By Sunday 
Let’s get one thing out of the way: five turnovers and a 27-point loss is never how you want to start a preseason. But if you’re head coach Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions, there’s still a silver lining to be found—especially on the defensive side of the ball.
Red Zone Reps? Not So Much. Real Pressure? Absolutely.
While the offense sputtered its way to one red zone trip and a painful 1-for-11 on third downs, the Lions defense got tossed right into the fire—and weirdly, that might be a good thing.
“We got to see a little bit of everything,” Campbell said, referring to the slew of defensive scenarios his team encountered after the offense repeatedly handed the Chargers golden field position.
Fumbles, muffed punts, interceptions… the defense didn’t exactly get to ease into the game. One particular series had them starting at their own five-yard line, yet they still forced a field goal. That’s no small feat, especially when the opponent already smells the end zone.
Offense Still in the Waiting Room
On the other hand, Campbell couldn’t help but joke (half-heartedly) about what the offense didn’t get:
“I’d like to see more first downs on offense.”
We’d all like that, coach.
Truth is, with so few sustained drives, the Lions offense simply didn’t get enough quality reps to evaluate key depth players. Aside from Craig Reynolds’ lone touchdown, red zone action was almost nonexistent. And that’s a problem the coaching staff will be looking to fix ASAP.
Looking Ahead: Atlanta and Opportunity
The beauty of preseason is that you get a second (and third) and fourth shot. With three more exhibition games on the calendar, Campbell and his staff will be pushing hard to get this group more balanced field exposure. That means:
- Cleaner special teams play
- Fewer turnovers (please)
- Actual offensive rhythm
Meanwhile, the defense might just be tougher than expected, having already been trial-by-fired.
Bottom Line:
Preseason results don’t go in the record books, but the reps certainly go into the learning bank. If you’re going to be bad, better to be bad while testing your mettle—and the Lions defense showed it’s ready to punch back.