Monday Night Football is typically reserved for one of the top matchups of the week, and that will certainly be the case in Week 3 when the Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens square off at M&T Bank Stadium.
While we are still a week away from that matchup, the Lions' offense received some news on Monday that is already swinging momentum in their direction. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Ravens star pass rusher Kyle Van Noy could miss multiple games due to the hamstring injury he suffered during Sunday's win over the Cleveland Browns.
Injury to Kyle Van Noy Swings Momentum Before Lions/Ravens Matchup
The offensive line was a point of contention after Detroit's Week 1 loss to the Green Bay Packers, as Jared Goff was sacked four times. As a result, the offense struggled to get going and the Lions suffered a 37-13 defeat. The opposite can be said about Week 2, however, as Goff was not sacked at all against the Chicago Bears, despite up-and-down play from some members of the interior offensive line, and led Detroit to a 52-21 beatdown of Ben Johnson's new team.
With Van Noy unlikely to suit up in Week 3, the Ravens will be without the services of their top pass rusher off the edge. After recording 12.5 sacks during the 2024 season, which knocked the opposing offense back a total of 84 yards, Baltimore's ability to get after the quarterback on defense will suffer a serious blow without Van Noy in the lineup against Detroit's high-powered offense.
Fans already know that Goff will be feeling good about himself following the five touchdown passes he threw against the Bears. The fact that the former Lions draft pick will not be trying to chase Goff down off the edge every single time he drops back to throw a pass will undoubtedly make life in enemy territory less burdensome on the veteran QB.
With the Packers off to a 2-0 start ahead of their Week 3 matchup against the lowly Cleveland Browns, it will be of utmost importance for the Lions to take full advantage of Van Noy's absence so that they can keep pace with Green Bay in the NFC North race.
Given how competitive this division is expected to be, there is no room for Detroit to fail to capitalize on opportunities like this when they present themselves. If Goff can replicate what the Lions did on offense against Chicago, they should be in a good spot in what could be a Super Bowl preview, depending on how things shake out over the rest of the season.