Trenches Tell the Story Two Days Before Christmas
The Detroit Lions walked out of Sunday with a scar. The loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers came from the line of scrimmage. Film study backed it up. So did the grades. In the NFL, you cannot live in the low 40s up front and expect to win. The Detroit Lions Podcast broke it down with clear eyes and a steady pulse.
The last two weeks produced the worst graded run blocking of the season. The last two games also produced the worst run defense grades. Tackling fell off a cliff. The base scoring mark sits at 60. Detroit lived below 50. That is losing football. Detroit’s pass rush showed signs of life with stunts and loops, but the run fits and block shedding were not good enough. A veteran like Aaron Rodgers gets the ball out fast. One underthrown moonball turned into a fluke touchdown, and it stung more because no one finished the play. No whistle. No touch. Six points anyway.
Center Spotlight and a Veteran Reality
Kingsley Eguacan gave the Lions something to build on. Thrown into center against a well coached Pittsburgh front, he held up acceptably. Not perfect. Good enough to see again. He has guard experience from Florida. He has two years in the system. That matters. The evaluation window should stay open these last two weeks to see if he can be a low cost backup in 2026.
Graham Glasgow is a pro’s pro. Tough. Smart. Trusted by Jared Goff and the staff. He also represents the present more than the future. That balance defines where this offensive line sits. Detroit needs answers now, but it must also cultivate depth that sticks. Eguacan earned another look.
Front Seven Accountability
Detroit’s defensive line investment is real. DJ Reader. Tylik Williams. Alim McNeill. The return has lagged in the run game. Blocks are sticking too easily. Aidan Hutchinson included. Shedding has to improve. The drills exist, but the mindset and urgency must rise. Think less. Strike more. Finish tackles.
McNeill’s arc is a reminder of time lost. He looked great in his first game back. Since then he has not been very good. A couple of late run stops showed up, but consistency is missing after nine to ten months without football. He knows it. The unit feels it. The Lions need their middle to anchor again.
The Steelers’ lucky strike exposed another cardinal rule. Play to the whistle. Alex Anzalone went head over heels. Others had to clean it up. No one did. That is fixable with focus.
What Must Change Now
The Detroit Lions must reclaim the line of scrimmage. Better run fits. Cleaner tackling. Faster block shedding. Keep the pass rush games that worked. Keep evaluating interior depth on offense. Trust your eyes before the grades, but let the numbers confirm the urgency. December demands clarity. Detroit has to find it in the trenches.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiJwlH7f5YM
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