Just three weeks ago, people were calling for Jim Caldwell’s job. The Lions were a mess and the humdrum stoic on the sidelines was on the hot seat. The conversation now swings from coaching replacements to what the Detroit Lions need to do to make the playoffs.
Goals for the Detroit Lions After 3-3 Start
Go 3-1 in the Rest of Their Division Games
This may seem easier than expected. The Lions play the Minnesota Vikings twice, a daunting task at the moment. The home game will be one of the Thanksgiving games. Detroit has currently won their last three Thanksgiving games, outscoring opponents 119-41. The contests versus the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers are both home games as well.
Chicago is currently in the dumps, sporting a 1-5 record as they struggle to score more than 17 points a game. Aaron Rodgers is having a rare year, performing very average, and well below expectations. It’s startling to see this. Who knows if it’s not temporary. There are a lot of questions about what kind of team Green Bay will field in Week 17. Detroit will have to at least split the season series which each team, due to the shameful Week Four loss in Chicago. It’s hard to see a team getting a wild card berth while having a losing record inner-division.
Maintain Pressure on Opposing Quarterbacks
DeAndre Levy remains sidelined with a mysterious quad injury. The absence of that defensive anchor is showing. Footballoutsiders.com ranked Detroit as the worst pass defense in the league. They’re not getting a great pass rush without Levy in the mix. Quarterbacks are throwing all over the field with plenty of time. Detroit should be in better shape with Ezekiel Ansah back in the mix. Ansah played limited snaps in Week Six, and should be back into his starting role by Week Seven. The returning Pro Bowler bodes for the teams immediate future, especially with a secondary that has been performing better each week.
Use Theo Riddick
Detroit is in the bottom third of the league, averaging 88.7 rushing yards a game. Detroit was down to third-string back Zach Zenner last week, leading us to believe that they’ll be working more on the ground when Theo Riddick returns. When Riddick is used, Detroit has success; Detroit is undefeated this year when Riddick has over 80 total yards or a touchdown. The fourth-year back was just ranked the best pass-catching running back by Pro Football Focus. This, along with leading the Week One comeback against the Indianapolis Colts, points towards Detroit featuring Riddick in more game plans once he’s healthy.
Keep Helping Matthew Stafford
Detroit has their youngest offensive line since 1979. They’re also probably getting the best protection since 1979. He’s still been sacked 15 times this season, but that’s only two above the current league average. This is a huge difference for Stafford and it’s entirely visible through his production, as he currently sits third in passer rating and touchdowns, and second in completion percentage. With Marvin Jones playing well and Golden Tate making a comeback, the team should be able to maintain or exceed the level of talent around Stafford. The offensive line must continue playing as they are. If Stafford starts seeing more pressure, it’s very possible for his numbers to start slipping, and it can be argued that Stafford’s excellent performances are the only thing keeping Detroit afloat amidst all their injuries.
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