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[Detroit Lions]

Are the Detroit Lions all the way back after big win vs. Ravens?

“Yeah, but it was just the Chicago Bears.”

That’s what some were saying after the Detroit Lions’ Week 2 get-right game. After a disappointing season opener against the Green Bay Packers, not everyone was convinced that the Lions would return to form despite blowing out the Bears 52-21 last week.

You aren’t hearing many doubters this week. The Lions went into Baltimore on a raucous Monday night and beat the Ravens at their own game. They were physical. They were dominant on the ground. Their defense was flying all over the field. And in every critical moment of the contest, it was the Lions coming up with a big play and the Ravens coming up short.

As a result, the Lions are a near-unanimous top-five team in power rankings, analysts are finally starting to give Dan Campbell some love, and underrated players like Al-Quadin Muhammad are shining in the national spotlight.

On this week’s PODcast, we break down everything from the Lions’ spectacular performance. Here are some of our topics and takeaways on this week’s podcast:

• How the Lions eventually dictated the game on the ground
• Detroit is finding several ways they can win games
• Stopping Lamar Jackson: How they did it and what it means
• Al-Quadin Muhammad: Awesome story, phenomenal game, but is it sustainable?
• The degree of difficulty was higher, and the Lions still dominated
• Some special teams issues… STILL
• Jared Goff: Top-five quarterback.
• Amon-Ra St. Brown: Top-three receiver
• Don’t sleep on Sam LaPorta
• Some much-earned love for the coordinators… and Dan Campbell
• Was this the most impressive win in the Dan Campbell era?
• Terrion Arnold struggles: What’s next?

Listen to the entire show on your favorite podcasting platform, or in the Spotify embed below.

You can also catch the video replays of the show—with bonus content—on our Twitch and YouTube pages.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...ons-baltimore-ravens-recap-podcast-lamar-goff

 

[Detroit Lions]

Lions film breakdown: Terrion Arnold struggles, 2 back sets

With the news that Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell is thinking about shaking up the cornerback room a bit after Terrion Arnold’s struggles through three games, we decided to dive into the tape from Monday against the Baltimore Ravens.

Arnold, now in his second year, has not played up to expectations this offseason. After being hailed as the most likely player to take a Year 2 jump, Arnold has given up a handful of big plays already this season, and even been tagged for a few penalties, as well. As Campbell noted on Wednesday, some of that is due to the Lions’ defensive scheme. Arnold is often asked to cover with no help over the top, and that can be tough for any cornerback, let alone one that is still growing.

“What we ask of these corners is not easy, but it’s also why you’re here,” Campbell said on Wednesday. “It’s why we acquire you, whether it’s the draft or it’s free agency. It’s because we are going to put you on an island, and it’s not going to be easy, but that’s the task you’re given.”

But, also, was it as bad as it looked? It’s easy to point out the plays in which he got beat on, but what about plays away from the ball? How is Arnold looking when the ball is not thrown his way? After all, several Lions coaches and players pointed to the coverage when talking about the team’s seven-sack performance. The pressure can’t get there if the coverage isn’t good. Was Arnold at least partially responsible for any of the Lions’ seven sacks on Lamar Jackson?

Erik Schlitt and I jumped into the tape to find out. We break down the plays Arnold gave up, but also tried to give a bigger picture of his entire night in Baltimore. You can watch our breakdown below:

Note: Our connection broke down, so the video is split into two different streams. In fact, there are a lot of technical issues this week. Hopefully, it’ll be better next time.

After breaking down Arnold’s film, we jumped into the Lions’ two-back sets they used against the Ravens. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs shared the field for over a half-dozen snaps, including a bunch of Maryland I-formation snaps, which feature three players behind the quarterback. We broke down what worked with those plays, what didn’t work, and what they were trying to do to manipulate the defense. That breakdown begins around the 31:00 mark in the second video above.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...reakdown-terrion-arnold-struggles-2-back-sets

 

[Detroit Lions]

Lions, Browns injury report: Al-Quadin Muhammad returns to practice

The Detroit Lions (2-1) and the Cleveland Browns (1-2) were back on the practice field on Thursday as they prepare for their Week 4 Sunday afternoon interconference showdown. The Lions, after playing on Monday, held a walkthrough on Wednesday, marking Thursday the first true practice of the week for Detroit.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the latest injury report and get you up to date with what we know. Note: Any changes from last week will be bolded.

