Lions facing an unimaginable scenario

The Detroit Lions are facing an unimaginable scenario against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. At the beginning of the season, Detroit never imagined the team wouldn’t make the playoffs.

Detroit Lions facing an unimaginable scenario

While a playoff berth is still within reach, the team no longer controls its own destiny. The grim reality is that with only seven NFC teams making the playoffs, the Lions are on the bubble at No. 8.

Detroit’s playoff fortunes depend upon either the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers or Chicago Bears losing two or more of their final games.

However, the Seahawks' amazing overtime victory on Thursday night reduces their likelihood of losing two games. Detroit making the playoffs depends upon the Lions achieving a better record and holding the right combination of tiebreakers over other contenders. For example, if the Bears and Packers tie in their game on Saturday night, the Lions are automatically eliminated with a loss against Pittsburgh.

Step 1: Lions must beat Pittsburgh

Beating Pittsburgh is the only thing the Lions are focused on right now.

Detroit has the advantage over Pittsburgh on paper. Despite the Lions’ up-and-down season, Jared Goff has been playing at an exceptionally high rate, throwing for 3,672 yards with 29 touchdowns and five interceptions. His 110.4 QB rating is second in the league, behind only Matthew Stafford. Aaron Rodgers' QB rating is 98.8, 11th in the league. Rodgers has completed 248-of-371 attempts for 2,594 yards, 22 scores and seven interceptions.

Although problematic this season, the Lions offensive line has improved and is better at protecting Goff.

Lions defense can win against Pittsburgh and Aaron Rodgers 

Describing the challenge of playing Rodgers, Campbell talked about his quick release and accuracy.

“He plays fast. He plays fast, and he’s accurate. I mean, he’s always had the accuracy," Campbell said, per the Steelers' website. "He’s got such a quick release. I mean, he can process it like that. And it’s with a flick of the wrist, the thing is in the receiver’s hands at a perfect location to where they can do damage once they get it into their hands. So, that has gone nowhere, his ability to get it out and play fast is still there, very much there.”

In 2022, Aidan Hutchinson intercepted Rodgers. This past week, Hutchinson and Al-Quadin Muhammad just set a new franchise record as the first Lions defensive duo to each log 9.0 sacks in a season. They’ll look to increase that number on Sunday.

Pittsburgh relies more heavily on its passing game than its ground game for scoring. Therefore, disrupting Rodgers’ delivery to favorite targets DK Metcalf and Pat Freiermuth is crucial to the Lions’ success. Earlier this week, Sheppard acknowledged planned changes designed to improve the Lions’ secondary performance.

Detroit must get the tandem run game going

The Lions have one of the NFL’s most explosive game-altering running backs in Jahmyr Gibbs. But Detroit also has the most talented running back duo in the NFL. The Lions offense is at its best when David Montgomery plays a bigger role. In Week 3 against the Baltimore Ravens, Montgomery had his best game this season, recording 151 yards on 12 carries with two touchdowns.

Two weeks later, against the Cincinnati Bengals, Montgomery notched 18 carries for 65 yards with one touchdown and one reception for six yards. In Week 10, playing against the Washington Commanders, he didn’t score a touchdown. However, Montgomery recorded 71 yards on 15 rushes, averaging 4.7 yards per carry. Detroit won all three of these games, with Montgomery as the common denominator.

In the last three weeks, despite playing limited snaps, Montgomery scored a rushing touchdown in every game. Simply put, the Lions stand a better chance of winning games when using both Gibbs and Montgomery. In a perfect scenario, if both are on the field at the same time, it splits the defensive coverage, potentially leaving one player open to score.