The Detroit Lions have lived up to the preseason hype. Many fans and analysts picked them to win the NFC, and through nine weeks, they look like the team to beat. Outside of a down performance in week two, the Lions have looked almost unbeatable. Here are three numbers to know at the midseason mark of the NFL season for Detroit.
74.44%: All-time completion percentage record in a season
Back in 2018, Drew Brees set the NFL single-season record for completion percentage. Jared Goff is on pace to break it. He currently sits at 74.9%, and if he completes his first pass on Sunday against the Texans, he will be sitting at exactly 75% for the season. Much has been made about this feat, as the stats are eye-popping. Goff has more touchdown passes than incompletions over the past month. It isn’t just that he is playing well. He is having a historically great season.
Will he be able to break the record? There are two things the Lions have going for them. The first is their schedule. They only have two more outdoor games this season. Part of what can tank a completion percentage is bad weather causing drops, though that didn’t seem to be a problem last week in Green Bay. The second is how Detroit wins. Goff doesn’t have to throw 40 times a game. They get a lead and then ride the backfield combination of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. Remember, this team beat the Titans 52-10, and Goff only threw for 85 yards. This is in play.
53%: Pressure rate on third down with Aidan Hutchinson
One of the biggest disappointments of the season is Aidan Hutchinson’s injury. The Detroit Lions star was on pace to be in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year and lead the team in sacks. On third down, the team was getting pressure over half the time with five sacks on third down through six games. Since he went down, the pressure rate has plummeted to 21%, and only one sack on third down.
Brad Holmes pulled the trigger and traded for Za’Darius Smith. While they aren’t expecting him to be everything Hutchinson is, they want to try and recoup some of the production. Smith has shown that he can be a quality pass-rusher, but this is his fourth team in five years. His age brings injury concerns as well. However, the price they paid to get him in the building makes it so that it isn’t a huge loss if he doesn’t produce. Smith and the rest of the defensive line will need to pressure the elite quarterbacks if they are going to make a Super Bowl.
0: Super Bowl appearances
This number Detroit Lions fans are painfully aware of, but it gives some insight into why so many fans are excited about this team. The franchise was founded in 1930, making it one of the oldest in league history. They have never even made a Super Bowl. This season looks promising. They are in pole position for the number one overall seed in the conference, something that would give them critical home-field advantage and the all-important bye week.
The rest of the NFC is flawed. Philadelphia is winning, but Nick Sirianni seems to be in the hot seat. The NFC West is wide open, with every team exhibiting major flaws. Atlanta barely has a challenge in the NFC South, and the defense has had trouble stopping the best offenses in the league. The biggest threat might be Green Bay, but the Lions just beat them on the road. This team is primed for a deep playoff run and is hungry to break the drought.
Final Thoughts
The Detroit Lions have been near-perfect through the first part of the season. They look like the most complete team in the NFL. While the Kansas City Chiefs have a better record, Detroit feels like the more complete team. This team can beat you in so many ways. If it’s an offensive shootout, they have the firepower to keep up. If it’s a defensive struggle, the Detroit Lions can stop opposing offenses and lean on their running back duo to grind out the game. Even their special teams seem to come up with big plays. They are the favorite to make the Super Bowl. Can they keep the momentum going all season?