The Lions left Thursday night with more questions than answers, and the biggest ones are circling the defense. Detroit’s Week 2 loss to the Bills came with all the ingredients of a rough night: the buzz around the opening of Buffalo’s new stadium, Josh Allen at his sharpest, and a string of mistakes the Lions made themselves. The result was a performance that left the offense looking capable enough in spots, but unable to overcome what happened on the other side of the ball.
That’s where the pressure starts to build on Kelvin Sheppard. Detroit’s defensive issues, especially in the secondary, were glaring, and the unit’s showing was described as inexcusable.
There’s no call here for a quick trigger, but the urgency is obvious. The Lions have three winnable games ahead and a chance to reach the bye week on a high note, yet that path gets a lot steeper if the defense keeps playing like this.
Brad Holmes also gets pulled into the conversation, with Detroit’s offseason additions not producing promising returns through two games.
There’s also a split view on Jack Campbell after his rough outing against Buffalo. One side isn’t worried, pointing to his steady rise through his first three seasons and the leadership role he’s earned with his offseason extension.
The expectation is that he’ll rebound and settle back into form. The other side sees a much more troubling night, noting that Campbell’s PFF grade made it the second-worst performance of his career.
James Cook ran effectively against him and the entire linebacker group, and Campbell didn’t look like himself. The pressure is on for him to respond in Week 3 against the Jets.
Offensively, the early returns on Petzing have been more encouraging than alarming. The connection between him and Jared Goff has stood out, and Goff has looked comfortable and productive through the first two games.
Still, there’s a clear issue with how Detroit has started games. The offense has managed only 17 first-half points across the opening two weeks, and getting off to faster starts would make life a lot easier.
Even with the offense doing enough to stay in games, there are other concerns hovering over the unit. The Lions don’t appear to have a true No. 2 back, and the No. 3 receiver spot remains a problem. Pass protection is another area that could become more troublesome as the season moves along.
The next test comes back home, where the Lions should have a chance to reset against the Jets. But that matchup isn’t as straightforward as it looks.
New York handled the Titans in Week 1, and Aaron Glenn now has a shot to keep his team moving and do it against his former team. The Jets’ offense has already shown some punch, with Geno Smith throwing for 215 yards on 79 percent passing and Breece Hall rushing for 102 yards and a score in the 23-10 win.
Detroit may be back on its own turf, but Week 3 still looks like a real challenge.
In Other News...
Lions Fans Had Another Reason To Be Furious During Bills Loss
The Lions already had plenty to stew over after Thursday nights 41-31 loss to the Bills, but the frustration did not stop with the scoreboard. As Buffalo pulled away behind Josh Allens five total touchdowns, the broadcast managed to add another jolt for Detroit fans when a graphic incorrectly listed the Bills at 3-0 and the Lions at 1-2.
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
The Lions first game at their new stadium did more than hand them a 41-31 loss to Buffalo. It also underscored how much youth and depth matter on a secondary that is still sorting itself out, with several rookies sidelined or inactive while the team tried to piece together its back end. First-round pick Blake Miller missed the game with a knee injury, and cornerback Keith Abney was inactive as Christian Izien returned, leaving Detroit with fewer young options than it had hoped to evaluate in a high-profile setting.
Avonte Maddoxs foot injury only adds to the uncertainty, because the Lions are now looking at a defensive backfield that could use quick answers. For a team that has leaned on development at key spots, the situation creates an opening for rookies to get back into the mix and potentially stabilize a problem that became harder to ignore in a lopsided home debut. [Read more 🡒]
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 🡒]