4 Keys to Victory for Lions against Falcons
On Sunday, the Detroit Lions will return to Ford Field for a second straight week, and will do battle with the Atlanta Falcons.
The Lions are looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss to the Seattle Seahawks, while the Falcons are looking to improve to 3-0 on the young season.
Here are four things Detroit must do in order to capture the Week 3 victory.
Limit the productivity of Bijan Robinson
The Lions will have their hands full with Robinson Sunday.
The rookie back is coming off a 100-plus-yard day on the ground. Specifically, he finished with 124 yards, on 19 carries, against the Green Bay Packers.
Detroit comes into this Week 3 matchup, having been pretty solid against the run. In fact, Aaron Glenn's unit has allowed just 172 yards on the ground through two weeks – the ninth-fewest rushing yards in the league. Glenn's defense has also permitted only 3.6 yards per carry (the 11th-best mark in the league).
If Detroit can find a way to limit the productivity of Robinson in this Week 3 tilt, it would surely go a long way toward the Lions prevailing victorious against the Falcons.
Keep an eye on Kyle Pitts
The third-year tight end seems due for a big game.
Pitts, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 draft, has accumulated just 59 yards, on four receptions, through two games.
Additionally, through the first two weeks of the season, Detroit's defense has allowed the most receiving yards to tight ends (175 yards).
Glenn understands the importance of keeping a watchful eye on the Florida product.
"I think it’s only a matter of time when (Pitts) does break out,” Glenn told reporters earlier this week. “Not against us, but that guy’s a really good player and (there) was a reason why he was drafted the way he was drafted. There’s a reason why he did the things he did when he came in as a rookie. So, man, he’s a good player, and we’re aware of him.”
In Pitts' only other meeting with the Lions, he went off for six catches and 102 yards. Glenn & Co. need to make sure the Pro Bowl tight end doesn't replicate that kind of performance Sunday.
Continue to feed Sam LaPorta with a healthy dose of targets
Speaking of tight ends, the Lions need to continue to actively deploy their rookie tight end.
LaPorta has accumulated five receptions in each of his first two games, including five catches for 63 yards a week ago against the Seattle Seahawks.
Based on the Falcons' pass coverage tendencies, there should be an ample amount of space over the middle of the field for Detroit to get the ball to the first-year pass-catcher. And consequently, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson should exploit this weakness in Atlanta's pass defense, and feed LaPorta with a healthy dose of targets Sunday.
As a result, I wouldn't be surprised if the Iowa product ends up with at least five catches for a third consecutive week.
Improve the pass rush
The Lions' pass-rushing unit has been highly underwhelming to start the season. Through the first two weeks of the 2023 campaign, Detroit has produced just one sack. That mark is tied with the Chicago Bears for the lowest amount of sacks in the league.
Furthermore, second-year EDGE Aidan Hutchinson – the Lions' leading sack producer in 2022 (9.5 sacks) – has failed to amass a single sack. In case you were wondering, linebacker Alex Anzalone is responsible for Detroit's lone sack on the season.
Undeniably, the Lions need to start generating sacks on a much more consistent basis. If they don't, quarterbacks like Seattle's Geno Smith will continue to have an ample amount of time in the pocket to make plays with both their arms and legs.
The Falcons' Desmond Ridder, like Smith, can do some damage with both his arm and his legs. It is why it's paramount for Hutchinson & Co. to get consistent pressure on the second-year passer and to prevent him from scrambling as much as possible. If the Lions are able to do this, I believe it significantly enhances their odds of coming out on top in this Week 3 matchup.
