Outside the Nest: Detroit Lions beat writer John Maakaron offers view from the other side

The Detroit Lions are one of 12 NFL teams never to win a Super Bowl. They are one of four teams never to play in a Super Bowl. Before last season, they had one playoff victory since the advent of the Super Bowl in 1966.

This is a franchise that saw running back Billy Sims’ promising career derailed by injuries. It’s a franchise that watched Barry Sanders, one of the most electric running backs in NFL history, retire with Walter Payton’s career rushing record in sight, in part because Sanders just couldn’t stand the losing any more.

It’s a sore subject in a city where the three other major professional men’s teams — the Red Wings, the Tigers and the Pistons — have combined for 18 titles.

The Lions got ever so close to ending the drought last season, beating the Rams and Buccaneers before blowing a 24-7 halftime lead and falling to the 49ers in the NFC Championship. With arguably the NFL’s best offensive line, a premier pass rusher, and a reborn QB, is this the year that the Lions finally break through?

It’s time to take a look at the Arizona Cardinals‘ opponent for Week 3.

In the latest edition of Outside the Nest, we caught up with SI.com Lions beat writer John Maakaron for news, insight and analysis of a team that gives the Cardinals stiff competition in the painful history department.

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What were the most significant additions to the Lions roster this offseason?

Maakaron: The Lions’ biggest additions all came on the defensive side. Particularly, there are two new starting cornerbacks in Carlton Davis and Terrion Arnold. Through two games, the group has been up and down. Arnold has struggled to adjust to the way the game is officiated in the NFL. He has been penalized a total of four times. 

Free-agent nose tackle DJ Reader made his debut last week, while Marcus Davenport missed Sunday’s game with a groin injury. Both players have the potential to be massive contributors on an improving defensive line. 

Aidan Hutchinson leads the NFL with 5.5 sacks, including 4.5 last weekend. What makes him so effective? 

Maakaron: Hutchinson is relentless. The Michigan product is truly a student of the game. He spends plenty of time studying film in an effort to add more tools to his game. So far in 2024, his spin move has been dominant against opposing pass protectors. 

With his work ethic and affinity for learning more about the art of pass protection, the third-year defender is on an upward trajectory. He showed elite flashes throughout his first two seasons, and appears to be playing at an elite level consistently in 2024. He has a deep array of rush moves that will continue to make him a tough assignment for whomever he lines up against. 

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How much of a concern are QB Jared Goff’s early struggles?

Maakaron: Goff has shown the tendency to right the ship over the course of his time in Detroit, so there’s not a ton of concern. That said, if he stacks up a third consecutive performance that is below his standard, the frustration will only continue to mount. 

Teams are pressuring Goff, which is an element that has always given him trouble throughout his time in Detroit. He threw two uncharacteristic interceptions last week, but he has previously shown that he can rebound from performances such as this.

The Lions’ passing defense was suspect last season. Have those issues been remedied and how has the defense performed overall? 

Maakaron: The Lions certainly hope that the tandem of Terrion Arnold and Carlton Davis can be an upgrade for a secondary that really struggled last year. Thus far, they’ve had moments but still have left more to be desired. As a whole, though, the defense has been solid. 

Part of the success the defense has had is an upgraded pass-rush. Hutchinson has reached a new level, while Davenport, Alim McNeill and Levi Onwuzurike are also capable of getting after the passer consistently. As long as the two aspects of the defense work cohesively, the Lions will be much improved from a year ago against the pass.

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The Lions made seven trips to the red zone last week, but scored a TD on just one of them (with three field goals). What’s the problem?

Maakaron: There’s a number of factors that could be to blame for the Lions’ red zone struggles last week. For starters, the run game was not as efficient and often left the Lions in second-and-long situations. Stuck behind the chains, the Lions were forced out of what they’ve been comfortable doing offensively. 

Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson’s play-calling lacked creativity at points, and the offensive line could have been more efficient throughout the afternoon. There are many factors that controlled the final outcome, but the issues are correctable. 

Is this a Super Bowl team?

Maakaron: The Lions have all the ingredients of a Super Bowl team, and one disappointing loss isn’t going to change that. As with any team with championship hopes, a lot will have to go right from an injury standpoint in order for the team to reach its ultimate goals.

There are trends within the first two games that are indeed troubling, but the Lions have traditionally bounced back from games like that under coach Dan Campbell. We’ll learn a lot about the resolve of this team from how they perform on Sunday coming off a tough defeat.

Top illustration via Sidney Pinger and Shane Dieffenbach, ALLCITY Network

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