The Lions came out of their Week 2 loss to the Bills with more than just a 41-31 defeat. They also left with questions in the secondary, some uneven defensive usage, and a few depth-chart wrinkles that could matter sooner rather than later.
Detroit fell behind early in a game that quickly turned into a shootout, and on a short week the Lions were already dealing with injuries to key starters. Still, the bigger issue was simpler than that: Buffalo had the upper hand. It’s only September, so there’s plenty of time for Detroit to clean things up, but this was the kind of game that forces a team to take a hard look at itself.
At quarterback, Jared Goff was on the field for every offensive snap, logging 65 for 100 percent. Josh Dobbs did not play.
Even with Josh Allen putting together an MVP-like outing, Goff held his own and then some. If the Lions avoid the first-quarter mistakes, he showed he could have steered the offense to points.
He also finished with a 130.0 passer rating, which actually topped Allen’s number on the passing sheet.
In the backfield, Jahmyr Gibbs handled 57 snaps in Week 1, good for 74 percent, while touching the ball 34 times. The Lions trimmed that workload in Week 2 to 22 touches, but his snap share still ticked up.
That looks like a smart move given the short turnaround. Sione Vaki continued working as the RB2, though most of his action still came in a supporting role.
Of his 11 snaps, nine came on passing plays, and he caught one pass for 13 yards. He also had one run-blocking snap and one carry for 7 yards.
At receiver, Amon-Ra St. Brown was on the field almost the entire game, but his first target didn’t arrive until 6:17 remained in the first half.
Once it did, he took over, finishing with nine catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns. Jameson Williams played a similar amount and caught two of four targets for 33 yards.
Isaac TeSlaa continued to function mostly as a blocker, though he added two receptions for 26 yards. Dominic Lovett and Tom Kennedy were used only on special teams.
Sam LaPorta saw a full workload at tight end, while the reserves had their snaps cut back from Week 1. The Lions appeared to lean more heavily into 11 personnel, with one running back, one tight end and three wideouts on the field.
Up front, Detroit had to roll with its expected starting five because Christian Mahogany and another starter were out. Every offensive line starter played every snap, but the replacements had a rough night.
Early PFF numbers showed Dan Borom allowing seven pressures and Trystan Bartch allowing four. That’s 11 pressures from just two players on 46 passing plays, and it was a mess.
On the defensive line, Alim McNeill kept his usual heavy workload, while the type of opponent changed the rotation behind him. Against a team that ran the ball more, DJ Reader nearly doubled the snaps of the reserves. That may be the closest look so far at what the interior rotation will resemble in a more typical week.
On the edge, the Lions used base defense on about half their snaps, which helped create a more even split between the Big End role for Tyrus Lacy and the Rush End work handled by Al-Quadin Muhammad and Marcus Davenport.
Linebacker usage stayed fluid. Jack Campbell and Derrick Barnes both played every defensive snap, while Barnes picked up more work after a strong Week 1.
Devin White and Malcolm Rodriguez continued splitting WILL duties based on situation. Trevor Nowaske again showed up in specific roles, mainly as a blitzer or spy, but he was limited on defense.
Joe Bachie saw a bigger defensive role, while Jimmy Rolder was inactive.
At corner, Rock Ya-Sin briefly left after an inadvertent kick to a sensitive area and was replaced on the outside by Ennis Rakestraw. It was somewhat surprising to see Rakestraw get the nod over D.J. Reed, but Reed worked exclusively in the slot alongside Christian Izien as he gets back up to speed after injury.
The safety picture got even more interesting. Chuck Clark played 64 snaps on defense, Thomas Harper had 33, Avonte Maddox had 27 before leaving injured, and Christian Izien logged 26 in the nickel/safety role.
The Lions seemed set on continuing a three-safety setup, with Maddox and Clark in base looks and Harper replacing Clark in subpackages. Maddox’s injury changed that plan, forcing Detroit to lean on Clark and Harper to finish the game.
Izien started in the slot, though his workload likely remained limited as he works back from injury. Going forward, the Lions would probably like to expand his slot role.
If Maddox misses time, Izien could be asked to serve as the team’s third safety. And if the Lions decide Clark should be kept on a lighter load, that could mean real safety snaps for Izien rather than just an emergency assignment.
That’s why the secondary feels like the spot most likely to change. In both games, Detroit has been too often stuck in trail position on man coverage or too soft in zone. The scheme may need adjustment, but the players also haven’t matched preseason expectations.
In Other News...
Lions Fans Had Another Reason To Be Furious During Bills Loss
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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
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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 🡒]