No practice​

• LT Taylor Decker (shoulder)
• RB Sione Vaki (hamstring, groin)
• S Daniel Thomas (forearm)

Decker appears to be settling into a routine of getting “limited” to “no practice” during the week, as the Lions do their best to limit the stress on his shoulder, thus allowing him to play on Sunday. So far this season, he’s missed more practice time than he’s had, but he hasn’t missed a single snap of game action.

Vaki finally returned from an early camp hamstring injury, only to injure his groin in Week 3. This is a common and unfortunate occurrence with soft tissue injuries, where one injury can lead to another, causing the player to contend with multiple issues during rehabilitation. It’s too early to tell if these issues will impact his status for this weekend’s game, but rest is often the best medicine in these situations, so we’ll have to see the Lions’ approach.

Thomas reportedly suffered a broken forearm that required surgery to repair, so it’s no surprise he missed both practices this week. It’s still not clear if this injury is related to his broken hand (suffered in Week 1) or how much time he’ll miss, so we’ll likely have to wait for Lions coach Dan Campbell for more updates.

Limited practice​

• EDGE Al-Quadin Muhammad (knee) — upgraded from No Practice on Wednesday
• LB Derrick Barnes (knee)
• Zach Cunningham (hamstring) — NEW injury

After a breakout performance on Monday night against the Ravens, Lions fans held their collective breath when the team reported that Muhammad was estimated to have missed practice on Wednesday, had they held one. Fortunately, Detroit Football Network’s Justin Rogers was able to talk with Muhammad in the locker room on Wednesday, and he reported that Muhammad disclosed that he was expecting to play on Sunday. That projection from the Lions’ defensive end appears to be accurate, as Muhammad returned to practice on Thursday and is on track to play against the Browns.

Barnes was estimated to be limited on Wednesday and indeed practiced on Thursday, as expected. Barnes is a critical cog in Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard’s defense, and keeping him healthy and available is paramount for the Lions’ scheme.

“Yeah, you ask (General Manager) Brad (Holmes) what he means to my defense,” Sheppard said at his Thursday press conference. “I said that was a player I had to have. […] I believe this kid can play four, five spots on the football field and do it at a high level. He can play all three stack backer spots, he can play defensive end. So when you’re able to have a player like that, you see them out in the apex in 11-personnel, which is really a nickel spot. So when you have a player like that, it allows you that ability to present the same looks pre-snap and then post-snap be able to play a different variety of coverages, different variety of pressure packages.”

Cunningham was not previously on the Lions’ injury report, but with Wednesday only being a walkthrough, it’s entirely possible the team was unaware of his hamstring issue. At the same time, with a Thursday addition, this could be an injury that occurred during today’s practice, which could complicate his availability for Sunday. Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait until Friday to see the severity of his injury.

No longer on the injury report​

• CB D.J. Reed (cramping)

Reed showed up on Wednesday’s injury report with a cramping issue, something he dealt with after Week 2 as well, but he was not listed on Thursday’s report, indicating things are progressing well.

Browns’ injury report​

Note: Starters are bolded.

Did not practice

• None

Limited practice

• WR Cedric Tillman (hand, hip)
• RT Jack Conklin (Elbow)
• DT Mike Hall (knee) — Upgraded from no practice on Wednesday
• DT Shelby Harris (hamstring) — Upgraded from no practice on Wednesday
• CB Denzel Ward (shoulder) — Upgraded from no practice on Wednesday
• S Grant Delpit (back)

Full practice

• TE David Njoku (knee) — Upgraded from limited practice on Wednesday
• LG Joe Bitonio (back, rest) — Upgraded from limited practice on Wednesday
• EDGE Myles Garrett (rest) — Upgraded from limited practice on Wednesday

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...report-al-quadin-muhammad-returns-to-practice

 

[Detroit Lions]

Which games should the Detroit Lions wear their black jerseys?

