The Detroit Lions had one hell of a path to get to 14-2.
They’re undefeated towards one of the best division within the league. Sunday night time’s regular-season finale with the Minnesota Vikings will resolve the NFC North crown and the No. 1 seed within the convention. The Lions needed to overcome greater than their fair proportion of accidents all through the journey.
However you could possibly not have watched Detroit’s 40-34 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night time and are available away feeling good in regards to the state of the Lions’ protection getting into the playoffs.
It’s laborious to not like these Lions. I’m an enormous, massive fan of Dan Campbell; their offense is endlessly enjoyable to look at, and it’s nice to see a franchise that had no punch for the higher a part of the final 60 years get their flip within the limelight, contending for his or her elusive first Tremendous Bowl.
Their weaknesses, nevertheless, are clear. I’m not laying any blame on the ft of defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. He’s taking part in the gamers he’s bought on a unit devastated by accidents.
The largest identify the Lions are lacking on that facet of the ball is elite cross rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who broke his tibia and fibula in Week 6, however that’s simply the beginning. Six starters from the Lions’ Week 1 protection are on injured reserve, vital guys the typical soccer fan won’t know, like 2023 main tackler Alex Anzalone.
Simply two weeks in the past, No. 1 nook Carlton Davis suffered a fractured jaw, and defensive lineman Alim McNeil (second in sacks behind Hutchinson) tore his ACL.
On paper, it might not seem to be it’s mattered that a lot. The Lions entered Monday with the No. 7 scoring protection (19.9 ppg allowed) regardless of giving up the 14th-most yards per recreation (338.9), a real “bend however don’t break” setup.
However in seven video games towards playoff groups (counting the NFC South-leading Buccaneers, who might clinch in Week 18), the Lions gave up 26.4 factors per recreation. And a few of Detroit’s roughest showings have come this month because the ranks continued to skinny: 31 factors in a win over Inexperienced Bay, 48 in a loss to Buffalo, and 34 on Monday night time at San Fran.
Not solely did the 49ers’ first 5 drives end in 4 touchdowns and a missed subject purpose, however they solely reached third down a grand whole of 4 instances. A Niners offense with Isaac Guerendo as an alternative of Christian McCaffrey and Ricky Pearsall as an alternative of Brandon Aiyuk was getting all the things it needed.
I give credit score to Kerby Joseph, the lone vivid spot in Detroit’s bottom-five cross protection, as he collected his eighth and ninth interceptions of the yr within the second half. (To be truthful, Brock Purdy uncorked a horrible overthrow on the primary one and utterly telestrated the second.) However each of them got here after teammate Brian Department dedicated boneheaded penalties to assist the opponent’s drives alongside.
Glenn gave a quote the opposite week that I can actually respect. It was proper after the Lions misplaced Davis and McNeil, and it was clear he’d heard sufficient about his group’s dangerous damage luck.
“We’re going to the playoffs. We’re within the event. Why within the hell is the sky falling for us?” Glenn mentioned. “What do we’ve got to sit down again and be unhappy? We allow you to guys try this.”
It’s far preferable to the unseemly “woe is me” tack from a coach. His job isn’t to fret however to work with what he’s bought.
But when I’m a Lions fan proper now and I’m eager about what Minnesota, Inexperienced Bay, Philadelphia or Washington might do to my protection within the playoffs… the sky won’t be falling, however I’d be lining as much as donate my leg and my jaw to the fellows in Honolulu blue who actually need it.
