Pride of Detroit
Even when I try to go simple with my bold prediction, it still doesn’t come true. Last week’s prediction was a big ask, despite it being straightforward. This week’s bold prediction might be too much to ask for in this game, but as much as the Detroit Lions are in must-win mode, so am I.
In Week 16, the Lions have their home season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers. If you’ve been watching football for a long time, you know the Steelers are known for having a strong defense. While the defense as a whole this season hasn’t been up to par, one part where they dominate is in their pass rush. I got a feeling that, despite being a problem for other teams, the Lions will hold off the Steelers’ pass rush.
Despite facing the most sacks he’s ever faced in his career in Detroit, I believe Lions quarterback Jared Goff will avoid Steelers defenders on Sunday afternoon. While the standard of the Lions’ offensive line hasn’t been up to par, with a rookie right guard and second-year left guard for most of the year, alongside most of the line dealing with injuries, this unit is still respectable. First, they’ve kept Goff upright in four games this season.
Full disclosure, three of those games have been against bottom-half defenses (Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders). In its toughest matchup against the Cleveland Browns, though, (third in the NFL in sacks with 47), they held off EDGE Myles Garrett from adding any more sacks to his possibly record-breaking season. What also helped the Lions in three of those games (excluding Washington) was that they had all five starters alongside the line.
Starting left guard Christian Mahogany has been on IR since suffering a lower leg injury in Week 9, leaving Detroit to shuffle around his replacement. It was originally Kayode Awosika, until he also suffered an injury that brought back the infamous guard rotation between Trystan Colon and rookie Miles Frazier. While the two split snaps in the previous two games, Colon appeared to have won the job by getting more snaps against the Los Angeles Rams.
Despite playing more, Colon struggled against the Rams, getting a 43.3 run block grade and 31.2 pass blocking grade. Frazier outperformed him, getting a 55.3 run block grade and a 56.9 pass blocking grade. The good news for the offensive line is that Mahogany hoped to return against either the Rams or the Steelers, and after missing the Rams game, that leaves this week as his next return date. If Mahogany can return, this offensive line can receive a massive boost on the left side, where Detroit has struggled in his absence. If Mahogany needs another week to return, I wouldn’t be shocked if Frazier gets the nod over Colon.
Now, while the Lions’ offensive line has had some success and struggles, they’re matched up against the Steelers defense that is...