It wasn’t long ago that I would have been staunchly against the Detroit Lions wearing black jerseys of any kind. After all, Honolulu blue and silver are great team colors, and the black jerseys seemed to only bring up sad feelings from a bygone age of Lions’ football. However, those feelings were before Lions coach Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes got to town, and turned the franchise into one of the NFL’s best. It also helps that the Lions got almost everything right when they revamped their jersey designs back in 2024.

The black jerseys, along with the alternate helmet, give the Lions a really cool look they can roll out. Since the NFL has loosened up on some of their uniform policies over the years, including how many times teams are permitted to wear their alternates, franchises are able to get more creative with their week-to-week looks. And for a team like the Lions that have a boatload of nationally-televised matchups on their schedule, they will have to pick which games make the most sense for them to bring out their, “Motor City Muscle,” look.

My answer: If it were up to me, I am going with the Lions’ Week 6 matchup in primetime against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the “Thursday Night Football” game against the Dallas Cowboys on December 4, and the Sunday night game on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs on October 12.

What about you? Which games would you want the Lions to rock their black jerseys this season and why? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/nfl-...-lions-black-uniforms-2025-games-wearing-poll

 

[Detroit Lions]

Lions, Browns injury designations: Taylor Decker questionable, 3 ruled OUT

The Detroit Lions (2-1) and the Cleveland Browns (1-2) have declared their injury designations for their upcoming Week 4 matchup at Ford Field this Sunday. The Lions will be missing a key special teamers, but all their offensive and defensive starters are expected to play.

Let’s take a look at the latest injury report and get you up to date with what we know. Note: Any changes from previous reports will be bolded.

Ruled OUT​

• RB Sione Vaki (hamstring, groin)
• LB Zach Cunningham (hamstring)
• S Daniel Thomas (forearm)

Vaki worked his way back from a hamstring injury only to suffer a groin injury halfway through his first game back. This new soft tissue injury will keep him out of this game, and some rest will hopefully put him on a path to recovery soon. His absence will be felt most on special teams, and the Lions will have to find another kickoff return man to work alongside Jacob Saylors. During last week’s game, Kalif Raymond filled in, but Grant Stuard could also be a possibility to take back over some return duties, or Detroit could choose to have Craig Reynolds take the spot, as he appears likely to be active this week.

Cunningham was not on Wednesday’s estimated injury report and showed up as limited on Thursday. An absence from Friday’s practice and an “out” designation suggest he was injured on Thursday, which could put him in jeopardy of missing time next week as well.

Thomas broke his hand in Week 1 and was able to play with a cast on his hand, but a broken forearm—that required surgery, according to Dave Birkett of the Free Press—will keep him out of this game. Thomas was filling an all-important starting gunner role on special teams, and with him unavailable, the Lions will need a replacement. In training camp, defensive back Rock Ya-Sin, and rookie wide receivers Isaac TeSlaa and Dominic Lovett saw time in the gunner role, and one of them is likely next in line for the role.

Questionable​

• LT Taylor Decker (shoulder)
• EDGE Al-Quadin Muhammad (knee)

Decker had missed several practices during the regular season as the Lions continue to work on managing his shoulder issue. While he missed every practice this week, expectations are still high that he’ll start at left tackle against the Browns. With his experience, the Lions feel confident he can miss practice and still perform at a high level in games, which has worked out so far this season. That being said, routine is not something the team prefers, and they’re hoping to get him back practicing again soon.

“We’d rather it not be the case. But that’s just the way it is right now. And we’re just trying to get him to where he feels good and feels recovered as much as possible for the game. And it’s the right thing to do right now,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said of Decker’s situation. “And Decker’s giving us what he’s got, and we’re all appreciative for that. We want him feeling good for the game and that’s the most important thing right now for him. And we’re fortunate he’s played a lot of ball, he’s played a ton of football, he’s our most veteran player that we have. And so, fortunately, walkthrough reps serve him well. He can visualize it, he can see it, he works his craft out there when we’re going through those, and so he’s able to adapt. He’s been pretty good for us the last couple of weeks.”

