Lions Offensive Struggles: Protection Issues and Sacks

The Detroit Lions' offense has faced significant challenges this season, particularly with protection issues leading to a high number of sacks. In their Thanksgiving Day loss to the Green Bay Packers, the Lions fell 31-24, marking their second defeat to the Packers this season.

Despite a strong start in previous seasons, the Lions have struggled to maintain their offensive standards. Taylor Decker, a veteran offensive lineman, expressed cautious optimism about their playoff chances, highlighting the need for consistency as they face a tough schedule with five games remaining.

The Lions currently hold a 7-5 record, keeping them in the NFC Wild Card race, but the loss to the Packers was a significant setback. Decker noted, "I mean, we really wanted this one and we know it was really important... we can do a lot with that if we control week to week what we do that week." This year, the Lions have experienced a major transition, with changes in the coaching staff after the offseason.

Losing offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to the Chicago Bears and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to the New York Jets has affected the team's performance. The offensive line has been a particular area of concern, as Jared Goff has been under consistent pressure.

He has already taken 26 sacks, ranking eighth in the league, and has faced 97 pressures, translating to a pressure rate of 23.7%, up from 20.9% last season. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Goff’s average time to throw is 2.73 seconds, but Pro Football Reference indicates he has only 2.0 seconds of pocket time on average, making it difficult for him to execute the offense effectively.

During the game against the Packers, Goff was sacked three times and hit seven times, with star pass rusher Micah Parsons being responsible for 2.5 of those sacks. Goff's pocket time has decreased from 2.3 seconds to 2.1 seconds, leading to an uptick in hits and late turnovers.

Despite the offensive struggles, Goff managed to maintain a relatively high Pro Football Focus grade of 81.0 for the game, aided by standout performances from receivers like Jameson Williams, who achieved a career-best 91.2 overall grade.

However, the offensive line's performance has been inconsistent, with backups filling in due to injuries and failing to provide adequate protection. The Lions need to address their protection issues urgently to salvage their playoff hopes.

With their current trajectory, Goff is on pace for approximately 137 pressures this season, indicating a clear regression in protection compared to previous years. Decker emphasized the team's frustration in not meeting the high standards they had set in recent seasons, stating, "We just need to search for more consistency... we’ve fallen from that standard at times, and that’s been the frustrating part."