The Detroit Lions have little to complain about after a dominant 52-21 win over ex-offensive coordinator Ben Johnson's Chicago Bears. The victory was a message to the rest of the league that the Lions' demise had been greatly exaggerated. Still, there was one notable development that could cause slight frustration among Detroit fans.
Former Lions pass rusher Za'Darius Smith made an instant impact in his debut with the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, registering a tackle for a loss and 0.5 sacks against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Eagles left Arrowhead Stadium with a 20-17 win as Smith finished the night with a 76.6 pass rush grade on Pro Football Focus.
It was a performance that begged the question of why an oft-rumored signing never happened for the Lions. Smith still landed with a contender, but Detroit had its chances to bring in a perfect rotational piece who is still clearly capable of making an impact. If there was one final piece to add to Detroit's current defense, it would be the addition of another rotational pass rusher. Smith has a career 69.5 sacks in what has been a consistently productive career.
Lions Have Reason to Believe They Made a Mistake Passing on Za'Darius Smith
For the Lions, this isn't just about missing out on Smith's potential in the current lineup. It is understood that the Eagles are an incredibly difficult matchup that just grew a bit tougher with the addition of a player who would fit perfectly in the Motor City. This isn't a hypothetical, but a known fit after the veteran disruptor spent the 2024 season with the Lions. A return made sense for both sides, and yet for some reason, Detroit's front office never got the deal done.
It is only fair to point out that Smith hasn't always had a smooth road, having clear issues with the Green Bay Packers and eventually seeking revenge within the NFC North. All of the concerns with Smith are minor and far in the rearview, and there wasn't a legitimate reason for the defender to remain in free agency this deep into the year. The Eagles have found a steal that should've stayed in Detroit.
With that said, Lions fans have little reason to be overly concerned after a dominating performance in the home opener. The offense scored in whatever way it wanted while the defense made life difficult on Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, who only managed two touchdowns on the day before a garbage-time score. Detroit was consistently winning the game at every level.
Smith would've been a nice cherry on top of what is an incredibly talented roster; however, there is no reason to believe it changes the course of a season that still appears incredibly bright. The Lions have every reason to believe it is the lone threat standing in the way of Philly defending its NFC title.
Even if that road did just grow a bit unnecessarily harder.