Revamped Detroit Lions Defense Shines in Season Opener
Detroit Lions fans have reason to be excited as their revamped defense showed up in a big way in their season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. General manager Brad Holmes made significant changes to the league’s last-ranked defense in the offseason, and the early results seem promising after the Lions secured a 21-20 victory on the road Thursday night.
“Defensively, I thought they showed up,” praised Lions head coach Dan Campbell. “They showed up in a big way.”
The Chiefs, known for having one of the best offenses in the NFL, struggled against Detroit’s improved defense, even without All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce who was inactive due to a knee injury. The Lions limited the Chiefs to just 316 total yards and two touchdowns.
Reigning league MVP Patrick Mahomes had a tough time against the Lions’ defense, completing just over 50 percent of his passes for 226 yards. The Lions’ defense finished the game strong with a crucial three-and-out and a turnover on downs to seal the victory on the road.
“Everyone knows the focal point of this team is defense,” expressed veteran defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson. “It looks good, don’t it? Real good.”
The impressive defensive performance in the opener has given hope to Lions fans, but they’ll face another challenging test next week against the explosive offense of the Seattle Seahawks at Ford Field. The Lions’ defense will need to maintain their momentum in order to continue their success throughout the season.