The Detroit Lions defense was one of the most generous to opposing offenses in 2021. Coordinator Aaron Glenn’s unit allowed 476 points, the second-most in the entire NFL. Only the New York Jets (507) gave up more points last season.
Among the many reasons for the struggles and prodigious point total allowed is an inability to get off the field. The Lions really struggled to create 3-and-outs on defense. Between poor pressure on the opposing QB, too many missed tackles and leaky coverage over the middle of the field by the injury-ravaged unit, teams kept on driving against Detroit.
The NFL average for forcing 3-and-outs (three offensive plays followed by a punt or field goal attempt) is just over 20 percent. The 2021 Lions weren’t even close to that mark.
Detroit came in dead last in forcing 3-and-outs in both quantity and percentage of opposing drives. The Lions couldn’t even crack 15 percent at just 14.1%. The next-worst team was Minnesota at 16.8 percent.
Graphic courtesy of NFL Inside Edge
The Lions actually had games where the defense did not force a single 3-and-out. The most they forced in a game was four in the overtime tie with Pittsburgh, albeit in 14 Steelers drives. The defense managed just one 3-and-out drive in the first half of the game in the first six weeks, a definite contributing factor to the winless start.
It got progressively worse in the second half of games, amazingly enough. From NFL Inside Edge,
One of the corollary effects of the defense struggling to get off the field quickly is the rest it allows the opposing defense. Being able to force a quick punt after the offense just went on a long scoring drive is a fantastic way for the Lions offense to keep playing downhill. That needs to happen more in 2022.