Checking in with Detroit Lions fans for our latest SB Nation Reacts survey: After 4 games, who are the Lions offensive, and defensive MVPs?
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Detroit Lions fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Each week, in our SB Nation Reacts Survey, we will provide readers with a question or two specifically geared toward Detroit Lions fans, with an article exploring the results released later in the week.
This week we have three questions, the first being a recurring weekly question, and the remaining being designed for the team’s bye in Week 5:
1. Are you confident the Lions are headed in the right direction? (weekly poll)
2. Through 4 games, who is the Lions offensive MVP?
3. Who is the Lions defensive MVP?
The confidence poll has seen some mild fluctuation throughout the first four games of the 2024 season. They opened with 99% of fans believing they were headed in the right direction, followed that up with 97% approval after beating the Rams, then saw a drop to 79% following the loss to the Bucs, but rebounded and jumped back up to 92% after taking care of business against the Cardinals.
Now, after vanquishing their demons with a double-digit win over a previously undefeated Seahawks team, it’s time for fans to once again adjust their readings on the team and vote again.
With a bye week upon us, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the first month and reassess our expectations. Lions coach Dan Campbell feels it’s a bit too early to properly assess the player’s performances, so instead, the coaching staff will look inward and assess themselves.
“I think more importantly, (as) I told the coaches, I really want us to look at ourselves more than the players because it’s so early in the season,” Campbell said. “I think it’s more about, let’s look at ourselves here individually as position coaches, coordinators, and myself, head coach, and let’s say, ‘Where are we at? What are we doing well? What are we not doing well? How do we help these guys?’ And I think that’s really got to be the emphasis right now.”
Campbell’s point of four games being such a small sample size is valid. So for our remaining survey questions this week, instead of being overly critical of things we believe should change, we decided to take a more constructive path and discuss which players have stood out in a positive way.
For each question below, we have provided voters with four choices for offensive and defensive MVP, through the first “quarter” of the season. For offensive MVP, we have identified running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, as well as wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, and tackle Penei Sewell. For defensive MVP, we tabbed EDGE rusher Aidan Hutchinson, defensive tackle Alim McNeill, as well as safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch for the MVP. If you feel like a player not included in our options deserves a vote, please leave their name, as well as some reasoning, in the comment section and it may be included in the results article later on in the week.
Alright, it’s time to vote in the polls below and keep an eye out for the results. While you wait, be sure to check out FanDuel Sportsbook, our sponsor for our Reacts Survey series.
