Tag: Lions run defense

Lions defense allowed the fewest rushing yards to opposing RBs in 2023

Detroit’s defense had some rough spots in 2023, but they were great at stopping the run by opposing RBs

The Detroit Lions defense had some issues in 2023, to be sure. Deep passes were a problem, as were defending quarterback runs. However, Aaron Glenn’s defense in 2023 thrived at one specific thing: stopping opposing running backs.

The Lions defense allowed the fewest rushing yards to running backs of any NFL team in the 2023 season. Opposing running backs totaled just 1,028 yards on the ground in 17 games.

[lawrence-related id=96811]

In terms of yards per carry to running backs, the Detroit defense finished third at 3.5 YPC, behind the Texans and Patriots. The Lions faced a lot fewer runs by RBs; the 296 attempts against Detroit were almost 100 fewer than Houston had to defend.  In fact, only the 49ers faced fewer rushing attempts by opposing RBs, with 265.

Even though San Francisco saw 31 fewer attempts, Detroit allowed 69 fewer yards to RBs. That’s a testament to the dedication to stopping the run. It’s a major improvement over 2022, when the Lions allowed the 12th-most rushing yards to RBs (1,683) and ranked 23rd in yards per carry to RBs (4.7).

 

All statistical data provided by Sports Info Solutions

Studs & Duds for the Lions playoff win over the Bucs

The Detroit Lions Studs and Duds for their playoff victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to take them the NFC Championship game

The Detroit Lions secure another playoff triumph, defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-23. They are now set to face the San Francisco 49ers in the upcoming NFC Championship game.

The Lions persist in showcasing their resilience and prowess in the face of challenges, silencing skeptics who doubted their place in the playoffs. This game underscores their capability to compete at the highest level. While the offense took a while to find its rhythm, it executed crucial plays effectively when needed. The defense, although with some areas to improve, demonstrated its ability to thwart the formidable Bucs offense when it mattered most.

As they edge closer to glory, let’s highlight the Studs and Duds for the Lions in their playoff victory against the Bucs.

Lions vs. Buccaneers: Last-minute thoughts and final score prediction

Lions vs. Buccaneers: Last-minute thoughts and final score prediction for the NFC Divisional Round game from Ford Field

The Detroit Lions host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Divisoinal Round matchup on Sunday afternoon. It’s enough of a buzz for a 3 p.m. kickoff that the morning coffee isn’t even brewed yet and I’m feeling the excitement.

This is a game the Lions should win. Should. It’s far from a sure thing. These Buccaneers are indeed playing a lot better now than back in Week 6, when the Lions won in Tampa 20-6.

Here’s what is racing through my mind as key matchup advantages for why I think the Lions will win and things that worry me about the Buccaneers.

Lions run defense continues to smother opposing RBs

The Lions run defense has been very good all season, but the recent run of stuffing RBs has been even better

One of the overlooked facets of Saturday night’s controversially officiated game between the Lions and Cowboys is just how well the Detroit run defense played. For the second week in a row, the Lions turned in an elite defensive performance in stopping opposing running backs.

In this case, it was Tony Pollard. The lead Cowboys RB managed just 49 yards on 16 carries, 18 of which came on one run. Even more impressive than holding Pollard to just over 3.0 yards per carry is that the Lions did so without stacking the box a single time, per Next Gen Stats. Base defense suffocated the opposing running back in Dallas, just as it did one week earlier against the Vikings. Minnesota, Detroit’s Week 18 opponent, gained 16 yards on 10 carries by running backs in Week 16 against the Lions.

It has been an unheralded strength of the Lions defense all season, but especially since the Week 9 bye week. In the eight games since the bye, Detroit’s defense has allowed opposing running backs just 474 yards on 151 carries. That’s an average of just 3.18 yards per handoff. Quarterbacks and wideouts, as well as whatever you want to call Taysom Hill, have fared quite a bit better against the Lions, but the run defense has been great at stopping running backs.

It looks even better on first-down carries by running backs. The Lions have more tackles-for-loss on running backs (10) than runs of five or more yards (9) on 1st-and-10 runs in the last six games.

For the year, Detroit’s overall run defense ranks third (tied with Chicago) in total yards per carry allowed (3.7) and fifth in rushing yards per game (88.8).

 

Studs and Duds for the Lions “loss” against the Cowboys

With a heartbreaking defeat, here are the Detroit Lions Studs and Duds in this week’s “loss” against the Dallas Cowboys

In a hard-fought battle that ended with a questionable call, the Detroit Lions fell short, marking their fifth loss of the season against the Dallas Cowboys with a final score of 20-19.

While the offense struggled to find its rhythm, the defense stepped up and showcased a clinic, slowing down the typically dominant Cowboys offense on their home turf. The Lions continued to exhibit their aggressiveness, executing a successful fake punt deep in their territory and opting to go for the win rather than settling for a tie and heading into overtime. Had it not been for a highly controversial call from the referees at a critical juncture in the game, the Lions might still be in the running for the top seed in the NFC.

It’s undeniably a tough situation when the outcome hinges on referee decisions. Nevertheless, let’s delve into this week’s Lions Studs and Duds from their “loss” against the Cowboys.

The Lions defense allowed the most rushing yards to opposing QBs in 2022

Detroit’s defense against opposing QB runs was the worst in the league in 2022 by a wide margin

[anyclip pubname=”2103″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8036″]

In a season filled with many defensive low points for the Detroit Lions, giving up a largely uncontested 3-yard rushing touchdown to Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold on Christmas Eve ranks near the lowest. Unfortunately, it was predictable based on how poorly the Lions defended the quarterback run all season in 2022.

