Raiders Opponent Scouting: Detroit Lions Defense

The Las Vegas Raiders will face a Detroit Lions defense that has performed at a high level this season.

The Las Vegas Raiders remain on the road as they will face the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit on Monday Night Football.

The Raiders and Lions are looking to bounce back from Week 7 losses in a prime-time game. This will be both team’s third prime-time appearance of the season.

The Lions will be a tough test for the Raiders, as they hold a 5-2 record and have won four games by 14 points or more.

While their offense has been the team's focal point, the Lions’ defense has also been playing at a high level.

Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn has turned the Lions into a respectable defensive unit. They rank 11th in the NFL in total yards per game allowed and second in the league in rushing yards allowed.

This is not the same old Detroit Lions, as under MCDC (Motor City Dan Campbell) they now are defensive juggernauts / Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Glenn was the defensive backs coach for the New Orleans Saints before becoming the defensive coordinator of the Lions in 2021. Glenn calls a conservative defense, blitzing on only 17.7 percent of drop-backs, second-lowest in the NFL.

The Lions were not expected to be one of the better run defenses in the NFL, but they are allowing only 76.3 yards per game on the ground due to the play of defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and defensive tackle Alim McNeill. Linebacker Alex Anzalone has also had an excellent season.

Hutchinson, the No. 2 overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, has been one of the best young edge rushers in the NFL and looks like the franchise cornerstone the Lions drafted him to be.

Hutchinson has 22 total tackles, four tackles for losses, eight quarterback hits, four and a half sacks, and an interception this season. He is an excellent pass rusher who occasionally drops back in coverage.

The Lions’ secondary is led by impressive rookie safety Brian Branch, a second-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Alabama. Branch has missed two games this season but still has 23 total tackles, four passes defended and an interception. Detroit also has gotten good play out of veteran cornerback Cameron Sutton and safety Tracy Walker III.

The Lions’ defense has been impressive, and the Raiders have struggled to move the ball this season. They will have to figure out how to get the running game against a formidable defensive line, or else it will be a long night for the Silver and Black.

The Silver and Black will stay on the road to take on the Detroit Lions on Monday night, Oct. 30, at 8:15 p.m. EDT/5:15 p.m. PDT.

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