Looking for an area where the Detroit Lions can improve in their ability to win close games? Try the red zone — on both sides of the ball.
The Lions are 1-6-1 in games decided by one score, and their red zone ineptitude is a major reason why too many of those games have gone in the loss column.
Take the Week 16 loss to Atlanta. Detroit’s offense failed to score a single touchdown in four trips inside the Falcons’ 20-yard line. Atlanta’s offense had just two red zone opportunities but scored touchdowns on both. The Lions lost 20-16. Touchdowns beat field goals.
The Falcons game was a microcosm of the Lions red zone woes all year. Detroit ranks 31st in both red zone offense and defense for the season.
The Lions are spared the offensive cellar by the inept Giants, who have scored just one total touchdown in their last three games. New York sits at 49.6 percent in converting red zone possessions into touchdowns. The Lions are next at 47.5 in a league where the average is 60 percent.
Only the Raiders defense allows a higher percentage (79.5) of touchdowns than Detroit (70.2), and the Lions escape the cellar there because the Raiders defense has allowed TDs on 12 of their last 13 opposing red zone possessions. Aaron Glenn’s defense does deserve some credit for improving, too. During a four-week stretch (Weeks 12-15) the Lions defensive red zone touchdown percentage was 50 percent (9-for-18).
It’s not a coincidence the Lions won two of those games. The one dreadful Detroit game in that stretch — the 38-10 loss to the Broncos — was also the worst red zone game; Denver scored five touchdowns on five red zone possessions while the Lions went one-for-three.
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