Muhammad broke out against the Ravens on Monday night, then gave Lions fans a bit of a scare when he was estimated not to have been able to practice on Wednesday. Fortunately, he told the media that he was expecting to play on Sunday, and then returned for Thursday and Friday practices. He’s expected to start opposite Aidan Hutchinson against the Browns.

Not listed with an injury designation​

• LB Derrick Barnes (knee)

Barnes has been able to practice all week with his knee injury and looks to be in line to start in the SAM linebacker role in week 4. Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard gushed over Barnes’ ability to make an impact in multiple roles in Detroit’s scheme, and is surely excited to unleash him again this week.

Browns’ injury designations​

Note: Starters are bolded.

Ruled OUT

• DT Mike Hall (knee)

Questionable

• RT Jack Conklin (Elbow)

Coach Stefanski said Jack Conklin "progressing, getting better." Adds that's it's still "hard to say" if he'll play on Sunday.

— Tom Withers (@twithersCLE) September 26, 2025

Not listed with an injury designation

• WR Cedric Tillman (hand, hip)
• TE David Njoku (knee)
• LG Joe Bitonio (back, rest)
• EDGE Myles Garrett (rest)
• DT Shelby Harris (hamstring)
• CB Denzel Ward (shoulder)
• S Grant Delpit (back)

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...ations-taylor-decker-questionable-3-ruled-out

 

[Detroit Lions]

Discussion: Which Lions players are key vs. Browns?

Despite a Vegas line that’s pushing 10 points, the 1-2 Cleveland Browns will be no pushover for the 2-1 Detroit Lions. The Browns have arguably the best defense in the league, and the Lions know they will have to bring their best on Sunday to avoid an upset.

“They can really cut it loose, and with that front four, they play fast, penetrating-style defense,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said on Friday. “So, they know first down’s big for them, they’re looking for second-and-longs and that’s when they really have a lot of success. So yes, first down’s going to be big for us. We cannot get behind the sticks. We’ve got to stay in the green because if not, it’ll be a long day.”

In order to contend with that defense—and find success against the Browns offense—the Lions will need some big performances from individuals. So today’s Question of the Day is:

Who are the Lions’ key players vs. the Browns?​

My answer: The most obvious answer is Taylor Decker. Seeing as Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is capable of creating chaos on every play, the Lions will need an answer for him. Garrett typically lines up over the left tackle, making him Decker’s responsibility for most of Sunday. He’ll almost certainly have help in the form of a tight end or even an additional lineman, but Decker will be the biggest factor in slowing Garrett. Hopefully, Decker’s shoulder injury will not be too limiting this week.

Elsewhere, I think DJ Reader will be a key player on defense. With the Browns finding some recent success on the ground with rookie running back Quinshon Judkins, the defensive key for the Lions will be to stop the run. While Reader doesn’t rack up the stats, he’s been playing very well this year, and the Lions’ run defense has benefited.

“The things he’s able to do in the run game, but even in the pass game too,” Campbell said. “He keeps people off our backers, and if not, then he’s the guy making the play. And he’s consistent, he’s just consistent, and he’s a force in there. And it’s been big, I mean it really has. He’s another one of those players that’s like, ‘Man, don’t ever take that guy for granted,’ because he does a lot of things for us.”

Which Lions players do you think are key to a victory over the Browns? Scroll down to the comment section and offer your picks.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/nfl-...502/detroitlions-players-key-cleveland-browns

 

[Detroit Lions]

Lions place Daniel Thomas on IR, elevate rookie WR for Week 4

The Detroit Lions made two roster transactions ahead of their Week 4 matchup with the Cleveland Browns, placing safety/gunner Daniel Thomas on injured reserve with a broken arm, and elevating rookie wide receiver Jackson Meeks from the practice squad for this Sunday’s game.

