The Detroit Lions kicked off their 2024 season with a dramatic overtime victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1. Following last year’s tense Wild Card showdown between these two teams, this rematch was just as thrilling, with the Lions edging out a win thanks to a well-timed coin toss and a powerful run game. They now sit at 1-0 to start the season.
However, while the victory is certainly welcome, the Lions’ performance raised some concerns. If they want to contend for a deep postseason run, their play will need to improve. The season is still young, and there’s plenty of room for growth, but the question remains: Can the Lions address these issues and truly become the Super Bowl contenders they aspire to be?
Today’s Question of the Day is:
Do you feel better or worse after the Lions’ Week 1 win?
My answer: I feel worse.
Yes, the Lions secured the win, and any victory in the NFL is valuable. But if they want to stay competitive as one of the league’s top teams, they’ll need to fix some glaring problems that became apparent against the Rams. Performances like this one must be an exception, not the norm, if they hope to make a serious playoff push.
The biggest issue I noticed was the lack of production from the offense outside of Jameson Williams. Last season, the Lions thrived on being a versatile offense that could hurt teams in multiple ways. In this game, they relied on Williams’ speed and David Montgomery’s power, but the rest of the offense struggled to make an impact. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta were largely non-factors. While the poor field conditions may have contributed, that alone can’t justify the lack of separation from receivers. The Rams did a good job shutting down the Lions’ primary weapons, but the Lions need more from their stars moving forward. Integrating a player like Tim Patrick into the offense could bring much-needed size and balance.
Another area of concern was the pass rush, which echoed similar issues from last season. While the Lions were able to pressure Matthew Stafford throughout the game, they failed to convert that pressure into sacks consistently. Though they did force a crucial interception, the defense must finish those plays, especially against an immobile quarterback with a makeshift offensive line. Credit to Stafford for handling the pressure well, and to Sean McVay’s game plan for neutralizing the Lions’ pass rush, but the Lions need to capitalize on these opportunities better.
I anticipated a tough game against the Rams, and I predicted the Lions would win. But games that come down to a coin flip like this one can’t become a habit if they expect to challenge for the Super Bowl. There’s a lot to fix, and while the Lions are off to a strong start, there’s little room for complacency.