By Moses Joshua 
Detroit’s top receiver says the Lions’ offense must rediscover its rhythm — and it starts with mastering third down.
The Detroit Lions have started the 2025 season strong with a 5–2 record, showcasing resilience and dominance at home. Yet, despite their winning ways, the offensive rhythm that once defined them hasn’t fully returned. The big plays, the quick-strike drives, and the fluid execution that turned heads in 2024 have appeared only in flashes.
For wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, that inconsistency is both obvious and fixable.
“We Gotta Be Better on Third Down”
Speaking candidly after practice, St. Brown didn’t shy away from identifying where the offense must tighten up.
“As an offense, I think we gotta be better on 3rd Down, mandatory,” St. Brown said. “I’d like to be more explosive, personally. Just less 18 play drives, more 4 play drives. I think we all would want that, but I think third down’s the biggest thing. We can take care of that, and improve on that, I think we’ll be just fine.”
His words capture the mood within the locker room — a mix of confidence and urgency. The Lions know what’s missing, and they’re determined to fix it.
The Numbers Tell the Story
Statistically, Detroit’s third-down production has fallen off compared to last season. Through eight weeks, the Lions rank 21st in the league with a conversion rate of just 37.6 percent — a sharp dip from 2024’s 47.6 percent mark, which ranked fourth in the NFL.
The problem becomes glaring in long-yardage situations. Facing third-and-eight or more, Detroit has managed to convert just six of 69 attempts, a league-low 8.7 percent success rate. A year ago, they led the NFL in that category at 34 percent.
Such numbers highlight why the offense has struggled to sustain drives — and why St. Brown’s call for shorter, more explosive series carries weight.
Building from the Trenches
Some of the offensive inconsistency can be traced back to the line. With two young guards, Christian Mahogany and Tate Ratledge, learning on the job and a key veteran tackle sidelined, the interior has faced growing pains.
Still, both rookies have shown steady improvement, and Detroit’s coaching staff believes the line’s progress will unlock the offense’s full potential. A cleaner pocket could give quarterback Jared Goff the comfort to push the ball downfield, allowing St. Brown and his fellow playmakers to do what they do best — attack defenses in rhythm.
Rediscovering the Lions’ Identity
Despite the hiccups, there’s no panic in Detroit. The Lions are still winning, still balanced, and still dangerous. What’s missing is the efficiency that turns good drives into great ones.
If they can clean up third-down execution and reduce the need for marathon drives, the Lions’ offense could once again become one of the league’s most feared units.
And if Amon-Ra St. Brown’s mindset is any indication, they’re already taking the right steps to get there.