Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and his squad are taking a lot of heat after a lackluster first two weeks of the 2024 NFL season. Detroit’s offense is moving the ball exceptionally well, but they’re simply not converting all those yards into points.
Currently, the Lions are in the top 10 in almost every offensive category after Week 2:
Net yards: 826 (2nd)
First downs: 47 (t-2nd)
Third down conversion rate: 43.3 (8th)
Sacks allowed: 2 (t-1st)
Sack rate (sacks allowed per pass attempt): 2.2% (1st)
Yards per carry: 5.2 (8th)
Rushing yards: 302 (9th)
Yards per 1st down play: 6.34 (3rd)
Passing yards per game: 262 (2nd)
Red zone possessions: 11 (t-1st)
It’s that last one where the Lions have been most disappointing through the first two games. No team has had more offensive possessions drive into the opposing red zone (inside the 20-yard line) than Detroit. In those 11 red zone trips, the Lions have managed just three touchdowns.
Scoring offense: 21 PPG (16th)
The 27.3 touchdown percentage in the red zone ranks 28th through two weeks. Only Denver, Dallas, Pittsburgh and Seattle have been worse at converting touchdowns inside the red zone. Add in field goals, where Jake Bates has been a perfect 5-for-5 inside the red zone, and the Lions have scored points on 8-of-11 red zone trips.
The three empty red zone possessions are the most in the league. They’re the primary reason why the Lions are 1-1 — and needed overtime for the win — instead of 2-0 with the NFL’s 13th-ranked scoring defense.