Thomas was signed by the Lions at cutdowns and immediately earned multiple roles on special teams, including the all-important gunner role on punt coverage. Through three games, Thomas has seen 50 snaps on special teams and just nine on defense, filling in late in Week 2 after the Lions created a sizable lead on the Bears. Thomas’ 76.6 PFF grade on special teams is fourth best on the Lions roster.

Unfortunately for Thomas, he’s had a tough start to his Lions career, with regard to injuries. After breaking his hand in Week 1, Thomas played with his hand in a cast the previous two weeks, only to break his forearm in Week 3. This break required surgery, and so a stint on injured reserve was anticipated.

Thomas will now be required to sit out the next four games while on injured reserve, but he could be out longer depending on how quickly he heals. For reference, when Alex Anzalone broke his forearm last season, he missed six weeks’ worth of games, so we could expect a similar timeline for Thomas.

Similar to last week, the Lions did not make a corresponding move to the active roster after placing a player on injured reserve, meaning they will have an open spot on their 53-man roster to start Week 5.

That being said, the Lions did elevate practice squader Jackson Meeks for this game, and it’s very possible he will fill some of Thomas’ roles on special teams, potentially including at gunner. During the preseason, Meeks saw reps at gunner each game—along with fellow rookie wide receivers Isaac TeSlaa and Dominic Lovett—and his elevation for this game is a good indicator that he’s in line for some work.

Following the game, Meeks will revert to the Lions’ practice squad, as an elevation means he is not required to pass through the waiver process.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...iel-thomas-on-ir-elevate-rookie-wr-for-week-4

 

[Detroit Lions]

Browns vs Lions Week 4 preview: Three key slugfest statistics

What once looked like an afterthought on the schedule, the matchup between the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns has turned into one of Week 4’s most compelling games. After the Browns dragged the Packers into the junkyard and let the Dawg Pound loose, their defense has re-established itself as one of the NFL’s most punishing units.

Even with the four-ring circus of a quarterback competition, defensive ringmaster Jim Schwartz has his group looking far closer to its 2023 form, when it finished as the league’s top defense. Some of Cleveland’s metrics look a little deflated after surrendering 41 points to Baltimore—despite allowing only 242 total yards and just 3-of-12 conversions on third down—but the Browns remain a top-five defense (#3 in Defensive DVOA) and a stiff test for Detroit.

The Lions offense vs. the Browns defense is the headline act of Sunday’s slate. Here are three statistics that frame this matchup.

Note: Unless otherwise indicated, all statistics are sourced from NFL Pro, TruMedia, FTN Fantasy, or Pro Football Reference.

Lions OL vs Browns DL​

JORDAN RUN! straight out of Jurassic Park @crosscountrymtg | @Flash_Garrett pic.twitter.com/T3emoM89nb

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 22, 2025

Myles Garrett has been one of the NFL’s most dominant defenders for years, and somehow, he’s elevated his game even further in 2025. There’s a strong case he’s the league’s best player relative to position.

So far this season, Garrett has produced:
• 14 total QB pressures (13th)
• 4 sacks (2nd)
• 29.3% pass-rush win rate (2nd)
• 18.7% pressure rate (14th)

He’s doing it while drawing double teams on nearly 70% of his rushes—the highest rate for any edge rusher. Garrett also owns PFF’s second-highest defensive line grade (92.1) and the No. 2 edge run-defense grade (87.3), behind Aidan Hutchinson. With 85.9% of his snaps coming from the right side, veteran LT Taylor Decker will have his hands full Sunday.

The bigger problem for Detroit: Garrett isn’t a one-man wrecking crew anymore.

Dan Campbell was asked about facing a game wrecker like Myles Garrett.

Quickly corrects that the Browns have two game-wreckers, praising DL Maliek Collins.

