While the Detroit Lions 2026 season may only be two games old, fans have been left underwhelmed and disappointed by their defense, calling out defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard on social media
Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard of the Detroit Lions looks on during a preseason game against the Washington Commanders at Ford Field on August 22, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan.
Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard has come under heavy fire(Image: Getty Images)
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Despite the Detroit Lions season being just two games old, fans are not happy with defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard.
Week Two of the 2026 NFL season kicked off on Thursday night, with the Lions handed the unenviable task of facing Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills as the latter opened its new stadium to much fanfare. In the end, Allen and the Bills offense did anything they wanted against Sheppard's defense, carving them up in a 41-31 win.
The Thursday night contest also saw veteran broadcaster Al Michaels take another shot at U.S. President Donald Trump's failed attempt to buy the Bills back in 2014 when the team was up for sale.
Against the Bills, the Lions defense allowed Buffalo to score on each of its first four possessions, giving up six scoring drives in total. While many teams would have no answer for Allen, the Bills quarterback destroyed Detroit's defense, throwing for 248 yards and three touchdowns.
The 2024 NFL MVP also ran for 69 yards on 14 carries, scoring twice on the ground. While Detroit won its season opener against the New Orleans Saints 31-30, Sheppard's defense underwhelmed in that contest as well.
Through two games this season, the Lions have allowed 915 total yards and 71 points, numbers that are completely unsustainable for a team harboring Super Bowl aspirations, with fans venting their frustrations at Sheppard, who took over as Detroit's DC in 2025 following the departure of Aaron Glenn, on social media.
Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills reaches the ball over the goal line to score a touchdown during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions at Highmark Stadium on September 17, 2026 in Orchard Park, New York.
Detroit had no answer for Josh Allen on Thursday night(Image: Getty Images)
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"They need to part ways with him," wrote one Lions fan on X of Sheppard. "Shep has to go," added a second.
"71 points and 915 yards in two games. No Super Bowl team in history has allowed that in the first two games. Invest your hard-earned money and time accordingly," added a third. A fourth said: "Horrible, players were lost at times."
And a fifth commented, "It doesn’t look like they have a defensive coordinator."
"You know defensively, we knew it was a tall task, but we gave up too much," said Lions head coach Dan Campbell following the loss to Buffalo.
Defensive Coordinator Kelvin Sheppard of the Detroit Lions coaches from the sidelines during an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints at Ford Field on September 13, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan.
Through two games this season, the Lions have allowed 915 total yards and 71 points(Image: Getty Images)
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"There was some, there was some things in there that we have to get cleaned up. I mean, it's already, you have to play your best ball to have a chance to reduce points against that team and that quarterback.
"And we did not do that. We had a hand in helping them out there a little bit, and it wasn't good enough. It's not good enough.
Campbell added, "But like I told the guys, at least you know now. At least we know what it looks like now. It's a good team playing good football. Now we know after two games, we kind of know who we are. We're figuring some stuff out, and we got about three days here to kind of figure that out before we start getting ready for the Jets as a staff as well."