Pride of Detroit
Since Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell were hired back in January of 2021, the goal for the duo has always been crystal clear. To build the organization up the right way, so that every year their club has a chance to compete for a Super Bowl. The end goal seemed lofty at the time, especially for a franchise with a history like the Lions. But after consecutive seasons with 9, 12, and 15 wins, Detroit has now been there for multiple years. The roster is stocked with talent, and the leadership, from principal owner Sheila Hamp and the rest of the brass, is in place for the long haul.
Now in year five, expectations are higher than ever for the Lions. And with these lofty expectations come bigger and brighter NFL stages, such as the Lions’ Week 3 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football. Even before the John Harbaugh era, which has now spanned 18 seasons, Baltimore has been a powerhouse in the AFC, dating back to the days when Hall of Famers like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed wore the purple and black. Ozzie Newsome, widely regarded as the greatest general manager in NFL history and helped set the foundation for the franchise during his 17-year tenure. To keep things simple, the Ravens’ organization is an example for others in the league to emulate in terms of year-to-year consistency and success.
“We’re excited for this challenge,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said of the matchup with the Ravens. “We recognize this opponent, we respect what they’re about, and we’re looking forward to this, going out there at their place on Monday night. So this is going to be fun, man. This is one of those, this is why you do it.”
Playing against a quarterback like the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson means several things for an opponent. For starters, you are going to have to play close to mistake-free football. Offensively, you have to value each and every possession, and defensively, you will likely need to force a few takeaways to come away victorious. Especially on the road, where Baltimore is even more dangerous.
I am predicting the Lions do just that. Ideally, we see Lions’ quarterback Jared Goff and the rest of the offense take care of the football, while the defense gives them at least two extra bites at the apple in the form of Baltimore turnovers. This will be a week in which the Lions’ defensive playmakers need to come up big in situations like third-downs and in the red zone. Through two games, Baltimore has only one turnover, which came in the form of a Derrick Henry fumble (though he’s put the ball on the ground twice). Historically speaking, Jackson isn’t a quarterback who frequently gives the ball to the opposing team. So while getting the ball back will likely be a point of emphasis for Detroit heading into this game, the...