— Jeremy Reisman (@DetroitOnLion) September 26, 2025

Maliek Collins, once a journeyman pass-rushing tackle, has found a career renaissance in Cleveland. On a two-year, $20 million deal, he leads all DTs in pass-rush win rate (23.6%) and ranks 10th in pressure rate (13.9%). Collins also tops PFF’s DT grades (90.8 overall, 91.5 pass rush) and is on pace for his best run-defense season (67.5). Lining up on the right side 69.2% of the time, he’ll test LG Christian Mahogany—fresh off surrendering two pressures to Baltimore.

Inside, Collins often pairs with No. 5 overall pick Mason Graham on violent two-man stunts. Graham was stout against the run the first two weeks but flashed against Green Bay’s unsettled offensive line (four QB pressures, 16.7% win rate, 16.7% pressure rate) and will primarily square off with fellow rookie RG Tate Ratledge, with intriguing UDFA Adin Huntington rotating in (25% win rate, 12.5% pressure rate in limited snaps vs. the Packers) – a player who also sees snaps at fullback.

Rounding out the group, third-year DE Isaiah McGuire has stepped into a starting role opposite Garrett and is quietly producing an 18.6% pressure rate—15th among all defenders—setting up a strong early-season test for RT Penei Sewell.

The Browns’ defensive front is loaded with players operating at peak form and being deployed decisively by Jim Schwartz. For Detroit’s developing offensive line, this represents an even sterner test than Green Bay in Week 1 — but the unit at least enters this matchup with two more games of continuity and chemistry under its belt.

Browns Run Defense says “Keep Out”​

This week’s battle in the trenches got a little spicier with both Lions offensive coordinator John Morton and Garrett puffing their chests out pridefully for their team’s ability in the ground game.

Garrett has reason to be confident as the Browns have steadily improved their run defense each season since 2022 and are now among the NFL’s best in nearly every key metric:

• 57.3 rushing yards per game (1st)
• 2.3 yards per rush (1st)
• 2 runs of 10+ yards allowed (1st)
• 21.3% run-stuff rate (6th)
• 28.6% offensive rushing success rate allowed (2nd)
• -0.23 EPA per rush (2nd – behind the Lions)
• -0.51 yards before contact per attempt (1st)
• 2.87 yards after contact per attempt (12th)
• 25.3% light-box rate (6 or fewer defenders – 2nd lowest)

The Browns had a lot of success stopping the run games of the Bengals, Ravens, and Packers in their tracks. In addition to the defensive line, rookie second-round LB Carson Schwesinger has shined with 8 defensive stops in the run game and a 77.8 run-defense grade (18th among LBs).

But Morton notes that the Lions’ reworked run game is different from anything the Browns have faced this season. Detroit has been effective on the ground:

• 149.0 rushing yards per game (4th)
• 5.0 yards per carry (7th)
• 15 runs of 10+ yards (15th)
• 17.8% run-stuff rate (19th)
• 42.0% rushing success rate (12th)
• +0.02 EPA per rush (10th)
• 1.59 yards before contact per attempt (9th)
• 3.39 yards after contact per attempt (12th)

While the Lions’ numbers don’t yet match Cleveland’s dominance—due in part to a rough Week 1—the matchup still sets up as an intriguing game of chess between Morton and Schwartz.

The Browns are particularly tough in areas where the Lions often catch opponents off guard. On third-and-five-or-less runs (eight attempts so far), Cleveland has allowed only a 12.5% rushing success rate. Cleveland has also been strong defending the run out of 11- and 13-personnel, under-center looks, shotgun runs, and on first or second down (they’ve yet to face a snap of 21-personnel this year).

Detroit has leaned heavily on 12-personnel rushes this season, ranking top six in attempts, yards per carry, rushing success rate, and EPA per rush. The Browns have been nearly as stout in those areas, sitting in the top 12 in yards per rush, success rate, yards before contact per rush, and explosive-run rate. Interestingly, they fall outside the top 15 in both EPA per rush and yards after contact per rush—perhaps a window for Detroit to exploit. Beyond 12 personnel, Cleveland also lags in yards after contact immediately following completed passes, ranking 29th at 3.59 yards per attempt.

