Should we be worried about the Detroit Lions?
So many fans are worried about the Lions this Sunday. It’s a primetime game, on the road. Certainly, the Steelers do badly in those?
Or do they?
Going back to last season, they have only lost one road game (during the regular season) since Week 11. They’ve had wins Cleveland (twice), Indy, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Baltimore, and Kansas City… and twice in Arrowhead if you want to include the postseason, but if you do that, a tough loss against the Patriots is added on to. Still, that’s not a record to die for and Pittsburgh is set to face a near identical Bengals clone in Detroit.
The Lions throw on average for the same as the Bengals. Like Cincy, Detroit can’t run the football. Quarterback Matthew Stafford has been sacked 23 times to Andy Dalton‘s 19 (which includes last week’s game against the Steelers).
One difference is that the Bengals defense didn’t allow hardly any points going into last weekend’s game whereas the Lions are among the league’s worst in points allowed. Their pass defense is also in the bottom quarter of the NFL, their run D is marginally better, and their offense is lightyears ahead of Cincinnati in finishing drives.
Yet a lot of people are writing off this game for the Steelers. I can’t find any reason why the Lions will pose any better of a challenge. Their top receiver, Golden Tate, will be a game-time decision. They do not have a threat at tight end, nor are any of their running backs credible threats on the ground with some of the lowest yards-per-carry totals in the league.
The only thing I can see anyone fearing, on paper, is an implosion by Ben Roethlisberger or those away game jitters. However, entering the eighth week of the season, I believe the Steelers will be more than fine playing within the confines of a dome stadium that’s not too far from home. Think San Diego several years ago, where Philip Rivers had to worry about crowd noise. Expect another mixed crowd full of Steelers faithful ready to make it just as difficult for Stafford to operate his offense.
On defense, Pittsburgh will either be validated or exposed by the Lions offense. I do believe it will be the former rather than the latter. Expecting them to hold a team to single or double-digit outputs for a half of football may be another tall order. If the Steelers get Le’Veon Bell going and limit drive-stalling penalties, there’s no reason to believe that the offense will help the defense once again achieve that goal.
