Kelvin Sheppard
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Kelvin Sheppard on the sidelines in a Detroit Lions game.
From a strictly statistical standpoint, the Detroit Lions did well defensively against the rival Green Bay Packers in Week 1.
The Lions held the Packers’ offense mostly in check, containing quarterback Jordan Love and keeping the ground attack from topping 100 yards. Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said by those measures, last week was a success.
“We played 47 snaps defensively and they had 188 passing yards, 78 rushing,” he said, via USA Today’s Lions Wire. “If you look at an NFL game and you tell me the Green Bay Packers are going to have 188 passing yards and 78 rushing, did you play a winning brand of football? I would tell you yes.”
But the scoreboard said otherwise. The Packers dominated en route to a 27-13 win, with Sheppard saying the Lions fell short in one critical aspect on defense.
Lions Failed to Bring the Pressure
The Lions gained a reputation under former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn as an aggressive unit, putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks and taking a physical approach at the line of scrimmage. As Jeff Risdon of USA Today’s Lions Wire noted, they failed in that goal against the Packers.
“One area where Sheppard noted the Lions must improve is the blitz. Detroit’s linebackers–Jack Campbell, Alex Anzalone and Derrick Barnes–were wildly ineffective at blitzing QB Jordan Love and the Packers,” Risdon wrote. “Per PFF, Anzalone and Campbell each blitzed Love five times. Neither recorded a single QB pressure.”
Sheppard noted that the team would need to improve in this area if they want to get back on track. The Lions already dropped a critical game to one division rival, and will face another on Sunday when they take on the Chicago Bears.
“You just gave us the stats. What were those outstanding stats? We got what, two pressures? Got to be better,” Sheppard said. “Got to be better. You get your number called, you’ve got to be better, point-blank period. That’s also been addressed.”
The Lions struggled with establishing a consistent pass rush in 2024, especially after star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson went down with a season-ending leg fracture. The team did little to bring in more help this season, which could place more pressure on Hutchinson.
Lions Want to Use Loss as Motivation
The Lions found themselves in an unfamiliar spot in Week 1, with the Packers dominating both sides of the ball in what amounted to a blowout loss for Detroit. The Lions went 15-2 last season and were on the other end of the blowouts most of the time.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell said the season-opening loss can serve as motivation for his team to work harder in the future.
“What fuels my tank is losing,” Campbell said, via The Athletic. “That fuels me because I don’t like losing, our players don’t like it, and you go back to work, man. And you get back to the basics of what you do, man. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, we’re all accountable. And if we want to win, we have to do the little things right and prepare that way. … That’s what gets me going.”