What numbers were key factors in the Lions winning 15 games last year on their way to a second straight NFC North division title?
Teams have to start over every year with roster turnover and coaching changes, but here are five numbers the Lions will look to keep rolling into 2025:
What it means: Average rushing yards allowed per game
Twentyman: Being stout against the run is a Dan Campbell requirement for his defense. It’s about toughness, grit and execution. If a team can consistently and efficiently run the football in this league, everything else opens up for them offensively. Look at Detroit’s offense with their play-action passing and trick-play game off their ability to consistently run the football.
Only Baltimore (80.1), Minnesota (93.4), Denver (96.4) and Tampa Bay (97.8) were better defensively against the run than Detroit last year.
This number is going to be so important for new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard and Detroit’s defense given their schedule this season. The top five rushing offenses in the NFL last year — Baltimore (187.6), Philadelphia (179.3), Washington (154.1), Tampa Bay (149.2) and Green Bay (146.8) — are all on the schedule this season with road games against the Ravens, Eagles, Commanders and Packers. How good this 2025 version of the Lions’ defense can be containing the run week in and week out will go a long way in determining the unit’s overall success.