Arrowhead Addict
FanSided

Chiefs vs. Lions: Eight things every fan should know

By Jordan Mannix

DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 18: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions throws a fourth quarter pass to Titus Young #16 during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Ford Field on September 18, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions defeated the Chiefs 48-3. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 18: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions throws a fourth quarter pass to Titus Young #16 during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Ford Field on September 18, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions defeated the Chiefs 48-3. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Chiefs Schedule
(Chiefs Schedule) DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 8: Trey Flowers #90, Eric Lee #55 and Jahlani Tavai #51 of the Detroit Lions line up during the preseason game against the New England Patriots at Ford Field on August 8, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. New England defeated Detroit 31-3. (Chiefs Schedule) (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) (Chiefs Schedule) /

The Lions defense has struggled

Chiefs fans can breathe a figurative sigh of relief knowing that for the second time in four weeks, the defense they will be playing will not be near as aggressive or challenging as the Jaguars or the Ravens. When I say sigh of relief, we obviously handled those teams with relative ease considering their talent, but some of the offensive players got a little banged up along the way. I don’t see that happening this week.

While Matt Patricia has a defensive pedigree, leading the defense for one of the greatest coaching minds in the history of the sport for six seasons, he has been up and down during his time in the Motor City.

Last season, his first as the Lions head coach, the team finished 10th overall on defense. Specifically, they finished eighth against the pass and 11th against the run. All in all, it was a very good season on defense. That hasn’t really been the case so far this year.

The defense this season has dropped off considerably in both. It has just been three games, but the Lions defense is ranked 25th in the league surrendering nearly 400 yards of total offense a game. They have struggled against both the pass and the run, giving up 270 yards per game through the air and 125 yards per game on the ground. If I was a betting man, I’d expect the Chiefs to beat both those numbers on Sunday.

The team’s best cornerback will miss the game Sunday

There’s another reason Sunday could be rough for the Lions defense. Their best corner back, and the best corner back in the NFL over the last eight games, will more than likely miss Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury. In his place stands Mike Ford, an undrafted corner out of Southeast Missouri State.

No disrespect to Ford, as having made the NFL and getting the opportunity to start means you are undoubtedly excellent at your craft, but he is no Darius Slay. For a defense that has already struggled this season, giving up 300 yards to Kyler Murray and nearly 300 yards to Phillip Rivers, this could be the straw that breaks the camels back.

Home/Kansas City Chiefs News