The Detroit Lions are a case research in the best way to flip a franchise round. Not simply within the NFL, however all of sports activities. Three years faraway from a 3-13-1 end, the group is now cruising at 5-1 on the yr, simply defeated one of many league’s final remaining undefeated groups and seems to be on a crash course with the Chiefs, soccer’s closing boss.
Each time a query has arisen with this group, they’ve come again to reply it. Each lingering doubt about this franchise has been erased. Each time we’ve crept in the direction of counting them out, they’ve discovered a strategy to put them again within the dialogue. There’s little doubt the Chiefs are dominant, and at 6-0 they’re nonetheless rolling — however it’s inconceivable to take a look at what Detroit has constructed and see them as something lower than essentially the most dominant group in soccer.
Let’s dive into the numbers first, after which we are able to stroll this dialogue again and speak about how the Lions merely really feel extra dominant proper now.
Power of schedule
Quite a lot of the speak concerning the Lions wants to start with their SoS. Not solely are they 5-1 proper now, however they’ve completed it in opposition to a reasonably darn good slate of groups. Because it stands Detroit have performed opponents with a mixed file of 17-14 (.548), with three of their 5 wins coming in opposition to groups with profitable information.
In the meantime the Chiefs have additionally gained three of their video games in opposition to groups with a profitable file, however an total SoS in opposition to of 19-19 (.500).
That is all inside a margin of error. The distinction between .548 and .500 might shift based mostly on Monday Evening Soccer, however the reality is that regardless of the Lions’ sole four-point loss to an excellent Buccaneers group they’ve been extra dominant on either side of the ball.
Offensive and defensive rankings
If we settle for that the Lions and Chiefs have had more-or-less the identical street to their present information, it’s right here the place Detroit pulls forward to an extent the place the distinction between being 5-1 and 6-0 melts away.
Lions vs. Chiefs
| Stat | Lions | Chiefs |
|---|---|---|
| Stat | Lions | Chiefs |
| Factors For | 182 (30.33/g) | 146 (24.33/g) |
| Factors In opposition to | 120 (20.0/g) | 103 (17.16/g) |
| Internet scoring differential | 62 (10.33/g) | 43 (7.16/g) |
| Turnover differential | 7 | -3 |
| Crimson Zone TD% | 56.5 | 38.9 |
| Opp Crimson Zone TD% | 46.7 | 46.7 |
| Crimson Zone Differential | 9.8 | -7.8 |
| Workforce yards-per-attempt | 8.8 | 7.15 |
| Opp yards-per-attempt | 6.5 | 6.51 |
| YPA differential | 2.3 | 0.64 |
| Workforce yards-per-carry | 5.01 | 4.08 |
| Opp yards-per-carry | 4.58 | 3.83 |
| YPC differential | 0.43 | 0.25 |
There’s not a single statistical space by which the Chiefs have been the higher group. The truth is, it’s a daft praise to Steve Spagnuolo that whereas Patrick Mahomes has thrown eight interceptions (and is on tempo for a career-high 23), the protection is managing to carry opponents to the identical Crimson Zone scoring proportion because the Lions, who’ve been profitable the turnover battle. That is chilly consolation although, as a result of the vibes are the Chiefs actually aren’t nice except you’re blissful to place your head within the sand and assume 6-0 cures all.
That is the place we get to the anecdotal aspect of the argument, the sentiments of all of it.
The Lions are on fireplace, and the Chiefs simply … aren’t
If we take a look at the absolute best iterations of those groups it’s very troublesome to be bullish concerning the Chiefs proper now as they hit the again finish of their schedules — whereas it’s actually robust to seek out something to fault the Lions over.
We’ve seen very distinct iterations of Kansas Metropolis throughout their two Tremendous Bowl wins. In 2022 they overwhelmed groups with their offense, profitable a shootout with the Eagles. Then in 2023 they reinvented to turn out to be a defensive-first group that didn’t require Mahomes to play hero ball.