Expect a physical, grind-it-out battle running the football. David Montgomery, second in the NFL with 4.8 yards per carry, could anchor the ground attack again. Finding traction on the ground will be critical for controlling the clock, creating manageable downs, and giving Jared Goff a chance to navigate Cleveland’s elite pass rush.

Man up​

With the ground game potentially battering a brick wall, a lot of Detroit’s offensive success could hinge on Jared Goff. When protection holds up, he’s been delivering at an extremely high level and has kept the passing game humming despite Ben Johnson’s departure. Goff has operated as one of the league’s smoothest pre- and post-snap quarterbacks this season.

Even with last year’s starting outside corner, Martin Emerson Jr. lost to a training-camp Achilles tear, Jim Schwartz has leaned into an aggressive man-coverage blueprint. He’s rolling with Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II (last year’s slot) on the outside, seventh-round rookie Myles Harden in the nickel, and safeties Grant Delpit and Ronnie Hickman Jr. The Browns lead the NFL in Cover-1 usage (42.3% of dropbacks) and are sixth in Cover-0 (6.7%).

Opponents who do get the ball off against those looks have found success:

• 7.0 yards per attempt (21st)
• 114.6 passer rating (24th)
• 56.8% completion rate (16th)
• 48.7% offensive success rate (22nd)
• –0.20 EPA/dropback (17th)
• 16.2% explosive-pass rate (21st)

That should be music to Detroit’s ears. That’s Dan Campbell’s jam, man. Against those same man coverages this season, Goff has produced:

• 8.4 yards per attempt (10th)
• 141.3 passer rating (2nd)
• 83.3% completion rate (1st)
• 73.1% offensive success rate (2nd)
• +0.96 EPA/dropback (2nd)
• 16.7% explosive-pass rate (12th)

Goff has long been comfortable dissecting man coverage. While Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta haven’t been featured much against it this year, Williams averaged 20.1 yards per catch against man last season (4th), and Goff has been dialing up Amon-Ra St. Brown. St. Brown leads the NFL with eight first downs against these two coverages this season after posting 14 such catches all of last year. St. Brown could really test Harden in the slot as this month has been his first exposure to meaningful NFL snaps.

Schwartz’s gamble is that pressure covers up those isolated matchups. The Browns generate pressure on 41.5% of dropbacks when in man (11th-highest) and 50.0% when they blitz.

If Detroit’s “People Mover” offensive line can keep the pocket intact, Goff should be able to slice up Cleveland’s man looks. Should he do that and orchestrate a win, the conversation about his MVP candidacy should only grow louder at the season’s quarter-turn.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...-week-4-preview-three-key-slugfest-statistics

 

[Detroit Lions]

5 takeaways from Lions’ win against Browns

Coming off its best win of the season against the Baltimore Ravens, the Detroit Lions returned home to host the Cleveland Browns. Detroit wanted to extend its winning streak, but it wasn’t be easy, as the Browns were coming off their own big win over the Green Bay Packers, holding them to just 10 points. Detroit didn’t overlook Cleveland, despite comments made by Lions offensive coordinator John Morton earlier in the week.

It was a slow, grueling game for both teams. Detroit tried to run, and while they found success at times, Cleveland held them to 277 yards and just 109 on the ground. The Lions needed all three phases to contribute for them to escape with a win. We could be talking about a Lions loss if the defense can’t create turnovers and special teams doesn’t put up 13 points.

Lots to digest and go over, so let me break it down for you as I give you my five takeaways from the Lions’ win against the Browns.

Penalties cause pain, but don’t cost Detroit the game​

While the Cleveland defense was causing issues for Detroit, the Lions didn’t help themselves with all the penalties called on them. On the opening drive, the Lions defense was called for three penalties, all holding in the secondary. Even though they were not accepted due to the Browns’ offense moving the chains, it still wasn’t a good thing to see. Then if we include the flags called on Detroit, they got three more for 15 yards.

