5 things to watch: Lions at Texans
The Detroit Lions are on the road for a second straight week and again in front of a national audience as they take on the 6-3 Texans in Houston on Sunday Night Football. It's a matchup of two playoff winners last year looking to make their mark on their respective conferences again in 2024.
Here are five things to watch out for in tonight's matchup:
1. Can Detroit's offense keep it rolling against a very good Houston defense?
The league's No. 1 scoring offense (32.3 ppg) will have another big test on the road this week against a very formidable Houston defense.
"They've got talent all over the place right now and this scheme seems to elevate some guys up front for them," Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said this week. "I mean, they are just raging off the football.
"I think a testament to that would be 3rd & 7-10 this week, I've got, call it 27 clips on my cut up, only three conversions and eight sacks. I really haven't seen anything quite like that, so they're doing a phenomenal job, not just on third down, but really throughout. This is a team that thrives on creating negative plays, and it starts up front."
The Texans rank second in total defense (281.7), third against the pass (167.4), first in yards per play allowed (4.92), second in tackles for loss (59), fourth in sacks (29.0) and second in passes defended (49).
The Lions' offense is rolling with a quarterback in Jared Goff who is playing off the charts good right now. Can they keep it up against this defense?
2. Generating more pass rush
Detroit failed to sack Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love last week and only hit him twice.
They hurried Love 16 times, led by Alim McNeill's six hurries, but sacks are drive killers. Offenses scored a touchdown just 7.6 percent of the time all of last season when taking a sack on a drive.
Detroit can't afford to give Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud as much time as they gave Love in some situations last week. It's yet to be determined if newly acquired DL Za'Darius Smith will play tonight. Lions head coach Dan Campbell said they hadn't decided as of Friday, which was his first day in the building and at practice after Campbell gave him a couple days off following the trade.
The good news is Josh Paschal is expected back this week after missing two games. The Texans have struggled to protect Stroud all season. The 31 sacks they've allowed are the second most in the NFL this season and they are coming off a loss against the New York Jets last week where they gave up eight sacks and 11 quarterback hits.
3. Takeaway tandem
"Start with (Brian) Branch and (Kerby) Joseph, as a tandem, probably the two best safeties in the league," Texans general manager Nick Caserio told Texans radio this week. "Branch on his own one of the best football players in the league. This guy does a lot of things very, very well."
So it's not just fans in Detroit that think the Lions have the best safety duo in the NFL in Joseph and Branch. Joseph is tied for the NFL lead with six interceptions and Branch has four, but also leads the team with 11 passes defended.
Their versatility allows defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to play an aggressive man coverage scheme because they can both cover, blitz and play the deep part of the field. Either Joseph or Branch has recorded an interception in every Lions game this season. Will that continue tonight?
4. Handling the environment
Last week Detroit did a great job handling the weather conditions in Green Bay. Tonight, it's a whole different challenge. NRG Stadium in Houston is expected to be rocking for a nationally televised contest with the Texans (6-3) sporting their "Battle Red" alternate uniforms.
Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans touted Detroit's toughness, physicality and play style this week. He said he challenged his team to match it.
"If we want to go out and show people who we are, let's go do it this week," Ryans said.
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Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on November 7, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
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Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on November 7, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
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Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on November 7, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
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Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on November 7, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
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Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick (17) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on November 7, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
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Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on November 7, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
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Detroit Lions linebacker Mitchell Agude (50) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on November 7, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
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Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright (89) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on November 7, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
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Detroit Lions linebacker Al-Quadin Muhammad (69) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on November 7, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
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Detroit Lions defensive lineman Alim McNeill (54) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on November 7, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
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Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on November 7, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
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Detroit Lions linebacker Ben Niemann (51) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on November 7, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
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Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch (32) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on November 7, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
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Detroit Lions wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on November 7, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
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Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on November 7, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
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Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on November 7, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
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Detroit Lions cornerback Kindle Vildor (29) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on November 7, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
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Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on November 7, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
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Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on November 7, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
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Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on November 7, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
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Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (0) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on November 7, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
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Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on November 7, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
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Detroit Lions defensive lineman Chris Smith (90) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on November 7, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
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Detroit Lions wide receiver Tom Kennedy (85) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on November 7, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
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5. Sonic and Knuckles
Detroit's ground game has gained at least 100 yards and scored a touchdown in every game this season. Detroit's 14 rushing touchdowns are the second most in the NFL behind only Washington (15).
Through their first eight games, David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs have each topped 625 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns, which is the first time a team has accomplished that since 1960 (Green Bay running backs Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor).
They switch off every series and keep each other fresh and it allows the Lions' run game to get stronger as the game goes on. Detroit is averaging better than 150 yards on the ground per game (152.6) and will look to keep that rolling tonight to keep a really good Houston pass rush (29.0 sacks) honest.
