Detroit Can Get Defensive Boost With Bye Week Returns
By Michael Ferro
It's no surprise that heading into bye week, one of the biggest stories surrounding the Detroit Lions has been the comeback ability of quarterback Matthew Stafford. After the Lions' dramatic from-behind 22-16 victory over Minnesota in overtime, many eyes shifted from Stafford to Detroit's beleaguered defense.
Since the Lions have the week off, one can surmise that head coach Jim Caldwell and the training staff are working closely with some of the key players on the defensive squad who have missed time this season. Sure, subbed cornerback Johnson Bademosi and the late-signed linebacker Josh Bynes played well in the win over the Vikings on the road, but what can be said about the players that these two (and others) have stepped in for?
Haloti Ngata did return last week and contributed to Detroit's ground game in stopping the run, but linebacker DeAndre Levy was out for a number of weeks with numerous injuries. Darius Slay, one of Detroit's top defensive players, has also missed time with a hamstring injury. The good news is that both of these top players should be returning to the field once Detroit gets back into gear during the week of Thanksgiving.
The Lions will need the help, too. They'll play a struggling Jaguars team on Sunday, Nov. 20 and need to turn around in just four days to take on the Vikings for the annual Thanksgiving day game. However, this time Detroit will be playing within the friendly confines of Ford Field. Still, Minnesota will be looking to embarrass Detroit on their home turf in front of a national audience, so it should come as no surprise that the Vikings will be bringing their best offense.
Knowing all of this, the news of Slay's and Levy's imminent return couldn't come at a better time, as Detroit's defense will need to work overtime with just four days rest between the two match-ups. Also notable is the return to form for defensive end Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah. If he can rise to the occasion after an ankle injury earlier, he could prove to be one of the biggest boosts to the Lions' defensive squad.
After their win over Minnesota, the Lions ranked right around the middle in terms of defense around the league, coming in at No. 20. The rest of their defensive stats all came in right around that mark, too, including 19th against the pass, 17th against the run and 17th in scoring, as they have allowed 22.9 points per game thus far.
The Lions are now at 5-4 at their bye week. The NFC North has been fluctuating wildly this season and this past Sunday, while on their bye, the Lions vaulted into first place in the division. Minnesota and Green Bay both lost while the Lions rested and as a result, Detroit entered the top spot.
Detroit might have a decent shot at winning this thing, especially if the defense can shape up after the bye. Sure, it's the Lions (and all that comes with that pessimism), and sure, Matthew Stafford can't possibly win every single game in the final moments (or can he?), but maybe, just maybe, Detroit can take a firm spot at the front of the pack.
Winning these two upcoming games on Nov. 20 and Thanksgiving Day sure would go a long way in proving that, too.