The Detroit Lions had one hell of a path to get to 14-2.
They’re undefeated towards the very best division within the league. Sunday evening’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 possibly can not have watched Detroit’s 40-34 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday evening and are available away feeling good concerning the state of the Lions’ protection coming into the playoffs.
It’s onerous to not like these Lions. I’m a giant, massive fan of Dan Campbell; their offense is endlessly enjoyable to observe, 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 toes of defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. He’s enjoying the gamers he’s acquired on a unit devastated by accidents.
The most important identify the Lions are lacking on that facet of the ball is elite move 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 common soccer fan may not 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 could not appear 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 evening at San Fran.
Not solely did the 49ers’ first 5 drives end in 4 touchdowns and a missed discipline aim, however they solely reached third down a grand complete 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 every part it wished.
I give credit score to Kerby Joseph, the lone brilliant spot in Detroit’s bottom-five move protection, as he collected his eighth and ninth interceptions of the yr within the second half. (To be honest, 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 staff’s unhealthy 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 now have to take a seat again and be unhappy? We allow you to guys do 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 acquired.
But when I’m a Lions fan proper now and I’m interested by what Minnesota, Inexperienced Bay, Philadelphia or Washington might do to my protection within the playoffs… the sky may not be falling, however I’d be lining as much as donate my leg and my jaw to the blokes in Honolulu blue who really want it.
