Stephen A. Smith isn’t buying the early optimism around the Detroit Lions.
Detroit opened the season with a 31-30 overtime win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, but the way that victory unfolded is exactly why Smith came away uneasy. The Lions built a 21-point cushion, then watched it disappear before eventually escaping with a one-point win.
On ESPN’s "First Take," Smith made it clear he’s not brushing that off. He said the Lions need to respond quickly, and in his view Thursday’s matchup with the Buffalo Bills has already taken on extra importance.
"The Detroit Lions, I am very, very concerned about them," Smith said on the show. "Yeah, you won a game, but you were up 21 to nothing.
You gave up that lead. It was tied 24-24."
For Smith, the bigger issue is on the defensive side. He acknowledged that Detroit’s offense remains dangerous and pointed to the team’s five sacks and a few turnovers as signs of improvement from last season.
"They have a high-powered offense; I know they had 5 sacks. I know they forced a few turnovers," he said. "That's an improvement based upon last year."
Still, that wasn’t enough to ease his concerns. Smith said the offense is "still potent without Ben Johnson," but he sees the defense as the real problem.
"their defense has fallen off as far as I am concerned; at least it did last year. They've got to show us that they can be what we thought they were a couple of years ago."
He added that the Lions once looked like a team capable of going all the way, but now the conversation has changed.
"Now, we're wondering whether they can win the division and make the playoffs."
For Detroit, the message is simple: a win is a win, but Thursday is going to tell people a lot more.
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Lions Face A Prime-Time Problem As Jahmyr Gibbs Heads To Buffalo
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Jahmyr Gibbs gives Detroit a weapon that can travel anywhere, but the setting only raises the stakes. This is Buffalos home opener at the new Highmark Stadium, with Prime Video carrying the nationally televised matchup, and the Lions will have to sort through the prime-time spotlight while trying to keep their offense on schedule in a building that figures to be loud from the start. [Read more 🡒]