With the Lions down a receiver, the passing game for Detroit can’t slow down against a difficult defense in the Tennessee Titans
Heading into this week’s matchup, the Detroit Lions will have their hands full with the Tennessee Titans, especially when it comes to their defense.
“This defense could potentially be the best defense we’ve faced up to date,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said earlier this week.
The Titans have a strong run defense, ranked sixth according to DVOA, but their secondary is where the Lions can strike as that is ranked 15th according to DVOA. Despite the low ranking, the Titans’ secondary isn’t something to scoff at, and with the Lions down a starting wide receiver—after Jameson Williams was suspended—it makes the job more difficult.
For Detroit to win this game, the offense will have to be at its best, but most importantly, the passing game has to be effective in order for Detroit to continue on their winning streak. Here’s why I think the Lions passing game is the most important factor heading into Week 8.
Life without Jameson Williams
The wide receiver depth will be tested this week with wide receiver Jameson Williams getting suspended for two games for a violation of the league’s performance enhancing substances policy.
With Williams out, fellow wide receivers Kalif Raymond, Tim Patrick, and Allen Robinson are going to have to step up big in this passing attack. Working in the Lions favor is that they have had adjust without Williams before. The receiving room planned to play without him in 2022, and in 2023 he was the number three option at best, as he often repped behind Raymond and former Lion Josh Reynolds. While his absence did hurt, it wasn’t as impactful as it is now. That being said, there is an opportunity for others to have his chance to shine.
“I would say, Allen Robinson,” Campbell said when asked about replacement options. “I mean we just went through the walkthrough, I mean, he’s going to take on a heavy load here, too. Talk about a pro, man, I mean, he’s locked in. Everything we just went through, I mean, it’s meticulous, which fires you up.”
So with the team without Williams, it appears not just Patrick and Raymond will step up, but Robinson could also have a bigger role than originally expected. Quarterback Jared Goff will be down a starting weapon, which makes his life a little more difficult as Williams has had an impact on not just the Lions offense, but opposing defenses as well this season. This is a good test for Detroit to see exactly what they have without Williams and they can game plan an offensive scheme without his skillset.
Tennessee’s Secondary is underrated but has weaknesses
Despite being listed as an average passing defense from DVOA, the stats tell a different story. The Titans’ defense has allowed the third-fewest passing yards per attempt at 6.3, which is best statistical passing defense the Lions have faced this season, just ahead of Minnesota’s 6.8 yards per attempt. But they do go up against the Lions’ offense that leads the NFL in passing yards per attempt at 9.3.
What can help the Lions passing game open up is success of the running game. Detroit is known for running the ball, so that shouldn’t surprise the Titans defense. No matter what though, if David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs are successful, that could open the door for the Lions’ passing game to trick the defense with play action.
What plays in Detroit’s favor with the secondary is the lack of turnovers. While Tennessee is tied for second in the NFL in fewest yards per play (4.8 according to pro football reference), they are tied for 31st in the NFL in turnovers and have created with just three this season. Tennessee can’t seem to make a play on defense to cut offensive drives short, and when it comes to turnovers, only one player on Tennessee has accounted for all three of the turnovers: safety Amani Hooker.
Offense must work with defensive victories
In order for the Lions passing game to not feel the pressure to score on every drive, or help the running game out, the defense will need to step up. The Lions defense made some key stops against the Minnesota Vikings last week, including setting up the game-winning field goal. This week’s challenge is a much easier one for the defense, which in turn, should give the offense more chances to score if they aren’t successful early on.
The Titan’s offense comes in ranked 27th in DOVA, 29th in passing, and 18th in rushing. Their running game led by running back Tony Pollard is their main point of attack and that plays into the Lions strength of their run defense. Where the Titans struggle the most is passing the ball, as they are the only team in the NFL to have yet to throw for 1,000 yards. Additionlly, They’re also in limbo not just quarterback, but wide receiver too.
Starting quarterback Will Levis was limited in practice on Wednesday and per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Levis is a longshot to play on Sunday. That means backup quarterback Mason Rudolph would take over the starting role and he hasn’t been impressive in the games he has played this season, going 34-for-57 for 300 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
His throwing options are dwindling as well as the Titans have traded away DeAndre Hopkins to the Kansas City Chiefs, and fellow wide receiver Calvin Ridley didn’t practice on Wednesday with a foot injury, though he is expected to play. Tennessee also put wide receiver Treylon Burks on IR last week, leaving just Tyler Boyd as the only healthy option of the top four wide receivers. Having Rudolph playing is already a step down from Levis, but having fewer skilled wide receivers makes the job for the Lions defense even easier.
