The Detroit Lions (1-1) season hasn’t started off the way they hoped it would. Though tied atop the NFC North with the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, the offense at times has looked out of sync after putting up a franchise record 474 points in 2011. Matthew Stafford has thrown twice as many interceptions as he has touchdowns. Madden 13 cover-winner Calvin Johnson has yet to catch a touchdown pass after hauling in 16 last season. The running game seems to have picked up where it left off last year by struggling to find any consistency.
So what does this mean for the Detroit Lions in terms of getting back to the playoffs and making some noise in the NFC? We’re only entering Week 3 of the NFL season so it’s far too soon to know if the Lions slow start is simply that or if they really aren’t the same team we saw in 2011. They have a favorable match up on paper this week against the Tennessee Titans (0-2). The Titans have a first-year starting quarterback in Jake Locker but all the discussion around the team has been concentrated on Chris Johnson.
Johnson made headlines in a news conference earlier this week when addressing the media as to why the team hasn’t had success running the ball so far this season. In response to being asked who was to blame for a measly 21 rushing yards through two games, Johnson said, “I wouldn’t sit here and say I’m to blame. I wouldn’t think so, but I’m not the guy to sit here and be the guy that points fingers and things like that. It’s just a situation where I’m going to be only as good as my line’s going to be. So we’ve got to work together and get better together.”
Not what you want to hear from your “star running back” who just received a four-year, $53.5 million contract extension a year ago.
Facing the Titans this week could be the perfect scenario for a Lions team that’s hoping to get back on track. The key to playing against a team with some internal issues is to avoid self-inflicted wounds, especially penalties. The Lions were flagged 147 times last season, third most in the NFL, behind the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks. Head coach Jim Schwartz has made cutting down on unforced errors a point of emphasis since the beginning of training camp.
The good news for Lions fans heading into Sunday’s game is the long-awaited NFL debut of running back Mikel Leshoure. Leshoure missed his entire rookie season after tearing his Achilles tendon in practice. He was suspended the first two games this year for being arrested twice in the offseason for possession of marijuana. He will certainly be a welcomed addition to the Detroit backfield, which has averaged only 82.5 yards over the first two games.
