Detroit Lions DE Al-Quadin Muhammad on the importance of practice
Muhammad might have a bigger role for the Lions against the Baltimore Ravens if DE Marcus Davenport can’t play due to injury.
Lamar Jackson has the most rushing yards (6,256) and highest passer rating (102.65) of any quarterback in NFL history.
He is, in the words of Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, a player without a weakness.
“Just like you guys asked me last week what does Ben (Johnson) do well (as a player caller), I said everything,” Sheppard said. “What does Lamar do well? Everything. What does he not do well? Nothing. I mean he can beat you all different ways.”
The Lions visit the Baltimore Ravens this week in a battle of Super Bowl contenders when Jackson’s dual-threat ability will once again be on center stage.
A two-time MVP, Jackson has thrown for 434 yards and is tied for the NFL lead with six touchdown passes through two weeks, and ranks fifth in the NFL in quarterback rushing.
Sheppard said Jackson is equally as dangerous running and throwing the football, and just as good throwing on the run as he is in the pocket. He called Monday’s game “a litmus test for us to let us know where do you really stand against the big boys in the league,” and said the Lions’ challenge defensively is slowing Jackson and a Ravens offense that leads the league in scoring at 40.5 points per game.
“It’s why he is who he is, multi-year MVP in this league and I have the utmost respect for this player,” Sheppard said. “He’s a dynamic player in this league and he’s hard to prepare for. I’ve gotten a lack of sleep this week due to him so I’ll make sure I let him know that after this game.”
Open and shut
The Lions played much better defensively in last week’s 52-21 win over the Chicago Bears than they did in their season-opening loss to the Green Bay Packers, but Sheppard wasn’t happy about allowing an opening-drive touchdown for the second straight week.
The Bears went 79 yards in eight plays for a score, converting two third downs along the way. The Packers went 68 yards in 12 plays, with three third-down conversions, on their game-opening touchdown drive in Week 1.
“For me it sets the tone for the day,” Sheppard said. “Now, it doesn’t dictate the outcome of the day, because you could have the first three-and-out and not get off the field rest of the game and that’s not good, too. But to me it sets the tone and me as a defensive guy, I want to be out there first and set the tone for the day.”
The Ravens lead the NFL in scoring but have just six points in the first quarter and have not scored a touchdown on either of their opening drives through two weeks.
“We need to go (get an opening-drive stop) and let the offense know, they feed off us, we feed of them,” Sheppard said. “You saw it last week, it was a three-headed monster we had. It wasn’t offense, it wasn’t defense, it wasn’t special teams. It was all three guys marching in lockstep and complimenting each other. Sometimes we needed special teams, sometimes the offense needed us, sometimes we needed the offense. And when you have that clicking that’s when you’re really rolling.”
Watch party
Lions offensive coordinator John Morton was so impressed with his team’s 52-point performance against the Bears he said he watched the game tape twice.
“I watched it twice just because I was like, ‘Man, is this real?’” Morton said. “No, it was fun. It’s fun watching these guys and that’s what I said. All the go’s that we said before the game that we wanted to do, it happened and that’s the cool thing.”
The Lions averaged a franchise-record 8.8 yards per play against the Bears and got standout performances from Jared Goff (23 of 28 passing, 334 yards, 5 touchdowns) and Amon-Ra St. Brown (nine catches, 115 yards, 2 TDs).
They scored on six straight possessions in the second through fourth quarters and did not commit a turnover, but Morton said they still left points on the field.
“It was impressive just all phases, man,” Morton said. “The line coming off, the surge. The guys running routes. Jared throwing the ball. I mean, he’s been over 80% the last two weeks. That’s – you don’t see that. Yeah, it was fun but it’s all about the players. It’s not about me. It’s just my job is to put them in the right position, man, and just everything was clicking.”
Happy returns
NFL teams combined for one kick-return touchdown in the first two weeks, by the New England Patriots’ Antonio Gibson, but Lions special teams coordinator Dave Fipp said he’s confident more big plays are coming due to the new kickoff rules.
“I think the explosive returns are still there and I think they’ll be there, and I think there will be some big returns in big games at big moments,” Fipp said. “And again, I think one of the important things will be just consistent coverage and consistent return game throughout the course of the year.”
The NFL moved most touchbacks on kick returns from the 30- to the 35-yard line this year to encourage kicking teams to stop playing for touchbacks.
The Lions have allowed 10 returns already this season, after allowing 24 all of last year. Fipp said the Ravens, who’ve allowed 12 returns in their first two games, have done a good job kicking the ball in the landing zone but short of the return man to limit starting possession.
The Ravens rank sixth in kick-return average allowed at 23.9 yards per return.
“That’s the one thing about this kick cover/kick return game that we’re playing now,” Fipp said. “It’s like everybody’s right on the edge, man. The cover group can look good, but, man, they’re inches away from giving up a big play. And so, it’s very volatile, I think is the best word to use.”
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.