The Lions lost for the first time in 12 games. That and more in this week’s look at advanced key statistics from Lions-Bills.
For a football team that sits at 12-2 through 15 weeks of the season, the vibes are at an all-time low. The greatest ability remains availability, and to say the Detroit Lions are lacking in that department would be the understatement of the century.
As we’ll do every week throughout the season for this Detroit Lions team, we have some data we can comb through courtesy of various outlets that better help us understand the football the Lions have played thus far—and what to look forward to in the coming weeks. Let’s take a closer look at the Lions by the numbers after their loss to the Buffalo Bills.
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8 missed tackles in run defense
The Lions gave up 197 rushing yards on 34 carries (5.8 yards per carry), the most they’ve ceded to a team since 2022. Their inability to stop the run allowed the Bills to move up and down the field at ease, controlling the clock and the scoreboard the entire game. As a unit, the Lions defense allowed 8 missed tackles in run defense, the most they’ve had in a game since Week 4 against the Seattle Seahawks.
23.1% pass-rush win rate
In Alim McNeill’s final contest of 2024, the interior defensive lineman recorded a 23.1% pass-rush win rate, the fourth-highest mark among interior defenders in Week 15. McNeill tallied five pressures in total, tied for first among Lions defenders, and the most at his position. Detroit will have to rely on their reserves and Aaron Glenn’s creativity to find a way to generate pressure against opposing quarterbacks.
8 passing plays of 20+ yards
Detroit’s pass defense wasn’t up to the task either, giving up the most passing yards since that aforementioned Week 4 matchup against the Seahawks. But the Lions were especially beaten up on explosive plays through the air by the Bills, giving up eight passing plays of 20+ yards, including three such plays to former Lions running back Ty Johnson and a 64-yard completion to Keon Coleman.
3.29 seconds time to throw
Josh Allen, the MVP frontrunner, had all day to throw the ball. Whether it was sitting back in a clean pocket or making his escape to the sideline to create space and time, Allen was taking his sweet time to pick apart the Lions defense. In Detroit, Allen averaged 3.29 seconds time to throw in Week 15, which was significantly more time than he’s had to throw this season (2.82).
18.2 yards per reception allowed
With the unfortunate news of Carlton Davis getting put on injured reserve, the Lions, for the second season in a row, are relying on their depth at cornerback the rest of the way. Rookie Terrion Arnold, who has played opposite of Davis this season at outside corner, is now the team’s top option, but he’s going to need to limit the big plays going forward. Against the Bills, Arnold allowed a team-high 18.2 yards per reception when he was in coverage according to PFF. In total, Arnold was charged with five receptions and 91 receiving yards across seven targets. Of those five catches, three of them were of the explosive variety (20+ yards), and each of them to different players: James Cook (28), Ty Johnson (24), and Dalton Kincaid (29).
11 pressures allowed
While this wasn’t an outing any of the offensive line will want to remember, there was one player in particular that will want to learn and burn this tape. The Lions brought back Graham Glasgow after a great season filling in for the injured Halapoulivaati Vaitai, but it was tough sledding in this one for Glasgow. He allowed a team-high 11 pressures against the Bills, including being responsible for two of the sacks on Jared Goff according to PFF.
