How bad is our defense? … compared to MIN. A closer look!

NFL Detroit Lions
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The game day chat was melting down with posters freaking out about or defense. Many feel the Lions are cooked and have lost hope. The goal of this thread is to restore some hope.

The Lions defense has average 20 pts a game allowed all season.

Min has averaged 19pts allowed.

In the last 4 weeks the Lions defense has faced the 2nd, 13th, 8th and 29th ranked offenses.

This week they face the 9th ranked vs MIN. The Lions gave up 31st to the 8th ranked GB. Greenbay is scoring 1 more point a game than MIN.

So let’s assume the Lions will give up 30 to MIN.

In the last 4 weeks the Lions have scored 34, 42, 34 and 40 points. Averaging 37.5 a game so 30+ points are doable.

Min has scored more than 30pts only 3 times all
Season. Only once were they above 40. Scoring 42pts vs ATL.

Det has scored above 30pts 9 times this season. 6 times above 40 pts and 2 times above 50pts.

Let’s go back to that common opponent GB.

Min allowed 271 yrds and 25 pts to GB.
Det allowed 298 yrds and 31 pts to GB.

Mind you that GB game was the week the Lions started I believe 6 starters who were not on the roster the week prior.

My point … Detroit’s defense has been pretty good all year. Yes we’ve suffered some injuries and have looked worse in recent weeks but they’ve also played 3 really good offense during that stretch.

Our 4 opponents before that stretch scored 23, 23, 6, and 6 yards.

It’s the high powered offenses that are giving us trouble.

Expect MIN to put up similar numbers as GB did. I highly doubt MIN scores more than 30 points against us. The Lions make few mistakes and all our defense has to do is force a turnover or FG or two

Expect the Lions offense to put up 32 or more points. Our recent average suggests we will be north of 34.

The Lions should win this game. Our offense is more than their defense can handle.

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42-24
Lions

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As much as it is on our defense, it is an awful lot of pressure on Darnold to play mistake free.

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This is where, IMO, we should play a cover 2 style defense and mix up some zone blitzes, etc. when we went into that style the 2nd half at SF we did much better. I almost wonder if AG plays completely differently to either lull the opposing offense or confuse them. We really are a 2nd half defensive team.

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Definitely puts some perspective on it. With the eye test i still cant understand how last week SF receivers were catching the ball so open that there was no lions defense on my TV screen? How can they get that open?

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https://x.com/ASchatzNFL/status/1874103584360636458?t=QhH3xnqGFp9_GXh1EGFaSQ&s=19

I get what you’re trying to say but you cant universally apply that to every game. All it takes is the offense to have one blip and it’s game over.

You saw what happened last week. If it wasn’t for that horrid overthrow by Purdy that woke up the entire defense, that game might have turned out differently.

Lions are also currently 31st in pass defense and Darnold has been superb this year.

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I know the injuries have taken a toll on the defense, but it’s no different than an offense going into a funk for a few games. That seems to happen to a lot of teams (if not all of them) every year. All it takes is one game for them to get their mojo back. No, they won’t be elite with their injuries, but certainly enough to not be near the bottom either.

Conversely, the Vikings offense is just one bad game away from blowing it as well. That’s what makes football fun - the unknown and surprises (as much as we despise the negative surprises when they happen to our team).

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That’s a good point. Too many times we think
last week performances are going to carry over
to the next week. Match ups are different and so
is energy. These sports commentators that predict
always seem to get caught up in what they see that
week.

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The defense has been situationally decent. They clearly can not dominate a team like it appeared was a possibility early season. But they have been doing a very good job of getting stops when needed during winning time.

They are playing NBA defense. Trash all game until the last 5-10 minutes. Or in the Lions case when a stop is crucial in the second half.

This is not changing until Hutch is back and possibly Alim also. The DLine sets the tone and we are depleted up front

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I believe I read that when Minnesota scored 42 on Atlanta that was the first time in 5 years they had scored over 40. If you can’t handle the Blitz the Vikings defense will get after to you. Goff can handle it.

This will also be the biggest game of Darnold career. He’s had a great season but he’s on the road and has to deal with Ford Field.

I also think this will be a Jamo game.

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I mean my fantasy football team would suggest the most of the second half of the season has been a Jamo game.

Dude has been a weapon.

I have been really impressed at how well Ben utilizes the players he has and their skill set.

It is funny because lately I feel like you will see 2-3 crucial gotta have 3rd downs and it will be a sideline out pattern by ARSB where he has to make a vice grip hands catch about 2 feet from his body. The point being that Ben and this offense absolutely utilizes players strengths. You would never run that play for Jamo who is more of a body catcher and a YAC dude.

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Love the work… I don’t think the rest of the season applies to this game. It’s the biggest regular season game I can remember in this division, maybe the league. Both teams will be pulling out all the stops… First one to 35 wins IMO… Both teams have the capability of scoring, especially going against the Lions depleted defense. That’ll be the game, how many times can the Vikings stop the Lions offense.

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It’s quite simple. The offense needs to score 42 points and have at least 30:00 time of possession in every remaining game.

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When you put it like that… It almost sounds easy

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That’s crazy how our defense started declining significantly when we lost Anzalone.

But guess who could be back Sunday??

Happy Daffy Duck GIF by Looney Tunes

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Anzalone was the start of the downfall…but Davis and Alim going down was real rough. No wonder the defense has taken a huge step backwards.

It doesn’t matter how we played in September and October cause half those guys are on IR. Absolutely have to look at the current roster and the last few weeks.

The Vikes are gonna score but hopefully we find a way to create a turnover or 2.

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Saw a stat on gmfb this am, although I didn’t hear the dialog, regarding the Lions defense vs playaction.
Since week 15 the lions are giving up 12.4yards per playaction, worst in the NFL.

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I think that is a big thing for linebackers. Anzalone’s return should hopefully help some…

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There’s something wrong with this guys graph because the Lions were better than the average vs CHI. But let’s look closer.

CHI has averaged 18 points a game. Detroit held them to 17. He’s clearly manipulating the data because we were better than their average.

GB is averaging 28 pts a game on the year but 30 pts a game lately. We gave up 31. Dang near their average.

Buf is averaging 32 on the season but has been 38 points a game lately. We gave up 48. But Buffalo has had 3 of their last 4 games 40 points or more. Their offense is hot like ours is right now and this was our worse defensive stand by far.

SF is averaging 23 points a game. We gave up 34. Clearly not our best effort either.

These are the game since Tday. It’s not as bad as people are making it out to be. Throw in the fact our offense is on a hot streak and we shouldn’t be worried by a team like Min who struggles to put up 30 or more points. Our defense was just as good as theirs vs GB too.

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Right on @RONQ . Just look at some recent college football games! Some (which were supposed to be close) have ended up being blowouts.

Sometimes, teams are 3+ TD favorites, but end up in close games (or upsets). Matchups matter a lot!

I wish I had the skill/time to analyze the way some people on here do. It would give me a better idea of matchups for this Sunday…