The Detroit Lions are facing a huge game on Monday night against a really good opponent. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are arguably the best team in football right now, and they’re led by one of the top favorites to win Most Valuable Player this year.
But they are so much more than just Baker Mayfield. They have playmakers at every level of their defense, strong coaching on both sides of the ball, and a patchworked offensive line that is starting to figure some things out.
That’s not to take anything away from the Lions or their chances of winning this week. Despite all the messiness in the secondary right now due to injuries and a suspension, they, too, have playmakers all over their roster. But after a sloppy game against the Chiefs, they are going to have to play much better football.
So today’s Question of the Day is:
Which Lions player is key to victory over the Buccaneers?
My answer: Graham Glasgow.
For one, a Todd Bowles defense can be complicated and misleading.
“(He) kept me up late last night,” Lions offensive coordinator John Morton said this week. “No, we’ve got our work cut out for us. Todd does a great job, obviously I’ve worked with him before. It’s a blitz fest. We’ve got to be ready, and we will. But we’re looking forward to this game.”
Glasgow will hold a major responsibility—shared with Jared Goff—on recognizing pressure packages and getting the team into the right protection looks. It will be on him to communication that message to his teammates, as well—which should be easier at home.
But Glasgow’s play after the snap will be just as important, too. The Lions will want to establish the run to keep themselves in manageable down and distances to keep that pass rush at bay. But the Buccaneers sport one of the best run defenses in football. They rank first in run defense EPA, fifth in yards per game allowed (88.2), and fifth in yards per carry (3.7).
Glasgow will be lined up opposite one of the Bucs’ best players in Vita Vea. While Vea hasn’t graded out as a premier run defender per PFF (51.7 this year), anyone who has watched him play knows how both physically and athletically gifted he is. Glasgow and the entire interior defensive line have their hands full this week, and their success will be key to the success of the entire Lions offense on Monday night.
Which Lions player do you think will be key to a Detroit victory?
