The Detroit Lions defense has played much better in the second half of the 2022 season, but there are still some holes. One of the biggest is the ability to defend opposing tight ends in the passing game.
Per Sports Info Solutions via the 33rd Team, no team has allowed more touchdown passes to tight ends than the Lions. Detroit has given up 11 TDs to opposing tight ends.
One of those came in the Week 17 win over the Bears. Chicago’s only touchdown was a red zone pass from Justin Fields to an uncovered Cole Kmet on a drag route where the Lions defense lost him in the wash.
Detroit’s catch rate allowed to opposing tight ends is also quite bad. They’ve allowed 74 receptions to tight ends on 101 throws, a 73 percent rate that is fourth-worst.
The first matchup against the Packers was a good example of how opponents successfully implement the tight end into the passing game. Back in Detroit’s Week 9 win, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers hit TE Josiah Deguara on all five of his targets, netting 41 yards. Another TE, Robert Tonyan, caught three of his four targets for 29. Ageless wonder Marcedes Lewis caught his one pass for 19 yards too.
In a game where the Packers completed just 10 of 23 pass attempts to wide receivers, the tight ends lit up the Lions: nine receptions on 10 targets, 89 yards and six first downs, including four third-down conversions.
That Week 9 game in Detroit, a 15-9 win over the Packers, was a turning point for the Lions overall pass defense. They’ve been great against wide receivers ever since. Their 59.9 completion percentage allowed to wide receivers in Weeks 9-17 is the fourth-best in the NFL and the seven TDs to WRs ranks 14th (tied with several teams). Tight ends continue to be problematic, unfortunately.
If the Lions are to win in Green Bay in the Week 18 rematch, the Detroit defense will need to tighten up against the tight ends.
