By Sunday 
Perfect — let’s turn #2: “Pressure Cooker: Lions’ Kelvin Sheppard Gets His First True Trial vs. Lamar Jackson & Co.” into a blog-style article with a casual, engaging flow:The Detroit Lions rolled into Week 2 with swagger, dropping 52 points on the Bears and quieting some of the noise around their new coaching staff. But as much as fans loved that blowout, Dan Campbell isn’t letting anyone get too comfortable — especially his new defensive coordinator, Kelvin Sheppard.
And it’s no wonder. The Lions’ next test? None other than Lamar Jackson and the juggernaut Baltimore Ravens offense.
Dan Campbell Puts the Pressure On
Following last week’s win, Campbell made it clear what he expects from his defense heading into the Monday Night Football showdown.
“We can’t give anything away on defense. We’ve gotta be very disciplined,” Campbell told reporters.
That’s coach-speak for “Kelvin, don’t let Lamar embarrass us on national television.”
The Ravens’ Offense is No Joke
Two games in, Baltimore looks terrifying. They’ve racked up 81 points already and are averaging 6.5 yards per play — all while running the third-fewest plays in the league. Translation? They don’t even need the ball for long to light you up.
Lamar has his deepest supporting cast yet, with Zay Flowers, DeAndre Hopkins, Rashod Bateman, and Mark Andrews catching passes, plus Derrick Henry pounding the run game. That’s not just firepower — that’s an arsenal.
Can the Lions’ Defense Hold Up?
Through two weeks, Detroit’s defense has been… okay. Not bad, not great. They sit middle-of-the-pack in most categories:
17th vs. the run
12th vs. the pass
21st in points allowed
Sheppard’s group has been vulnerable to big passing plays, giving up seven 20+ yard completions already. Against Lamar’s arm and speed? That’s dangerous territory.
The good news? Cleveland showed a blueprint last week, holding Henry to just 23 rushing yards. If the Lions can slow down the run and force Lamar to win exclusively through the air, they’ve at least got a puncher’s chance.
Bottom Line
For Sheppard, this is the real “welcome to the NFL” moment as a defensive coordinator. Shut down Henry and at least slow Lamar, and suddenly Detroit looks like a legit contender again. But fail, and Campbell’s warning about discipline could come back to haunt them.
Monday night in Baltimore isn’t just another game — it’s a trial by fire. And Kelvin Sheppard is in the pressure cooker.