Via The 33rd Team, the Lions surrendered 700 rushing yards to opposing QBs in 2022. That came on exactly 100 carries, an abysmal 7.0 YPC allowed. Only one other team, the Dolphins, allowed more than 500.

Some of the abundance of opposing QB rushing yardage is a function of the schedule. Detroit faced Chicago’s Justin Fields (1,143 rushing yards in 2022) twice and also saw Phialdelphia’s Jalen Hurts (760 rushing yards), Buffalo’s Josh Allen (788 rushing yards) and Daniel Jones of the Giants (708 rushing yards) on the 2022 docket. But they also allowed big rushing yardage to some QB not known for their running prowess:

  • Geno Smith, Seattle – 49 yards (career-high at the time)
  • Sam Darnold, Carolina – 19 yards (a career-high)
  • Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay – 40 yards in Week 9 (his most in a game since Week 4 of 2019)

The inability to defend the QB run helps explain why the Lions pulled the trigger on drafting Iowa LB Jack Campbell at No. 18 overall. Detroit also added defensive back Brian Branch, who played a spy role at Alabama at times and is known for his tackling, in the second round, too.

It might also be enough to convince defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to try using a QB spy more frequently. It’s something the coach has adamantly opposed in the past, but the results indicate a need to at least try a different approach.

Lions gave up the most (by far) rushing yards to opposing QBs in 2022

No team allowed more rushing yards to quarterbacks in 2022 than the Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions defense produced some rough totals and low rankings in several season-long categories in 2022. Perhaps the biggest negative was the team’s ability to defend quarterback runs.

No team allowed more rushing yards to opposing quarterbacks than the Lions. And it wasn’t particularly close, either.

Per Sports Info Solutions via the 33rd Team, the Lions defense allowed 700 rushing yards to opposing QBs. The next-worst team at defending QB runs, the Miami Dolphins, allowed 525.

Some of the gaudy yardage total is a simple function of the schedule. The Lions played five games total against four of the top five most productive quarterbacks on the ground: Justin Fields (twice), Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts and Daniel Jones. Only the Chicago Bears (102) faced more QB runs.

Fields was a major problem for Detroit, rushing for 279 yards on 23 carries, a 12.1 YPC average. The 279 rushing yards by Fields in two games is more than 14 other teams allowed on quarterback runs all season.

The Lions allowed 7.0 yards per carry to QBs, facing exactly 100 quarterback runs. The league average was 4.5. The best team at defending the QB run? The Cleveland Browns, who allowed 134 yards on 62 carries. The Browns fired defensive coordinator Joe Woods this week, which helps shed some perspective on the relative value of defending QB runs.

If there’s a silver lining, stripping out quarterback runs elevates the Lions overall run defense out of the bottom 10. Detroit was 21st in rushing yards to running backs and 26th in yards per carry to RBs. Still not good, but better than against quarterbacks…

[listicle id=86656]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx8sj47vkwrznr player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

Stud and Duds from the Lions Week 16 loss to the Panthers

Here are the Detroit Lions Studs and Duds this week as they were shellacked by the Carolina Panthers, hurting their playoff chances.

That was not exactly what everyone was hoping for from the Detroit Lions this week, who were hoping to keep their playoff hopes alive. Instead, they were manhandled from start to finish losing to the Carolina Panthers, 37-23.

There was a lot of hope for the Lions walking into this week riding high from winning six of their last seven and coming off a tough victory over the New York Jets, but this week looked the Lions who started 1-6 in the season. The Panthers had a lot riding on this game, hoping to close the gap in their division, so you knew they would come out swinging, and that is exactly what they did, and the Lions did not look like they were ready for the punch to the gut.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t much good to come out of this game, and it will be a reflection period for everyone on the team. We will try to highlight a couple of players, but all in all it was not a showing the Lions were hoping for to stay in the hunt.

Studs and Duds from the Lions Week 14 victory over the Vikings

Here are this weeks Studs and Duds for the the Detroit Lions as they continue their winning ways beating the Minnesota Vikings, 34-23,

The Detroit Lions continue their impressive run with a 34-23 victory over their division rival, the Minnesota Vikings, winning five of their last six games.

The Lions continue to put the league on notice as they are no longer the pushover team or redemption game from the past, but the team who knock you down if you aren’t careful. Through aggressive play calling, stout defense and strong execution, the Lions are now making noise in the playoff hunt.

Even though the Vikings continued to fight back, the Lions were in control throughout the game and never surrendered the lead. It might not have been the cleanest game, but the mistakes that would’ve brought down past Lions teams, this year’s squad has learned to bounce back and fight to the last second. The offense looked in sync, the defense played strong, and even special teams were spot on. When you play complementary football, this is what you get and something many people can get used to seeing.

There are many high fives to hand out, as many had strong performances this week, but unfortunately, some did not have the greatest showings. So here are this week’s studs and duds.

Lions vs Eagles: Studs and Duds for Week 1

Here are Lions Studs and Duds for the Detroit Lions season opener loss to the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35.

The Detroit Lions put up a fighting mantra and clawed to stay in the game, but they fell into a deficit too far to climb out of, losing Week 1 to the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 to start the season 0-1.

The Lions had plenty of heart in front of a sold-out crowd and fought to the very end, but through mistimed mistakes and defensive faults, it was too much for them to overcome to bring home the victory. Even though it was a vast improvement from last year, where they fell to the Eagles 44-6, they left too much on the field that could have turned the tide in the Lions favor.

Here are a few studs on duds for the Lions in their matchup against the Eagles.