit has been shaky for six of the eight quarters it has played this season, and the timing is bad with a Jets offense that, while only 15th in the NFL in total offense, still has enough punch to punish mistakes. Breece Hall brings a hard-running element on the ground.
Geno Smith has long given the Lions trouble. Garrett Wilson, even with a slower start this year, has the kind of speed and skill that can turn a coverage bust into a chunk play in a hurry.
That’s where the matchup starts to tilt toward New York. Detroit is already without Brian Branch and Kirby Joseph at safety, and Avonte Maddox is out for the year.
Thomas Harper has also been dinged up this week and has not practiced, which leaves the middle of the field looking thin. At cornerback, the picture hasn’t been much better.
Rock Ya-Sin and D.J. Reed have both struggled early, and opposing passing games have already found ways to attack Detroit.
If the Lions can’t generate pressure, slow the run and make Smith work for everything, Wilson could be set up for one of those games where he suddenly looks like the player who can take over a matchup. He has been explosive throughout his career, and this feels like the kind of spot where he could get rolling again.
Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard knows the issue isn’t just about who is available. It’s about getting the group to function together.
"It's just the execution portion of it. I'm not going to sit here and tell you what we do (and) what we say, especially in closed door settings.
But just know there's a gap that needs to be bridged. And that comes down to understanding in-game when something moves, don't panic.
We have an answer for that. Making sure you're on the same page as your safety.
The linebacker's got the check. The linebacker has that call.
We're good. Let's go."
Sheppard also pointed to the challenge of balancing pressure with protection on the back end. Detroit wants to heat up quarterbacks, but not at the expense of giving away easy explosives.
"It's not like we're asking them to do that hasn't already been done. So now, it's up to me.
Do you pull back? But then you pull back and you're a sitting duck.
That's what we've been at times in the past. Trying to have variety (and) trying to change the picture for the quarterback is very important in this league, and trying to have guys understand how important that is, but not to the detriment that we're letting off 23 explosives in the first two weeks.
(The goal is) to find balance. That's why I sit in the seat I sit in with the guys to my right and left.
It's our job to find that answer. And I believe we have."
Detroit has survived before with defensive role players taking on bigger workloads, so the situation is not hopeless. But this week will be a real test.
Smith can extend plays, and the Lions had trouble with that against the Buffalo Bills. Outside of giving up explosive yardage, they haven’t done much consistently well on defense.
On paper, the Jets look like a team that could help Detroit get back on track. The problem is the Lions’ own defense could just as easily hand New York the same kind of opening. It’s the kind of matchup that may come down to which side breaks first.
In Other News...
Aaron Glenn's Return Just Made This Lions Test Even Tougher
The Week 3 matchup at Ford Field already had enough going for it, with the Jets coming to town to test a Lions team that expects to be pushed on both sides of the ball. But the return of Aaron Glenn adds another layer to it. Glenn spent 2021 through 2024 as Detroits defensive coordinator, and now he comes back as Jets head coach with a familiar defensive identity and plenty of history alongside Dan Campbell.
Campbell and Glenn built a close working relationship in Detroit, so this one has more than just the usual regular-season edge. Campbell called it a competitive game and pointed to the challenge New York brings on defense and offense, which is exactly why this feels like more than a reunion. For the Lions, it is a chance to measure themselves against a coach they know well and a unit shaped by the same hard-nosed standards that helped define them not long ago. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Suddenly Have A Jets Problem They May Not Be Built For
Dan Campbells latest injury update offered a little more clarity for the Lions up front, where Christian Mahogany and Blake Miller are expected to be available while Ben Bartch is likely to sit out. For a team that has tried to keep its offensive line as steady as any part of the roster, any shuffle there matters, especially with an upcoming matchup that figures to test how well Detroit can keep its protection and run game intact.
Campbell also pointed to the defensive side, where the Lions have leaned more on zone coverage while dealing with multiple unavailable safeties. Christian Izien has been getting more work in practice, and Campbell suggested other players may have to help absorb the load, which leaves Detroit trying to piece together enough back-end stability at a moment when that part of the defense is already stretched thin. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Tease A Fan Favorite Look For Jets Matchup
A familiar combination might be back in play when the Lions line up against the Jets, with Detroit teasing its blue home jerseys paired with silver pants for the upcoming matchup. It is the kind of look that has become a fan favorite in recent seasons, and one that the Lions have only brought out a couple of times since last year, including Week 11 and on Thanksgiving against Green Bay.
There is some extra intrigue around the game because Jets coach Aaron Glenn was the first coaching hire made by Dan Campbell in Detroit, a move that tied the two coaches together well before Sundays meeting. Glenn has spoken about appreciating the chance Campbell gave him and about their early discussions on changing the teams culture, so the uniform tease adds a little more buzz to a reunion that already carries some history. [Read more 🡒]