The large challenge the present Chiefs have is twofold: Firstly, Mahomes is struggling much more than he has prior to now. Nevertheless, the group’s protection has completely flipped its space of experience. In 2023 Kansas Metropolis had a Prime 5 passing protection, and a run protection that ranked within the 20s. This yr they’ve a Prime 5 dashing protection, with a move protection that ranks within the 20s.
The end in that is that KC is giving up much more explosive performs than the previous, and Mahomes is forcing passes to try to steadiness out these large performs. That’s not a fantastic combo for a group that desires to regulate the tempo of a recreation.
In the meantime, Jared Goff is enjoying like a person possessed, and it’s right here the place we talk about the sport on Sunday in opposition to Minnesota. The one fixed to the Vikings astonishing run this season has been how completely befuddled quarterbacks have been in enjoying in opposition to Brian Flores’ artistic blitz packages. Nevertheless, Goff and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson broke the code vast open and performed damn-near flawless soccer. The move rush nonetheless bought to Goff, however it was how properly he dealt with the strain that was totally completely different. At no level was the second too large for him, and it confirmed on each down.
If you couple that with how properly the Lions move rush performed regardless of being with out Aiden Hutchinson, we’ve got a group driving a excessive, with a scorching hand, and dealing with adversity extraordinarily properly.
Proper now Detroit isn’t simply America’s Workforce, they’re one of the best within the NFL — and I’m undecided it’s even that shut.
Winner: The Seahawks for hiring Mike McDonald
I feel it’s actually flown beneath the radar how sneakily good Seattle has been contemplating the dearth of top-end expertise this group has. The Hawks at the moment are 4-3 on the yr and manhandled the Falcons of their 34-14 win.
It wasn’t simply Seattle’s finest win of the season, however a press release that this group hit their offseason out of the park.
There’s little doubt this entire course of goes to take time. Geno Smith isn’t the long-term future at quarterback, it’s unclear if Jaxon Smith-Njigba can carry Tyler Lockett’s torch as he begins to decelerate, and defensively we’re nonetheless ready to see how most of the group’s younger gamers can blossom — however Mike McDonald is the person for the job.
This was top-of-the-line hiring previous to Week 1, and it’s actually held up that means. McDonald is getting each ounce of efficiency out of his gamers that he can, and that’s leading to Seattle swinging above their weight class every week. The longer term is shiny.
Loser: Dave Canales
In the meantime in Carolina it’s inconceivable to discover a group with a bleaker future than the Panthers. No matter one week magic that Andy Dalton had has completely evaporated, and Canales’ weekly high-energy pep talks are previous the purpose of being tiresome.
The Panthers bought blown out by the Commanders on Sunday, their fourth loss by 25 factors or extra. There’s no vitality on protection, no playmakers on offense (apart from Chuba Hubbard) and the group has turn out to be a putrid cesspit.
Carolina is on tempo to permit 590 level this season, which might be essentially the most in franchise historical past by over 100 factors.
Offensively they’re on tempo to attain 267 factors, tied for Seventh-worst all time.
Certainly there’s some strategy to shake this up. I don’t know, a former No. 1 QB who’s simply sitting there doing nothing and must be evaluated extra earlier than all the roster is blown up and bought for components?
Andy Dalton remains to be beginning subsequent week, per Canales.
What a joke.
Winner: Kliff Kingsbury
We spherical out this coaching-heavy week of picks with the Commanders OC, who is totally enjoying his means again right into a head teaching job {that a} fanbase goes to hate.
Kingsbury’s explosive Washington offense proved that it may run like a well-tuned machine even when Marcus Mariota needed to take over for Jayden Daniels when he was pulled attributable to damage.
The large distinction between Washington’s model of the Kingsbury unfold and what he had in Arizona is that the run recreation is actually clicking as properly because the move. To be sincere, we all know how this is able to finish long run: The Kingsbury offense gained’t maintain as much as scrutiny previous a full season, however that is likely to be all he must land one other main head teaching job.
