Lions Defense Stifling in 26-6 Win Over Colts
The Detroit Lions played another rock-solid game this weekend en route to their ninth straight victory. The Lions’ defense was superb once again, making things incredibly difficult for the Colts’ offense. The defense proved yet again that despite injuries, they are still a top-five unit.
The Lions defense held the Indianapolis Colts to 6 points and an uneventful 268 yards of total offense. While nearing 300 yards of offense isn’t necessarily a horrible performance, the fact that the Colts offense couldn’t muster up a touchdown score is impressive. This is the season’s third game in which the Lion’s defense has held the opposing team to only field goals.
Lions’ Defense is Super Bowl-caliber
After dominating the Jaguars 52-6, the Cowboys 47-9, and now the Colts 24-6, the Lions’ defense has proven its metal. While it’s fair to say the Jaguars, Colts, and Cowboys are nowhere near the best offenses in the league, holding professional teams to only field goals is an impressive feat in this day of high-powered offenses. Doing this three times already thus far holds some significance.
On Sunday, the Lions saw a handful of contributions throughout all three levels of their defense. Malcolm Rodriguez stepped up in the first game without Captain and Middle Linebacker Alex Anzalone. Rodriguez was flying around the field all game with seven tackles while playing strong pass coverage.
McNeill Played His Heart Out
Alim McNeill may not have stood out in the box score, but he was great at applying pressure throughout the game in menacing fashion. This was key because it allowed the Lions’ Defense to sit back in coverage without blitzing. This was all thanks to Alim McNeill and others on the defensive line making things uncomfortable for Colts Quarterback Anthony Richardson.
Richardson completed only 11 of his 28 passes, a measly 39% completion percentage. Anytime your defense can hold an opposing Quarterback to under 200 yards passing and no scores, it has done a phenomenal job.
Toughest Challenges Left
The Lions will face the Chicago Bears on Thursday in their annual Thanksgiving Day game. While I’m not overly concerned with the Bears, considering how the Lions have played, it is still a division game. The most formidable challenge remains in the game against the Buffalo Bills on December 15th.
The Buffalo Bills will be the Lions’ most challenging test of the season as the regular season ends and we prepare for the playoffs. Your Detroit Lions are looking more likely than ever to get their hands on that Lombardi Trophy finally. This team is historically sound and has currently tied their all-time franchise record for consecutive wins with 9. With a dominant 10 and 1 record, the Detroit Lions are believed to be the best team in the NFL.
While the Kansas City Chiefs currently tie the Lions in terms of overall record, the eye test tells a different story. The Detroit Lions look like an unstoppable freight train, while the Chiefs look vulnerable and extremely beatable—at least from the Lions’ point of view. If there was ever a year for the Lions to win it all, it’s now!
3 Biggest Threats to a Lions Super Bowl
The Detroit Lions are a supremely talented NFL team in 2024. They were just named the favorite by Sports Illustrated to win the Super Bowl this year. As Lions fans we are in a unique situation for the first time in our franchise’s history. We now are looking at what could possibly prevent our Detroit Lions from making it to their first ever Super Bowl game. But what are the biggest threats to Detroit making the Super Bowl?
With the start of the NFL regular season right around the corner, there is a ton of hype surrounding our beloved Detroit Lions. The team is poised for great things. We are coming off a historic season where the team finished 12-5. Lions quarterback Jared Goff’s consistent play was a massive part of the team’s overall success.
Jared Goff finished the 2023 season with over 4500 Passing Yards, 30 Touchdowns to only 12 Interceptions, and a passer rating of 97.3, with the highest completion percentage of his NFL career. Not to mention his solid play in the playoffs, where it mattered most. Goff also had two solid games and a star-studded performance against the Los Angeles Rams. Anytime you finish a game with an 80% completion rate, you’ve played phenomenally at the Quarterback position. Jared Goff is our guy!
Detroit Has The Cast
While Jared Goff has been excellent in Detroit, he’s not the only star in the motor city. Lions Wide Receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has solidified himself as a top 5 receiver in the National Football League. Finishing in the top 4 in receptions, yards, and touchdowns in 2023, St. Brown is poised to jump from star to superstar this season. Detroit is lucky to have such unbelievable talent and a superb work ethic like Amon-Ra. Not since Megatron has the franchise had a receiver this good.
With other deadly offensive weapons like Sam Laporta, Jahmyr Gibbs, and the rock-solid gritty David Mongomery, this team has everything going for them. Our offense will be a tough matchup for any defense this season. Of course, we cannot forget about the offensive line. With some slight adjustments after the loss of Jonah Jackson, the O line has been revamped and retooled. They’re poised to be a top 5 group yet again, which will be pivotal to match the offensive potency we saw all of last season.
Lastly, the defense has seen significant upgrades at all levels. Multiple players have been added to the secondary, which has been bolstered with reinforcements from two draft picks, a trade, and free-agent signings. The defensive line had two great additions: Marcus Davenport and D.J. Reader. The team has seen some major development from guys like Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell, and even Derrick Barnes.
Lions Super Bowl
With James Houston healthy again and star edge Rusher Aidan Hutchinson doing his thing, this defense should be a much more fearsome unit this season. More pressure on the quarterback without having to blitz makes the job of the Lion’s secondary much easier. This will be key for Detroit as all these new additions must acclimate to playing alongside each other. With all of these fantastic things you’ve heard about our Detroit Lions, all signs point towards Detroit being a top 5 team again.
Finishing one game short of the Super Bowl this year means we aim bigger. Seemingly, everyone in the state of Michigan has been wanting a Lions Super Bowl for an eternity. What will stop the Detroit Lions? If they’re genuinely this good, nothing should stand in their way. Even still, only three things will prevent a Lions Super Bowl. Find out what those three things are below.
Major Injuries
It seems like an easy answer but one of the only things that could ruin the Lions chances of making it to their first Super Bowl in franchise history is injuries. Every team every season suffers injuries as it’s part of the game. However, if the Lions lost a few major pieces, I don’t see how they could overcome it. If Jared Goff went down as well as Aidan Hutchinson, it would completely derail the season. Which is honestly a compliment to the team if injuries is one of the team’s biggest threats.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 21: Sam LaPorta #87 of the Detroit Lions is pursued by Zyon McCollum #27 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter of the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Ford Field on January 21, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers quietly have become the second best team in the NFC North. It truly seems like the Packers franchise have found their Quarterback of the future yet again in Jordan Love. Green bay has a stacked defense and it looks like their offense is truly legit. I’m not saying Green Bay will be better than Detroit, but they can’t be overlooked anymore.
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – AUGUST 24: Jordan Love #10 of the Green Bay Packers warms up before a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens at Lambeau Field on August 24, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
The Detroit Lions
The biggest threat to the Detroit Lions’ chance at the Super Bowl is themselves. This team is 100% capable of achieving great things. With all of the improvements Brad Holmes made to this team, there’s no reason to think they won’t make it to their first Super Bowl. The only thing that can truly stop them, is themselves!
DETROIT,MICHIGAN-AUGUST 24: Detroit Lions linebacker James Houston (41) runs on the field during a play during a preseason game between the Detroit Lions and the Pittsburgh Steelers in Detroit, Michigan USA, on Saturday, August 24, 2024 (Photo by Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
