Game Overview ::
By Mike Johnson >>
- The Lions offense has been humming since an embarrassing season opener in Green Bay, averaging 41.3 points per game over the last three weeks.
- Detroit’s backfield continues to churn out production almost regardless of matchup and has an elite setup this week against the Bengals.
- Cincinnati quarterback Jake Browning’s introduction to the starting lineup has been met with an incredibly difficult schedule that doesn’t get any easier this week.
- The Bengals offensive line is among the worst in the NFL, showing an inability to get any sort of a push in the running game or stand up to opposing pass rushes.
- Bengals wide receivers Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase have been rendered irrelevant since losing Joe Burrow.
JM’S JOURNAL ::
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How detroit Will Try To Win ::
The Lions still operate a relatively run heavy offense under first year offensive coordinator John Morton, who has them absolutely rolling right now. After a rocky opening week against the Packers, Detroit has been flaming their opponents to the tune of 41.3 points per game over the last three weeks. That includes a 34 point outing in Week 4 against an elite Browns defense whose offense just couldn’t sustain drives long enough to keep the Lions offense off the field. This week, the Lions get a similar matchup against a Bengals team whose offense is struggling to sustain drives, but the big difference here is the Cincinnati defense is not even close to the challenge the Browns presented.
Detroit’s implied team total as of Thursday evening is 30, and frankly, that feels pretty light. The Lions run the ball and they run it well, averaging just under five yards per carry and ranking 5th in the NFL in rushing offense DVOA. The Bengals defense ranks dead last in the NFL, allowing 5.26 adjusted line yards per carry. Detroit boasts arguably the league’s top backfield with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery providing consistency and explosiveness on the ground that most teams can only dream about. The Bengals have missed 42 tackles this season, second most in the NFL, and the Lions dynamic running back duo is sure to quickly add to that number. This is a perfect storm as the Lions running backs are likely to be close to the second level before a Bengals defender makes contact and there is a good chance they break that first tackle as well. Detroit is likely to consistently move the ball on the ground not only efficiently, but explosively.
This expected success on the ground for Detroit puts the Bengals in quite the predicament. Their only real option to try to slow down the Lions running game is to bring more defenders into the box and essentially sell out. The Bengals blitz at the lowest rate in the league and have not been able to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks so far this season. Lions QB Jared Goff has been significantly better with a clean pocket throughout his career. Loading the box while not getting pressure on the quarterback is a recipe to give up downfield passing and this could be a spot where the Lions successfully get speedy wide receiver Jameson Williams going. Obviously, the Lions passing game operates first and foremost through Amon-Ra St. Brown, who will be busy as always although Detroit likely won’t need to lean on him as much in this spot as they have in other weeks.
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