Detroit Lions: 3 Bold predictions for Week 6 vs. Jaguars
By Tayyib Abu
2. Detroit Lions defense shows up big time
At some point, the Lions defense has to come good. It is now year three under this current regime and they can’t complain that they don’t have the personnel. Jamie Collins, Duron Harmon and Danny Shelton have all come down from Massachusetts. to help solidify this defense.
So far, it’s been a mixed bag; a fourth-quarter meltdown followed three excellent quarters against the Bears. At the same time, they got ripped apart at Lambeau vs. the Packer and at home by the Saints. But they have gone up against two of the very best offenses, featuring two Hall of Fame quarterbacks nonetheless.
This week, that changes as they encounter Gardner Minshew and an admittedly poor offense. Detroit was able to contain Arizona’s high octane offense in Week 3 and this Jaguars offense is much weaker than that unit.
Rookie Jeff Okudah will have to continue his quick learning as he may be guarding D.J. Chark while the linebackers will have to cover Tyler Eifert. I expect to see the Lions play a lot of man coverage and force Minshew to get off his primary reads and go to other guys if they want to beat Detroit.
The Lions have a talented, alebit inexperienced, secondary but they do not come up against a veteran quarterback with star wideouts in Week 6. I expect the coverage to be sticky and, if Minshew holds the ball for too long, Trey Flowers and company will get him.
This is a game where the Detroit defense needs to show up because, if it doesn’t here, it might not arrive for the rest of the season. But I think it will and they’ll have a strong day.