Detroit Lions midseason check-in: 3 Keys to success
The BRAND NEW LIONS
We are now past the halfway point of the ‘23-’24 NFL season and the Detroit Lions are on a roll. Currently sitting No. 2 in the NFC and atop the NFC North, the 7-2 Lions have won six of their last seven games, including a walk off field goal by Riley Patterson in a 41-38 thriller this past week against Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers.
Aside from an embarrassing Week 7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens where we saw the Lions’ defense get completely dismantled and their normally potent offense held to just one score, the team has looked tremendous. That “Grit” that Head Coach Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes always speak about has been on full display.
Here are three keys to why the Lions are on a hot streak, and what they must continue to do if they want it to sustain.
Historically great rookie play
I’ve been high on this Lions draft class since before the preseason began. But when I spoke about them previously, I didn’t think they’d already be playing at this high of a level.
Defensive Back Brian Branch and Linebacker Jack Campbell have both made their impact felt already. The Lions’ defense is not great. However, they are much approved. They’ve allowed the eighth least total yards and the second least rush yards this season. This is largely due to the abilities of their young talent.
Branch — who I think will be one of the best DBs in the league in a couple years — has 37 total tack, 29 solo tack, 4 pass defends, 1 int and 1 TD. Campbell has 39 total tack, 24 solo tack, 1 sack and 1 pass defend. Both have been great, but still have a few small things to work on.
The real rookie game-changers however, reside on the other side of the ball.
Running Back Jahmyr Gibbs and Tight End Sam LaPorta are not only the cream of the crop amongst other offensive rookies, but are becoming elite options even compared to some of the league’s vets.
Lets start with Gibbs. In seven games played, he has 90 car, 476 rush yds, 4 rushing TD, 31 rec and 200 rec yds. He is also currently 6th in the NFL in broken tackles with 10. After a slow start to the season, Gibbs has come alive in the last three matchups. In those games, he averaged 99 rush yds, 1.3 rush TD, 5.67 rec and 43.3 rec yds. For my fantasy people, that’s an average of 27.9 fantasy points (PPR). He may be a league winner.
Gibbs is the first Lions’ rookie to score a rush TD in three consecutive games since 2008, and he had the third most yards from scrimmage (564) through his first six games trailing only the great Barry Sanders and Billy Sims. It’s fair to say Gibbs has officially proven all the analytical doubters wrong with his draft selection.
As great as Gibbs has been, you could argue that LaPorta has been better. So far, he has 64 targets, 47 rec, 474 rec yds and 4 rec TD. Unlike Gibbs, whom the majority of his success has come of late, LaPorta has been consistently reliable all season. No, he hasn’t capped 100+ rec yds in a game yet, but LaPorta has been a safety valve for Jared Goff and seems to make timely plays every week.
LaPorta is also the first Tight End in NFL History with 3+ catches and 35+ rec yds in each of his first nine games. But its not just when he has the ball that LaPorta’s impact is felt. He is also an elite blocker in both the pass and run game. He’s a big reason why the Lion’s have one of the best O-Lines in the entire league. The second round pick is showing that he has first round talent.
Winning on the road
Regardless of a team’s record, they are often judged by the quality of their wins. In the NFL, and in all professional/collegiate sports, road wins come at a premium. This year, the Lions are an impressive 4-1 on the road and tied for the most road wins this season. The most impressive of these came in Week 1 at Arrowhead Stadium against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Detroit’s high level of play on the road all stems from that “Grit” everyone keeps talking about. They aren’t afraid of the moment and seem to be fueled by the hostility of an opposing crowd. However it’s also good to note that the Lions’ faithful has traveled VERY well this season. There’s a sea of Honolulu Blue at every stadium the Lions visit. The fans have given the players a huge boost when their traveling.
Domination on offense
Not that they weren’t elite last year as well, but the Lions’ offense is straight up lethal. They have the third most total yards, and the eighth most points in the league so far this season. They also rank seventh in rushing yards and eighth in passing yards. They pretty much operate well on all fronts week in and week out. The Lions have also done a great job of not turning the ball over this season with only 10 turnovers through nine games.
The Lions have managed to gain at least 325 yards in each of the first nine games this season. A first for the franchise. Every guy on the offense is doing their job and playing in a very unselfish manner.
Wide Receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, Quarterback Jared Goff and Offensive Tackle Penei Sewell are my three game changers so far.
Along with 4 TDs, ARSB has had 6+ rec and 100+ rec yds in six of his eight games this season.
Goff has the eigth best QBR (99.1) in the NFL and the fifth most passing yards (2,507).
Penei Sewell, is the heart and soul of this team and may be the best tackle in the entire league. Largely thanks to him, the Lions have allowed the fourth fewest sacks in the league and obviously have given Goff and the running backs the time and space to be successful.
This Sunday, the Lions face the Chicago Bears for the first time this season and they’ll get the chance to do so at home. Detroit has a massive lead in the Divisional standings and with a win here, they inch one step closer to their first NFC North Title since 1993.