The Lions got the result they needed against the Jets, but the performance still came with a familiar sting. Detroit’s 31-24 win was another one that asked a lot from the offense and only a little from the defense when the game was on the line. The Lions built a two-score lead, watched it slip away, and then needed one decisive defensive play to finish the job.
That pattern has now shown up in both of Detroit’s wins. The opener against the Saints followed a similar script, and while the record says 2-0, neither victory has done much to settle the questions hanging over this team’s defense. Even after Sunday’s win, it’s hard to say the unit has inspired real confidence in Detroit’s Super Bowl hopes.
Still, the Jets game did bring a noticeable shift in how the Lions lined up and who they trusted. Rock Ya-Sin was moved to the bench in favor of Roger McCreary, and Ennis Rakestraw appears to have moved ahead of Ya-Sin as well.
Veteran linebacker Devin White was inactive, with Malcolm Rodriguez and Trevor Nowaske taking on the work instead. Christian Izien also made his first career Lions start, and he was active all over the field.
There were changes in the way Detroit attacked the game plan, too. Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard backed off the heavy blitzing and dialed up more coverage looks, sending extra rushers on just 22.7% of dropbacks after the season average sat at 33.6%. The idea was simple: give the secondary a little more help by dropping seven into coverage.
The results were uneven. The run defense held up well, and the Lions finished with five sacks.
Chuck Clark’s strip sack sealed the game. But the outside corners still had trouble keeping Geno Smith from carving up Ford Field, and the back end continued to show too many breakdowns, even if there were fewer missed assignments and communication issues than before.
So yes, Detroit looked better defensively. Just not dramatically better. The group is moving in the right direction, but it’s still a work in progress, and the real question is how long it takes before “improved” starts to look like “good.”
That was also the theme Dan Campbell leaned into during the week: this isn’t something that gets fixed overnight. The Lions are banking on chemistry, repetition, and time to clean up what’s been shaky early on.
There was plenty to like on the other side of the ball as well. Jared Goff has come out blazing, Jahmyr Gibbs remains on pace to stay in the Offensive Player of the Year conversation, and the offensive line, when healthy, is starting to look more like the unit Detroit expects to be. A few other weapons also made their presence felt Sunday.
And at the end of the conversation, there’s even the bigger-picture angle: the pros and cons of trading for Joey Porter Jr.
In Other News...
Lions Just Reopened A Roster Spot With A Familiar Return
The Lions made a familiar practice-squad swap Tuesday, parting ways with cornerback Natrone Brooks and bringing back tight end Miles Kitselman. Kitselman is returning to Detroit after previously being waived with an injury settlement, a transaction that had temporarily taken him off the teams roster picture but left the door open for a reunion down the line.
Kitselmans return gives Detroit another look at a player the organization already knows, while the move also keeps the tight end room in motion after a series of roster adjustments at the position. The broader backdrop includes the injury settlement process, which can create an opening for a later return, and it comes amid other recent moves involving tight ends and defensive end Ahmed Hassanein. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Campbell Just Made Derrick Moores Path To Playing Time Clear
Derrick Moore has spent the early part of his Lions career a step behind, a familiar place for a rookie defensive end trying to climb a crowded depth chart while also dealing with lost practice time because of injury. For a Detroit defense that is still sorting through adjustments, the development curve has been especially important, and head coach Dan Campbell made it clear Moores next step is all about getting more work and turning those reps into trust.
Campbell said Moore needs those chances to keep growing, and that the expectation inside the building is he will improve and push for more playing time as he gets comfortable. Campbell also noted he has been spending extra time in defensive meetings to help with the ongoing adjustments on that side of the ball, which only adds to the sense that Detroit is trying to steady the group while waiting for younger pieces like Moore to catch up. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Suddenly Have A Tough Center Decision Before Division Games
Juice Scruggs has handled the center job well through the first three games, giving the Lions something they needed in the middle of the offensive line after moving him into the role. He has graded out strongly and looked comfortable enough that Detroit now has a real decision to make as the schedule turns tougher, with divisional games looming against the Packers and Vikings.
Dan Campbell said Cade Mays is making progress in his recovery, but a Week 4 return may still be a stretch, and the Lions may choose to wait until after the bye before bringing him back into the mix. That leaves Detroit weighing continuity against the possibility of getting Mays back in place at center, a choice that could shape how the line holds up in the games that matter most for the division race. [Read more 🡒]