Detroit Lions: 3 Vital statistics for 2019 season
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A look at the final defensive rankings from 2018 shows that only seven teams in the league allowed fewer passing yards per game that Matt Patricia’s club. In fact, the Detroit Lions were also ranked 10th in the NFL in fewest total yards and rushing yards surrendered per contest.
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Cornerback Darius Slay is one the best players at his position in the league. He tied for the team lead this past season with three interceptions, along with strong safety Quandre Diggs. The latter finished second on the club with 78 tackles, as well as eight passes defensed. Slay totaled 43 stops (40 solo) and knocked down an impressive 17 throws from opposing quarterbacks.
It may surprise some to know that those two players had counted for all but one of the team’s disappointing total of seven interceptions. And despite a respectable 43 sacks, the Lions still somehow managed to allow a disappointing 29 scores through the air.
All told, Detroit finished with only 14 takeaways this past season, the second-fewest in the NFL behind the San Francisco 49ers (7). The team did add a pair of veteran cornerbacks in Rashaan Melvin and Justin Coleman this offseason and will need more big plays from the secondary in 2019.