Opponent Profiles: Lions Prepare For Jets Run Defense
By Chris Morgan
The Detroit Lions are 2-1, but they are not a team without tumult and turmoil. However, a matchup this week with the New York Jets seems like it could be a source of some more good news. After Monday night's game with the Chicago Bears, the Jets are now (1-2). That being said, that includes a season opening win against the lowly Oakland Raiders. They did play the Green Bay Packers unusually close at Lambeau Field, but they still lost. Heading into the year, not a lot was thought of the Jets, but could they perhaps end up surprising us?
There is one thing we can confidently know, and that is that the Jets are great at stopping the run. They have a great defensive mind running the team in Rex Ryan, and they have perhaps the best 3-4 defensive line in the NFL. Reggie Bush finally got going last week against the Packers, but it seems likely that the Lions will struggle running in this game. They will have to try, if only to keep the Jets honest, but it seems very unlikely that Bush and Joique Bell will do much on the ground here.
Now, going through the air is a different story. The Jets don't have a very good secondary, and their pass rush is also questionable. The Packers threw all over them, and the Lions could do the same. Of course, that will require Matthew Stafford to pick his play back up. Stafford has not looked terribly good since the season opener, and against Green Bay he was responsible for three turnovers and no touchdowns. This game being on the road, outdoors, doesn't help, but nobody on the Jets can stop Calvin Johnson. Frankly, nobody may be good enough to stop Golden Tate.
On offense, there is nothing about the Jets that should scare the Lions. They've run the ball well thus far, but their running backs actually aren't that good on paper. Chris Ivory is a physical back, and Chris Johnson used to be fast. The thing is, the Lions are also great against the run. Then again, Detroit is now without Stephen Tulloch, who tore his ACL against the Packers. He is a very good linebacker, and the Lions will miss him. At least the Jets are not scary through the air. Geno Smith looks better this year, but he doesn't look good, and the Jets don't have much in the way of weapons. Eric Decker is a good wide receiver, but he's nothing special, and if the Lions can shut him down, the Jets don't really have anybody else.
Based on the stout run defenses on both teams, it looks like this game will come down to which team can do better through the air. Based on talent, that would seem to very much benefit the Lions. They have the better quarterback and the better receiving options. If the Lions are able to find their form they showed against the other New York football team, Detroit should add another win to their record.
For more Lions news and updates, visit Lions Central.
Chris Morgan has been a diehard Detroit Lions fan through the good (Barry Sanders) and the bad (Matt Millen) and that love has led him to take jobs writing about sports, including as a fantasy sports "expert." His work can be found on Examiner.com. .
