The Detroit Lions are on the road tonight in front of a nationally televised audience on Monday Night Football taking on a very good Baltimore Ravens team.

This matchup features two teams that won their respective divisions in 2024 and are two of the best in their conferences. Here are five things to watch out for in tonight's contest:

1. START FAST

The last time the Lions were in Baltimore in October of 2023, they started their first three offensive drives with three-and-outs. Baltimore started their first three offensive possessions with touchdowns. Detroit looked up at the scoreboard early in the second quarter and found themselves down 21-0, and it was an uphill battle from there in an eventual 38-6 loss to the Ravens.

"You don't forget those because it was – we didn't give ourselves a chance," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said this week about that 2023 contest. "By the end of the first quarter we were in a bad way.

"We know it's going to be a challenge, but I'm telling you, we're looking forward to it. I mean, these are fun, man. These are as good as it gets."

It's imperative the Lions get off to a good start in all three phases tonight. Baltimore is as explosive as they come on offense, especially if they can establish the run and lean on it to open up their play-action pass game.

When teams get behind and become one-dimensional against an aggressive Ravens' defense, it can be a long afternoon as the Lions experienced in 2023.

2. CAN GOFF KEEP IT ROLLING?

Lions quarterback Jared Goff completed 23-of-28 passes (82.1 percent) for 334 yards and tied a career-high with five touchdown passes with a 156.0 passer rating in leading the Lions to an NFL-high 52 points in their Week 2 victory over the Chicago Bears.

His five touchdown passes and 156.0 passer rating led the league in Week 2. Detroit did a terrific job upfront keeping Goff clean from pressure and when they do that, the Lions' passing game is one of the elite units in the NFL.

Baltimore gave up nearly 400 passing yards Week 1 to the Buffalo Bills. They weren't tested as much in that regard against the Cleveland Browns' passing offense last week. If the offensive line plays as well as they did last week, the Lions should be able to make plays in the passing game.

3. SPECIAL TEAMS PLAY

Campbell and Ravens head coach John Harbaugh value special teams more than most. Harbaugh began his NFL coaching career as a special teams coordinator.

When two good teams square off, it always comes down to a few plays here and there, and big plays generated by special teams can sometimes make a huge difference just with the possession and field position swings.

We've seen the kickoff return numbers explode the first two weeks with the rule changes. Can a big kickoff return that flips the field or puts points on the board be the difference tonight? Special teams takeaways are huge. Can the Lions generate one?

Field position could also be at a premium tonight. We know the weapon Lions punter Jack Fox can be. Baltimore is No. 1 in net punting average (48.9) after the first two weeks.

Whichever team makes more plays on special teams could be a big factor in tonight's outcome.

4. SWARM TO THE FOOTBALL

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry have two very different running styles that complement each other so well.

Henry is the big, bruising back who combines physicality with speed and is probably the toughest back in the NFL to take down with a single defender. Jackson is the speedy, shifty, elusive type when he gets out of the pocket and into space.

It will be important for the Lions' defense to populate to the football whenever Henry has the ball. Cleveland did a great job with that last week holding Henry to just 23 rushing yards on 11 attempts.

With Jackson, it's all about keeping him in the pocket and not allowing him the run/pass option, where he's one of the most dangerous in the league. The Lions must have a good rush plan on Jackson and rally to the football whenever Henry touches it.

5. COMMUNICATION

One of the big issues the Lions had in their first road game of the season Week 1, a loss to the Green Bay Packers, was missed assignments and communication issues on offense. It was very uncharacteristic of a Campbell-coached team.

Detroit cleaned up that issue last week against the Bears, but that's certainly easier to accomplish in the friendly confines of Ford Field. Detroit is back on the road tonight in a hostile environment on Monday Night Football and their communication and silent count operation will be put to the test again.