Evaluating Lions’ 3 Worst Defensive Games in 2021

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to determine why the Lions had been 3-13-1 final season.

Detroit’s protection gave up the second-most yardage within the NFL (6,456), and it gave up the second-most factors (467).

Solely the New York Jets had been worse in each classes.

Whereas wanting by the record of losses Detroit had in 2021, which had been the workforce’s three worst defensive performances?

1.) Seahawks 51, Lions 29

Date: January 2, 2022

Venue: Lumen Discipline

The sport began out on a very good notice for Detroit’s protection, because it was capable of power a three-and-out on Seattle’s first offensive collection.

It was all downhill from there, although, because the 5-10 Seahawks discovered an offense it didn’t understand it had.

On the next possession, Seattle put collectively a drive, and two issues stood out:

1.) Quarterback Russell Wilson was dictating the stream of the sport, as Detroit was not getting a lot strain.

2.) Working again Rashaad Penny began breaking free.

Penny continued grinding, and by the tip of the primary quarter, he had rushed for 74 yards on seven carries (10.6 avg. yards per carry).

It’s like Detroit’s protection had forgotten the best way to deal with.

Wilson stored it going at the start of the second quarter, hitting a 58-yard move play. And, on the subsequent play, Penny darted into the tip zone from six yards out.

That wasn’t it.

On the subsequent drive, Wilson threw one other 28-yard completion, and on the next possession, Penny gashed Detroit for a 37-yard run.

Large performs had been in every single place for Seattle, because it took a commanding 31-7 lead.

2.) Eagles 44, Lions 6

Date: October 31, 2021

Venue: Ford Discipline

As soon as once more, the protection started by forcing a three-and-out, because the Lions’ Charles Harris flushed Eagles QB Jalen Hurts out of the pocket and compelled an incompletion.

All the things went south from there.

On the subsequent drive, the Eagles ran on eight-of-11 performs and established the tempo. The drive ended with a landing, placing the Eagles up, 7-0, they usually by no means seemed again.

The next possession, it was again to the bottom once more on five-of-six performs, and the Eagles added a discipline aim to go up 10-0.

Working again Boston Scott ripped off a 19-yard scamper, and Hurts added runs of 12 and 14 yards.

With agency management of the road of scrimmage and the scoreboard, the Eagles went to halftime up, 17-0.

It bought worse within the second half, as many empty blue stadium seats may very well be seen on the kickoff to start out the third quarter.

Hurts picked up the place he left off, with one other 20-yard run, on a crucial third down. 

The Eagles ran the ball on 10-of-11 performs, and ultimately ran it proper into the tip zone to go up 24-0.

Hurts added one other 21-yard run on the subsequent drive, and the Eagles ran the ball on seven-of-10 performs, capping off the collection with one other landing.

Philadelphia was up 31-0, and after skipping forward a couple of pages on this painful storyline, the Lions didn’t stay fortunately ever after. 

3.) 49ers 41, Lions 33

Date: September 12, 2021

Venue: Ford Discipline

After QB Jimmy Garoppolo fumbled the primary snap from middle and Detroit recovered, San Francisco’s offense settled down.

On their subsequent drive, the 49ers had been capable of set up a tempo, they usually ran on four-of-seven performs earlier than discovering the tip zone.

Detroit responded with a landing of its personal earlier than Garoppolo hit receiver Deebo Samuel for 29 yards. A pair performs later, San Francisco RB Elijah Mitchell ran for a 38-yard rating.

Garoppolo hit Samuel for an additional 23-yard achieve on the subsequent possession, earlier than the 49ers ultimately discovered the tip zone once more. It put them up, 21-10.

After San Francisco added a defensive landing and a discipline aim, it took a convincing 31-10 lead into the half.

The third quarter started with Garoppolo discovering tight finish George Kittle for 38 yards. Nevertheless, that drive led to a missed field-goal try.

Nevertheless, on the very subsequent drive Garoppolo discovered Samuel for a 79-yard landing.

That was the storyline of this one. It was a sport of giving up huge performs for Detroit’s protection and San Francisco transferring the ball at will.

Now you might ask: Are there any takeaways from these three video games?

Detroit’s protection bought gashed for lots of huge performs, the move rush was virtually non-existent and the run protection was even worse.