Lions red zone woes must improve for Detroit to win games
The Detroit Lions have been close to winning several games through the first seven weeks of the 2021 NFL season, but they’ve failed to notch that initial win. One of the big reasons why is Detroit’s lack of success at converting red zone offensive possessions into touchdowns.
Through Week 7, the Lions rank 30th in converting red zone possessions into touchdowns. Just 47.6 of Detroit’s offensive incursions into the enemy red zone have resulted in touchdowns, better than only the Colts (46.2%) and Giants (45%). The 0-for-5 performance in SoFi Stadium against the Rams certainly doesn’t help the ranking.
Even more telling is the fact the Lions attained five red zone drives but never got a 1st-and-goal against the Rams. In a game decided by nine points, failing to score a single touchdown on five different possessions in the red zone is a crushing blow.
This is where the lack of a true big-play receiver factors in. It’s also where lacking a long target who can make catches over defenders or away from his body is also a problem. T.J. Hockenson is the only real red zone threat in the receiving game. Alas, the Rams knew that and picked off Jared Goff trying to force him the ball in Detroit’s fateful last red zone possession in Week 7.
Of course, the Lions own red zone defense is even worse. Detroit ranks dead last, 32nd of 32 teams, in preventing opposing offenses from scoring touchdowns in the red zone. The Lions concede TDs on over 84 percent of defensive red zone possessions. Only the Raiders and Packers join the Lions in surrendering over 75 percent.
Green Bay (6-1) and Las Vegas (5-2) prove that being bad in one red zone isn’t necessarily a dealbreaker. And being great on offense isn’t any guarantee of success; the top three red zone offenses belong to New Orleans (3-2), San Francisco (2-4) and Seattle (2-4). If the Lions can start progressing out of the bottom three in each red zone, it will do wonders for Dan Campbell’s “close but no cigar” Lions.
The Eagles, Detroit’s foe in Ford Field in Week 8, are a good team to start the climb. The Philadelphia offense has been good in the red zone (70.8% TDs – 6th), but their defense ranks 28th at allowing touchdowns on 78.5 of opposing chances.
