ALLEN PARK, Mich. – The Detroit Lions spent the early part of Week 3 cleaning up mistakes from their first two games while preparing for a familiar opponent and an even more familiar coach.
The Lions will host the New York Jets on Sunday (Sept. 23), with former Detroit defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn returning to Ford Field as the Jets’ head coach.
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Detroit quarterback Jared Goff said Wednesday that Glenn’s familiarity with the Lions creates an interesting back-and-forth heading into the matchup.
“He certainly knows us, and we know him,” Goff said. “It’s like that kind of back and forth, cat and mouse. Is he going to change? Are we going to change? What are we going to do different?”
Glenn spent five seasons as Detroit’s defensive coordinator before taking over as New York’s head coach. Goff said Glenn’s teams have taken on the same competitiveness and physicality he emphasized during his time with the Lions.
“I think you can start to feel the team take on his identity,” Goff said. “You can certainly see that in the first two weeks, just the competitiveness that they play with and the speed and the physicality.”
The Lions enter Sunday at 1-1 after a 41-31 loss at Buffalo last week.
Goff said Detroit has identified several areas that need improvement, particularly pre-snap mistakes and missed opportunities on short fields.
Detroit had a first-and-goal opportunity in Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints at the one-yard line and also turned the ball over on offense, mistakes Goff said could have changed the game.
“Just some of those pre-snap mental (mistakes) and then taking advantage of those short fields would be great,” Goff said.
Goff also pointed to positives through the first two games, including production from the offensive line and an unselfish group of receivers.
He said the Lions have enough playmakers to make things difficult for opposing defenses, even when certain players aren’t seeing as many targets as they would like.
“We have a lot of guys that can make plays with the ball in their hands,” Goff said.
The Lions have scored at least 30 points in each of their first two games, but Goff said the offense needs to turn that production into more consistent results.
“We’ve scored 30 in back-to-back weeks, and great. It’s awesome. We’re towards the top of the league in points,” Goff said. “But one of the weeks it wasn’t good enough.”
Ball security a major focus
The Jets’ defense has forced six fumbles through two games, making ball security a major focus for Detroit.
Goff said protecting the football is always part of the weekly preparation, but the Jets’ emphasis on forcing turnovers makes it even more important.
“When you run into these teams that have a knack for it, you’re a little bit more aware of it,” Goff said.
Running back Jahmyr Gibbs also described Glenn’s defense as aggressive and said the Jets blitz frequently.
“They always play hard,” Gibbs said. “They blitz a ton. You can’t take them lightly at all.”
Gibbs said Detroit’s offensive approach remains focused on distributing the football among its many playmakers.
The Lions have leaned on Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and other offensive weapons through the opening two weeks.
“We’ve done a pretty good job the past four years I’ve been here,” Gibbs said. “Just continuing to do stuff like spreading the ball around, getting everybody a chance to eat, and continue winning games.”
Gibbs also said he isn’t concerned about Detroit’s 1-1 record.
“We’ve been 1-1 before,” he said. “We’ve been 1-1, went 9-8. We’ve been 1-1 and went 15-2. So, we just got to keep pushing.”
Hutchinson ready for normal week
Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson said he feels refreshed after playing 138 snaps over five days during Detroit’s opening two games, including the short turnaround into the Buffalo game.
The Lions had the weekend off before returning to a normal practice week.
“I feel great now,” Hutchinson said. “We had the weekend off and kind of got into a normal week.”
Hutchinson drew attention during the Buffalo game after television cameras repeatedly showed him on the sideline between plays.
He said the fatigue looked normal.
“I do this every game,” Hutchinson said. “I’m out there for 10 plays, and I’ll go to the sideline and just get some air for one or two plays.”
Hutchinson said playing extensive snaps is part of his preparation and that he has trained specifically to handle the workload.
The Lions’ defensive front also is focused on eliminating the breakdowns that contributed to Buffalo’s rushing success.
Hutchinson said the problems weren’t necessarily complicated.
“It’s just all around the board,” Hutchinson said. “You have a couple holes here and there, and they just pop a run.”
He said Detroit’s defense needs to focus on proper gap assignments and executing its responsibilities rather than becoming overly focused on an opponent’s scheme.
“Just simplify it, play your key, get off the ball and go,” Hutchinson said.
Hutchinson reflects on Glenn
Hutchinson also discussed his relationship with Glenn, who coached him early in his Lions career.
The former Michigan Wolverines standout said Glenn gave him increasing freedom as their relationship developed and described the former coordinator as an influential leader.
“AG was great, man,” Hutchinson said. “He was great.”
Hutchinson said Glenn’s ability to lead players through difficult periods reminds him of current Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, who is in his first season overseeing Detroit’s defense.
“AG is such a leader of men for sure,” Hutchinson said. “We all always trusted him to figure that out. And I think the same is with Shep.”
Miller prepares for Jets pass rusher
Rookie offensive tackle Blake Miller also spoke Wednesday about his upcoming matchup with Jets pass rusher David Bailey.
Miller faced Bailey in college and said he remembers recognizing his talent before the game.
“I remember sitting there and talking to my other tackle in college like, ‘This guy’s a special player,’” Miller said.
Miller missed Detroit’s game against Buffalo because of the short turnaround after an injury but said he is feeling healthy and ready to return.
He said he spent the week studying his first NFL game and identifying areas to improve, including technique, pass protection, and when to be aggressive within Detroit’s offense.
“There’s plenty to clean up,” Miller said. “To me, that’s the fun part.”
Fitzgerald eager for opportunity
Safety Bishop Fitzgerald is also getting his first opportunity with Detroit after joining the Lions’ 53-man roster.
Fitzgerald went undrafted after a college career in which he established himself as a versatile defensive back and playmaker.
He previously spent time with Pittsburgh and said he was excited when Detroit reached out.
“Oh man, let’s do it — like, right now,” Fitzgerald said of learning about the opportunity.
Fitzgerald said his ability to play multiple safety positions, work in the box and contribute on special teams could help him earn a role.
“Just trusting your instincts,” Fitzgerald said of his approach to creating turnovers. “Coaches put you around the ball for a reason.”
Fitzgerald also said he is looking forward to learning from Lions safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, players he watched before entering the NFL.
“Being in the same room with them, it’s a great opportunity for me,” Fitzgerald said.
For the Lions, Sunday’s matchup provides a chance to correct the mistakes from Buffalo while facing a Jets team led by a coach who knows Detroit’s personnel and philosophy well.
Goff said that familiarity could make the game unpredictable, but execution will ultimately determine the outcome.
“At the end of the day, it’s who executes,” Goff said. “Who’s the best late in the game, in the red zone, third down, all that stuff will still continue this week.”
