The Lions will be aiming to go 2-0 this week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after winning in overtime in week 1. The Lions and Bucs will rematch at Ford Field this week after meeting in the divisional playoff round of the previous season. Following a terrible performance the previous year, the Lions tried to improve their secondary this summer, and so far, things seem better. Although it wasn’t perfect, Terrion Arnold and Carlton Davis both made great plays and showed the potential they have. For the Lions to win on Sunday, they must accomplish three important goals.
Improving in the Secondary
Having the Lions’ secondary get even better is the first and most important thing they need to accomplish to win. Although there was progress last week, it wasn’t great. They allowed Matt Stafford to pass for over 300 yards in the air, and they also committed a few significant pass-interference penalties.
Arnold only allowed 57 yards in his NFL debut, and I think he will improve with time and more reps. Although Carlton Davis gave up 114 yards and a touchdown in his debut game, he also produced some huge plays at key points. With wideouts Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, Baker Mayfield will have no shortage of targets looking to replicate his week 1 performance. The Lions should have a great shot at winning if they can continue to develop their secondary yet again.
Finding Amon-Ra St. Brown
Finding superstar wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is the second essential component for a Lions victory. Despite walking away with a win, St. Brown had just three receptions for 13 yards on Sunday, which is his lowest total since week three of his rookie season. St. Brown has been Goff’s go-to receiver and frequently assists him in converting important third downs.
This week, Goff will have to search for him more and try to get him back on track. With the Bucs secondary ravaged by injuries, expect St. Brown to have a get-right game. The Lions attack is at its finest when he is on fire. If Goff can succeed at finding him more, not only will it help the Lions’ chances of winning, but will also boost their confidence as a team.
Pressure Baker Mayfield
The Lions’ third and last goal is to get pressure on Baker Mayfield. When given enough time, Mayfield is an excellent quarterback, but when rushed in the pocket, he frequently collapses and throws poor passes. Mayfield had plenty of time to find his open receivers last week because he was only hit three times.
To stop Mayfield from having another outstanding game, Aidan Hutchinson must repeat his outstanding performance from last week. DJ Reader’s Lions debut will undoubtedly be helpful, but Hutchinson and Davenport still have the most work to do. With the Bucs’ excellent offensive line, anchored by tackle Tristan Wrifs, this may be the hardest task, but it is certainly doable. If the Lions can pressure Mayfield and throw him off his game, he will likely make a few costly throws that will impact this game.
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