After a rough offensive showing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Detroit Lions are looking to rebound as they prepare to face the Arizona Cardinals. The Lions have had a tough time finding the end zone, particularly struggling in the red zone. In their most recent game against the Buccaneers, the Lions managed to score a touchdown on just one out of seven red zone attempts, a mere 14% success rate. Brandon Knapp from Pride of Detroit notes that if the Lions had converted even one more of those attempts, the game could have ended in a victory rather than a disappointing loss.
An immediate area of focus for Detroit's offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and head coach Dan Campbell is rectifying these red zone woes. Last season, the Lions were one of the best in the league, scoring touchdowns on 66.6% of their red zone possessions. This year, however, they’ve only converted 27.3% of their red zone attempts, a stark contrast that's raised plenty of eyebrows. But as Knapp points out, it’s still early in the season, and there's ample time for Johnson and Campbell to find solutions and elevate their red zone efficiency.
Ryan Mathews from Pride of Detroit emphasizes that it's not just the quarterback Jared Goff who needs to step up; the entire offense needs to strike a better balance. He argues that while an increased effort from Goff is essential, the Lions need to prevent over-reliance on the passing game. In their game against Tampa Bay, Goff threw the ball 55 times. In contrast, the running game, a critical component of their offensive strategy, was significantly underutilized. This underutilization extended into the red zone, where the Lions ran the ball just six times in 21 plays, a statistic that signals an urgent need for a more balanced approach.
One player who could prove instrumental in revitalizing the Lions' red zone offense is tight end Sam LaPorta. Knapp points out that LaPorta has had a quiet start to the season with just six catches for 58 yards. Yet, against a Cardinals defense that has struggled with stopping opponents in the red zone, LaPorta could be a key target. Detroit’s offense should seek to involve him more to exploit these defensive weaknesses.
Another area highlighted by Knapp is the running game. He suggests leveraging the team's powerful offensive line more effectively inside the 20-yard line. The Cardinals have already allowed three rushing touchdowns this season, and their rush defense has been less than stellar, making them a favorable matchup for the Lions' ground attack.
The Lions' defense, which has been performing admirably by holding opponents to just 20 points per game, also provides a solid foundation for the team to build upon. Mathews stresses that if the Lions can achieve a more balanced offensive attack and address their red zone inefficiencies, they should be able to find success against the Cardinals.
In essence, the Lions have a multi-faceted challenge ahead of them. They need to involve key players like LaPorta more in the red zone, balance their offensive play-calling between the run and the pass, and capitalize on the Cardinals' defensive weaknesses. With these adjustments, the Lions have the potential to significantly improve their red zone performance and emerge victorious in their upcoming game.
What other sites are saying about this topic
Detroit Lions vow to fix run game as part of red-zone issues from Detroit Free Press
THE DAILY DRIVE: Lions coach Hank Fraley on what went wrong on key screen vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers from Detroit Lions
Why Lions’ red zone offense could rebound against the Cardinals from Brandon Knapp, Pride of Detroit
How do the Detroit Lions take another step forward in Week 3? from Ryan Mathews, Pride of Detroit