The Detroit Lions' defense has struggled over the last five weeks as Detroit's 2-3 record over that stretch has them on the edge of playoff elimination.
Over the last five weeks, Detroit's allowed over 500 scrimmage yards twice (New York Giants & Los Angeles Rams) and at least 125 rushing yards three times (Green Bay, LA, Pittsburgh). Over that span, opponents are averaging 458.6 yards per contest and 145.4 rushing yards.
Heading into the New York Giants game Week 12, Detroit's defense ranked 10th in points allowed (21.6), fifth in total defense (291.8), eighth against the run (99.7) and eighth against the pass (192.1), but those averages have ballooned over the last five weeks. Heading into Thursday's Christmas matchup in Minneapolis against the Vikings, Detroit's defense ranks 23rd in points allowed (24.9), 24th in total defense (347.4), 16th against the run (114.9) and 25th against the pass (232.5).
Lions Pro Bowl edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson was asked this week what the No. 1 thing he believes has to change from the defensive performance moving forward.
"Something that I think I want to do better at, and I think we can control is just having fun out there," Hutchinson said. "It's a simple thing. Football in the NFL is a business, but you have to treat it like a fun game that you love in order for you to get the results."
It seems like such a simple thing but it's easy when adversity mounts to start pressing. Players try to do too much in search of the big play and don't just focus on doing their job. That's when things can go south rather quickly. We've seen some of that with Detroit's defense over the last month.
"I feel like the defenses I've been on whenever we are out there having fun, not just doing your job and executing, but you are having fun, you are celebrating together, you're jumping around. That energy is very infectious, and we just have to get back to that," Hutchinson said. "I think if we're doing that, having fun, celebrating, making big plays, like that's going to be big for us."
BROSMER AT QUARTERBACK FOR VIKINGS
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who underwent an MRI and other testing on his injured right hand early this week, suffered a hairline fracture and is out this week against Detroit. Undrafted free agent Max Brosmer will make the start, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell announced Tuesday.
Brosmer has seen action in five games this year but lost his only start at Seattle Nov. 30 when he threw four interceptions and no touchdowns in a 26-0 Vikings loss.
"If you give him time to see it, he can throw it," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said of Brosmer on Tuesday. "He's got receivers to throw to, I know that. The guy is accurate. I think it falls in line with anyone we play at this point. We have to disrupt him."
Brosmer has completed 31-of-47 passes this season with no touchdowns, four interceptions and a 41.1 passer rating.
CENTER UPDATE
Veteran center Graham Glasgow sat out Sunday's loss to Pittsburgh due to a knee injury, which gave rookie Kingsley Eguakun an opportunity to make his first career start. Eguakun played well for his first time out and it will be interesting to see if Campbell turns to him again Thursday on a short week. Glasgow was listed as a limited participant in Monday's walkthrough.
If it is Eguakun, Campbell said Tuesday they'd probably put a little bit more on quarterback Jared Goff’s plate in terms of the protections given the complexity and frequency of Minnesota's blitz schemes under defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Minnesota leads the NFL in blitz percentage (42.9) and is fifth in hurry percentage (10.3) this season.
"If it is (Eguakun), yeah, it would be more on Goff," Campbell said. "But Kingsley knows what we need to do per this week and what we're looking for and if there needs to be alterations, Goff will make those."
EXTRA POINTS
- Campbell on wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown's knee injury and availability for Thursday: "It's positive news but there's a little irritation. Short week. We'll see. But I would say it's still positive news."
- The Vikings have forced three-and-outs on 24 percent of their defensive drives this season, the sixth best mark in the NFL. The only teams with a higher percentage are Houston (28.4), Denver (27.5), Las Vegas (26), Cleveland (25.7) and Los Angeles Rams (24.8).
