The Lions may be hoping for a bounce-back game when the Jets come to Ford Field next week, but the matchup could get messy fast if Detroit’s offensive line stays banged up.
That’s the real problem lurking behind a Week 3 game that looked like a soft landing on paper. Detroit is coming off Thursday’s 41-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills, and the protection issues were impossible to ignore. Jared Goff was pressured on 38.6 percent of his dropbacks and took four sacks, a bad night made worse by the fact that the line still doesn’t look close to whole.
New York, meanwhile, brings a pass rush that showed real bite in Week 1. Ten different Jets players logged at least one pressure in their win over the Tennessee Titans, and Aaron Glenn’s defense was led by middle linebacker Jamien Sherwood, edge rusher Kingsley Engabare and Will McDonald IV, each of whom finished with five pressures. Engabare and McDonald also added a sack apiece, and together the trio produced 15 pressures and two sacks, according to Pro Football Focus.
The Jets also got a strong debut from David Bailey, the second overall pick in April’s draft. He posted four pressures and a sack on 28 pass-rushing snaps, giving New York another weapon up front as the group continues to settle in.
That matters because Detroit’s line is already stretched thin. Cade Mays broke his wrist during training camp and won’t return until October. Christian Mahogany and first-round pick Blake Miller were injured in the Week 1 win over the New Orleans Saints and both sat out against Buffalo.
There were some bright spots, but not enough of them. Penei Sewell and Tate Ratledge handled left tackle and right guard reasonably well, but the rest of the unit struggled to keep Goff clean.
Larry Borom had a rough fill-in performance for Miller, giving up seven pressures and two sacks on 44 pass-blocking snaps. Barch had his own problems too, allowing four pressures, according to PFF.
By the end of the night, no starting offensive lineman had escaped Highmark Stadium without giving up multiple pressures. That’s the kind of stat line that turns a supposed “get right” game into a problem game in a hurry.
There is at least a chance Detroit gets some help back. Miller didn’t sound like the injury was a long-term issue, and he could be available at right tackle against the Jets.
Mahogany is also working back and could return next week. With 10 days to prepare, the Lions have a little extra time to get healthy and try to rebuild some chemistry before New York arrives.
If those pieces come back, Detroit has a path to slowing down the Jets’ front and giving Goff a cleaner pocket to attack downfield. If not, the Jets’ pass rush could turn what should have been a rebound spot into another long afternoon for the Lions.
In Other News...
Lions Got Caught In Buffalo's Big Night For One Clear Reason
The Lions found themselves on the wrong end of Buffalos first night at the new Highmark Stadium, a 41-31 Bills win that felt as much like a franchise celebration as a regular-season opener. The pregame and in-game scene had the full Buffalo treatment, from live mascots to Bills Mafia table-breaking and a performance by the Barenaked Ladies singing O Canada, all of it building a loud, charged backdrop for a team eager to christen its new home the right way.
Josh Allen made sure the occasion belonged to Buffalo on the field, too, with five total touchdowns powering the Bills past Detroit. For the Lions, it was the kind of game where the atmosphere, the opponent and the stakes all seemed to point in one direction, and Buffalo seized the moment from the opening emotions of the night. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Window Suddenly Looks Tied To One Brad Holmes Problem
The Lions have spent the past few seasons building one of the leagues deeper rosters under Brad Holmes, and the early returns from his draft work were a major reason why Detroit could finally sustain that progress. But the more recent classes have not given the team the same kind of lift, and that shortage has started to show up in the places the Lions can least afford it. When young players are not adding reliable snaps on either side of the ball, the margin gets thinner fast.
Detroits recent struggles have made the issue harder to ignore because the team is now feeling the weight of misses, setbacks and unavailable players from those newer groups. A roster that once looked stocked with homegrown help has had to lean more heavily on the same core names, and that is a tougher way to survive when the competition tightens. The bigger question hanging over the Lions is whether the next wave of draft talent can still restore some balance before the window gets any harder to hold open. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Fans Finally Have An Update After That Brutal DJ Moore Injury
There was a collective exhale after DJ Moore went down against the Lions, because any shoulder injury to a top pass-catcher can look worse in real time than it does once the cameras pull back. The Bills wide receiver was checked out after the hit, and the early read is encouraging for Buffalo and anyone who was watching that moment with a little extra concern. He was able to walk off the field on his own, and the team sent him for an X-ray before getting a clearer picture.
For now, the injury is being treated as day to day, with medical sources not considering it serious and a chance he suits up next against the Chargers. For the Lions, it is a reminder of how quickly one collision can become a storyline that lingers beyond the final whistle, especially when the player involved is central to an opponents offense. The immediate scare appears to have passed, but the next update will still matter for both teams short-term outlooks. [Read more 🡒]