In the second quarter, running back Jahmyr Gibbs had a solid 24-yard run, but with back-to-back false starts, it pushed Detroit back and eventually forced the team to punt. Going up against a team like Cleveland, you can’t keep them in the game by messing up and hurting yourself. Detroit finished with six penalties for 35 yards, and if this was against a better opponent, it might have been more impactful.

Turnovers came up huge​

With the offense sputtering, they needed some assistance, and while punter Jack Fox boomed a few punts deep to push the Browns offense back, the secondary finished them off. First, safety Kerby Joseph got his second interception of the season from a pass by Browns quarterback Joe Flacco. In the second quarter, after the Lions again can’t move the ball on offense, cornerback D.J. Reed dove and picked off the ball and returned inside the Browns’ 10.

Late in the fourth quarter, with the Browns down by 17, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson had a big strip sack on Flacco, and Detroit recovered. The Lions took advantage of the short field and put up a touchdown to go up 34-10. 17 points for the Lions came off turnovers, so without those, we might have seen a closer game. Detroit had struggles on offense, but when the defense gave them a short field, they executed and didn’t make it all for nothing.

Pass rush must improve​

Getting seven sacks against the Baltimore Ravens was impressive, and while it’s not something I expected them to repeat, three sacks against the Browns is fewer than I expected still. The Browns were without starting right tackle Jack Conklin, and while the Browns allowed 23 pressures, it felt rare for Detroit to have an impactful pressure. Hutchinson led the team with eight and got to Flacco twice. That forced fumble by Hutchinson was the dagger in the game as the Browns were down by three scores with just a few ticks over seven minutes left.

EDGE Al-Quadin Muhammad, who had an explosive two-and-a-half sack game last week, only had 19 pass rushing downs and generated a single pressure. The Lions can’t continue to put all the pressure on Hutchinson to be their only pass-rushing EDGE player. Help is coming soon, but for Muhammad to be silent after a strong performance is disappointing to see. The Browns’ offense is one of the worst in the league, and for Detroit to only get three sacks seems lackluster.

Injuries are adding up​

The Lions’ injury bug hasn’t been as impactful this season, with only a few players on IR and many returning from injuries suffered last season. Against the Browns, four starters went down with an injury, two of them returned. Hutchinson and Joseph were the lucky ones to return, but the Lions starting cornerbacks Reed and Terrion Arnold weren’t as lucky. Both left the game with injuries, but Reed’s exit appeared to be more severe than Arnold’s.

Reed left the game with a hamstring injury in the second half, but he didn’t just walk off the field; he left on the cart. Usually, when a player needs the cart to leave the field, it isn’t a good sign. We don’t know the extent of the injury yet, but it will be something to focus on for the foreseeable future.

Arnold left the game with a shoulder injury and didn’t return either. With both starting cornerbacks now suffering injuries, the Lions might need to turn to fellow cornerbacks Amik Robertson and Rock Ya-Sin to contribute more on the field. We saw defensive back Avonte Maddox play when Joseph was down with an injury, so he could play at the nickel if Robertson needs to play on the outside.

Jamo connection shut down​

When Lions quarterback Jared Goff attempted the deep shots against the Browns to wide receiver Jameson Williams, they couldn’t connect. The first one was an underthrown ball by Goff, and the second would hit Williams in his hands, but he struggled to find it. The Lions got a free play and missed out on a pass to Williams on the third attempt, as Goff just chucked it in hopes it could turn into a big gain.

The worst of the attempts came in the third quarter as Goff was loading up for a deep shot to Williams again and it was vastly underthrown, as Browns cornerback Denzel Ward was all by himself and picked it off. Usually Goff can connect with Williams on the deep shots, but it seemed to be an issue today between the two.

Some of the throws were on Goff, who underthrew it on some of them, while others were on Williams as he wasn’t looking for the ball or it hit him right in the hands. The pass that was dropped by Williams was a difficult catch to make, but despite it being difficult, if it can hit you in the hands, you should come down with it. You don’t usually see this combo struggle as much as they did today, as Williams can eventually break free, or Goff can place the ball perfectly.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...-takeaways-detroit-lions-win-cleveland-browns