Lions' Win over Chiefs Proves 'They Could Be Scary'
The Detroit Lions spent much of the offseason in the headlines.
After an 8-2 finish to the 2022 season, they had generated plenty of buzz and optimism throughout the NFL world. Heading into Thursday's season opener, there were still questions about the legitimacy of Dan Campbell's group.
With their 21-20 win, the team has proven to many that it was worthy of that hype.
"It's validation. That's exactly what it is. It's validation. You saw it from the Detroit Lions the second half of last year and now, everyone's been talking about the Lions," said Damien Woody on SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt Thursday night. "The Lions are that trending team that everyone's talking about. The next step for the Lions is, can you go out there and win a big game against a big dog opponent on the road? And then go out and do it, now you're buying in. It's the belief system from everyone on that team. Man, if you keep pulling these things off, this team could be scary."
A key factor to the win was Detroit's defensive changes. Coordinator Aaron Glenn, who is known for deploying a man coverage scheme, elected to put the team in more zone throughout the evening.
This made a big difference, as the Lions held the Chiefs out of the end zone in the second half. The decision garnered attention from NFL Network's Eric Edholm.
"Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn turned in a masterful evening, forgoing his high-pressure style for a zone-heavy scheme on this night," Edholm wrote. "And outside of the Chiefs’ brief flurry before the half in a 92-yard drive, the Lions did a tremendous job. That’s what makes this team dangerous now."
Media personality Colin Cowherd also took notice of the Lions' impressive win.
"Good for Detroit. They've had some lean decades," said Cowherd on his podcast. "But, it felt big, it felt big for them. I like the way Detroit won. I like that nine-play drive in the second half. That's just Dan Campbell. That's biting kneecaps. That's big, tough, physical, power running. Nice W."
Another pivotal moment came in the second quarter when the Lions elected to attempt a fake punt from their own 17-yard line. Facing a fourth-and-2, Jalen Reeves-Maybin took a direct snap for three yards to extend a drive that ended in a touchdown.
The decision impressed NFL Network's Maurice Jones-Drew.
"When you talk about being aggressive, when you talk about biting kneecaps, we're gonna do this, we're gonna do that, you have to be about it, too," Jones-Drew said on NFL GameDay Final. "That action right there tells you that they're about it. And, on that fourth-and-1, coach Campbell's like, 'Come on, let's go.'"
Here are other reactions from analysts following Thursday's victory:
