The sky has been falling for the Detroit Lions in recent weeks, and that’s especially true on the defensive side of the ball. A unit that was thriving under first-year defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard for most of the year has fallen on hard times and will attempt to stop the bleeding as it looks to secure a playoff spot.
The first challenge will be against the Pittsburgh Steelers, whose offense, led by Aaron Rodgers, won't be as potent as the ones the Lions have faced in their last three games, including the Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, and Los Angeles Rams. But Detroit received some good news on Friday when starting left guard Isaac Seumalo and reserve left tackle James Pierre were listed as out on Pittsburgh’s final injury report.
As Mike Payton of A to Z Sports noted, this means the Lions will be facing a severely depleted Pittsburgh offensive line that should be everything Sheppard needs to get his unit back on track.
Lions Could Get Exactly What They Need From Steelers’ Battered Offensive Line
Sheppard addressed his defensive concerns earlier this week on the heels of the Lions’ defensive struggles. Detroit has allowed 30 points over each of its past three games and noted that it was on him to recognize “what his players can and can’t do well and provide them the tools in order to do their jobs better,” according to MLive’s Kory Woods.
While Sheppard needs to give his unit a hand, the Steelers may have done the same. The Steelers will be starting former UDFA Dylan Cook at left tackle. While he did not allow a single pressure on 30 pass-blocking snaps in a win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 15, per Pro Football Focus, his limited experience should undoubtedly play in Detroit’s favor.
The absence of Seumalo will be another big loss for Pittsburgh, and his replacement is Spencer Anderson. Anderson’s play is a big drop off for the Steelers in pass protection, with eight pressures allowed on 95 pass-blocking snaps, and could be what Detroit’s defensive line needs to get back on track.
There are several things you could point to as reasons for Detroit’s defensive decline, including injuries to Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch, and Terrion Arnold. Despite their respective injuries causing issues for the backend of the defense, the defensive line has also had its problems.
Al-Quadin Muhammad collected three sacks in the Lions’ win over the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 4 but hasn’t recorded a sack in five of his past six games. Aidan Hutchinson has just one sack over his past three games, and defensive tackle Alim McNiell hasn’t looked like himself after coming back from his ACL tear. Getting any one of those pass rushers going in the right direction, which in this case is straight into the face of Aaron Rodgers, could be enough to open the floodgates for the rest of the Lions' defense.
Perhaps Sheppard may have another adjustment up his sleeve, but facing a battered offensive line should help get his group back on track against the Steelers.