The Detroit Lions' defense hasn't been good against the run in their first two losses to the New York Jets and the San Francisco 49ers this season. The Lions allowed 169 yards on the ground against the Jets Week 1 and 190 this past Sunday against the 49ers, bringing their two game total to 359 yards allowed on the ground.
That's the highest total in the NFL right now (by 51 yards), and the fifth highest total allowed after two weeks dating back to 2010.
Some would argue those numbers are skewed a bit by touchdown runs of 62 and 66 yards, but it's all part of the big picture. It all counts, and it's all been pretty bad for the Lions' run defense so far.
"I mean, it's definitely concerning," Lions outside linebacker Devon Kennard said Monday of Detroit's rushing defense so far this season. "Just the fact that we let up two big runs two weeks in a row. It's definitely something we can fix, but it's going to take all 11 of us getting it right and really making the run game a focus for four quarters."
The 5.61 yards per rush average allowed by the defense through Week 2 in the second worst in the league.
Both of those long touchdown runs given up by the Lions' defense have come on stretch plays to the right.
"The stretch zone, like any other run the opponent uses, is a team defense concept," Lions defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni said Tuesday. "There are assignments and responsibilities for the defensive front, there are assignments and responsibilities for the linebackers and there are assignments and responsibilities for the guys in the secondary.
"It's a team thing and we're working hard on being a team defense and everybody taking responsibility for whatever run it is to be a good team defense. We're working hard to get those things corrected and executed."
Pro Football Focus Week 2 stats:
Top 3 graded players on offense by Pro Football Focus vs. 49ers (at least 10 snaps):
- RT Rick Wagner 74.9
- WR Kenny Golladay 77.2
- RB LeGarrette Blount 73.8
Bottom 3 graded players on offense by Pro Football Focus vs. 49ers (at least 10 snaps):
- TE Levine Toilolo 49.7
- LG Frank Ragnow 49.9
- WR TJ Jones 51.2
Top 3 graded players on defense by Pro Football Focus vs. 49ers (at least 10 snaps):
- DB Tracy Walker 96.4
- DT A'Shawn Robinson 86.0
- DL Da'Shawn Hand 78.7
Bottom 3 graded players on defense by Pro Football Focus vs. 49ers (at least 10 snaps):
- CB Teez Tabor 30.1
- DT Ricky Jean Francois 38.0
- DB Quandre Diggs 39.4
Here are some other statistics, both good and bad, for the Lions after Week 2:
- Quarterback Matthew Stafford was one of the best deep ball passers in the NFL last season. On throws of more than 20 yards, Stafford had a passer rating of 111.6 last season. So far through two games this year, that rating is at 30.7, which ranks 32nd.
- Jamal Agnew is second in the NFC with a kickoff return average of 28.8 yards per kick through two games. That total is the fifth best in the NFL.
- The Lions are tied with the Steelers for last in the NFL with a minus-4 turnover differential.
- Outside linebacker Devon Kennard is currently tied for third in the NFL with 3.0 sacks. Denver's Von Miller leads the league with 4.0.
- After playing in just 40 of the team's 60 snaps on defense Week 1, safety Glover Quin played in all 64 snaps on defense against the 49ers.
