Detroit Lions - A to Z Sports

The Detroit Lions' defense has taken plenty of criticism through the first two weeks of the 2026 season, but Mike Payton believes there are four defensive players who aren't getting nearly enough attention for how well they've played. Tyleik Williams is the first name on the list. Through two games, Williams has played 82 defensive snaps and owns an 81.3 Pro Football Focus grade, according to Mike. He's been strong against the run while also generating pressure as a pass rusher. Mike then breaks down sixth-round pick Skyler Gill-Howard, who has already played 71 snaps and has been thrown into a much larger role than expected. Gill-Howard has four pressures and a quarterback hit, and Mike expects the rookie to start producing more as a pass rusher. Derrick Barnes may be the biggest surprise of the group. Barnes currently has an 83.6 coverage grade, an interception, a pass breakup, five pressures and two sacks through the first two games. Mike explains why Barnes is playing like the linebacker Lions fans hoped he would become. The final player is D.J. Reed, who Mike knows will be a controversial inclusion. After a difficult Week 1, Reed was targeted just once against Buffalo. Mike explains why he believes the Bills intentionally stayed away from Reed and why the Week 3 matchup against Reed's former team, the New York Jets, will be an important test. Mike also explains the bigger picture for Detroit's defense: he believes the defensive line and linebackers are in a good place, but the secondary still needs more help. Which Lions defensive player deserves more attention? Let Mike know in the comments. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Detroit for Detroit Lions news, analysis, roster updates, game reactions, film breakdowns and daily coverage throughout the 2026 season. #DetroitLions #OnePride #Lions #NFL Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For more LIONS coverage: Facebook: Instagram: Twitter/X: TikTok: 0:00 The Lions Have Defensive Bright Spots 1:35 Tyleik Williams Is Flying Under The Radar 2:15 Williams' PFF Grade & Pass Rush 3:07 The Play That Won The Saints Game 4:25 Williams Needs More Pass-Rush Opportunities 5:06 Skyler Gill-Howard Is Being Thrown Into The Fire 6:18 Gill-Howard's Biggest Area To Improve 7:32 Derrick Barnes Is BALLING 8:00 Barnes' Incredible Coverage Numbers 9:28 D.J. Reed Is Better Than Lions Fans Think 10:03 Why Buffalo Avoided D.J. Reed 10:57 Reed Gets His Former Team Next 11:36 The Lions Still Need Secondary Help #detroitlions #lionsnation #lionsfootball #detroitlionsnews

The Detroit Lions face one of their biggest tests of the season when they take on Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football. Mike Payton breaks down the matchup in the latest A to Z Sports Detroit Prediction Lab, including where the Lions can attack Buffalo, where the Bills can create problems, what will ultimately decide the game, and his final score prediction. Detroit's path to victory starts with the running game. The Lions need Jahmyr Gibbs to control the clock, keep Josh Allen and the Bills offense on the sideline, and force Buffalo's defense to defend long drives. But slowing down Buffalo will be a major challenge. Josh Allen is one of the NFL's most explosive quarterbacks, and the Bills have the ability to create huge plays through the air and on the ground. Buffalo's use of heavy personnel, including tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Jackson Hawes, creates matchup problems for opposing defenses. Mike explains why preventing explosive plays will be the biggest key for Detroit's defense. Can the Lions pressure Josh Allen? Can Detroit's secondary clean up after allowing big plays in Week 1? Can Jared Goff and the Lions offense keep pace in what could become a shootout? Mike gives his prediction for Lions vs Bills, including his final score. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Detroit for Detroit Lions news, analysis, game previews, postgame reactions, roster updates and everything Lions football. #DetroitLions #OnePride #Lions #NFL Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For more LIONS coverage: Facebook: Instagram: Twitter/X: TikTok:

Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: The Detroit Lions may have found two young defensive players who are going to play a much bigger role than expected in 2026. Mike Payton breaks down two of the biggest under-the-radar takeaways from Detroit's Week 1 win over the New Orleans Saints: Skyler Gill-Howard and Thomas Harper. Gill-Howard was one of the players Mike expected to become a bigger part of the Lions' defense as the season went along, but his Week 1 usage was surprising. The young defensive lineman played 47 snaps, including 31 pass-rush snaps, and showed that Detroit may already trust him in important situations. Mike also breaks down how the Lions used Gill-Howard differently from Tyleik Williams. Williams was more effective against the run, while Gill-Howard's pass-rushing ability made him a better fit as the game shifted toward stopping the Saints' passing attack. Then there's Thomas Harper. Harper played 54 snaps in Week 1, more than starting safety Chuck Clark, despite not entering the season as one of Detroit's starting safeties. Harper also made a big pass breakup and continued to show why the Lions valued him after his strong 2025 season. That creates a fascinating question for Detroit when Brian Branch and Kirby Joseph return. How do the Lions keep Harper and Chuck Clark involved when two of their best safeties come back? Mike explains why he believes Harper may have earned a much larger role than simply being a backup. Are Skyler Gill-Howard and Thomas Harper about to become major pieces of the Lions defense? Let us know what you think in the comments. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Detroit for Detroit Lions news, analysis, film breakdowns, roster updates and daily coverage throughout the 2026 season. Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For more LIONS coverage: Facebook: Instagram: Twitter/X: TikTok: 0:00 2 Young Lions Players Who Need More Snaps 0:47 Skyler Gill-Howard 1:27 Why Gill-Howard Played So Much 2:21 Gill-Howard's Pass Rush Role 3:40 Gill-Howard Could Be A Major Part Of This Defense 5:40 Thomas Harper 6:34 Harper's Huge Week 1 7:07 What Happens When Branch & Joseph Return? 8:16 The Lions Have A Safety Problem 9:09 Who Gets The Snaps? #detroitlions #lionsnation #lionsfootball #detroitlionsnews

The Detroit Lions may have a perfect opportunity to make a blockbuster move. Mike Payton explains why he believes the Lions should seriously consider trading for Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. Normally, Mike is the first person to push back on Lions fans wanting a massive trade for a star player. But this situation feels different. The Lions recently created additional salary cap flexibility, and Mike believes Detroit is positioned to make a move that could improve their roster immediately. The biggest question is whether the Lions should be willing to send a first-round pick to Pittsburgh for Porter. Mike breaks down why the move makes sense: Why the Lions' salary cap situation could allow this trade Why cornerback is the biggest remaining need Why Joey Porter Jr. could be better than a rookie first-round pick Why Detroit's future extension situation makes this possible Whether Brad Holmes should make the aggressive move Would you trade a first-round pick for Joey Porter Jr.? Let us know in the comments. ***** Subscribe to A to Z Sports Detroit for Detroit Lions news, analysis, film breakdowns and daily coverage. Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For more LIONS coverage: Facebook: Instagram: Twitter/X: TikTok: ****** 0:00 The Lions Should Trade For Joey Porter Jr. 1:00 Why This Trade Actually Makes Sense 2:16 The Lions Cap Situation 4:46 Can The Lions Pay Everyone? 5:45 What Would Pittsburgh Want? 6:39 Why A 1st Round Pick Makes Sense 8:15 Why The Lions Need Joey Porter Jr. 9:23 Brad Holmes Should Make This Move #detroitlions #lionsnation #lionsfootball #detroitlionsnews

The Detroit Lions opened the 2026 season with a win over the New Orleans Saints, but it wasn't exactly the cleanest performance from Dan Campbell's team. Mike Payton breaks down the biggest winners and losers from Detroit's Week 1 victory, including some players who made huge statements and others who left the Lions with questions heading into Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills. Jahmyr Gibbs was one of the biggest winners after taking on a massive workload and rushing for 156 yards and two touchdowns. The Lions leaned heavily on Gibbs, who also contributed in the passing game, and his performance showed just how important he could be to Detroit's offense this season. Derrick Barnes also had a huge game, recording an interception, a sack and a pass breakup. Aidan Hutchinson continued to make his presence felt with two sacks and constant pressure. Tay Martin was another major winner, making an impact on special teams with multiple big plays and a tackle for loss on a punt return. But there were also some major concerns. Jameson Williams struggled badly with drops despite making a huge catch in overtime that helped set up Detroit's game-winning touchdown. Christian Mahogany suffered an injury after finally winning the Lions' starting left guard job, while Isaac TeSlaa struggled to make an impact with opportunities to get the ball his way. Mike also examines Kelvin Sheppard and the Lions defense. Detroit forced three turnovers and recorded five sacks, but the defense struggled when it needed to close the game out late, including allowing a fourth-and-12 conversion that could have completely changed the outcome. So who were the biggest winners and losers from the Lions' Week 1 win? And should Lions fans actually be concerned about some of these problems? Mike breaks it all down before Detroit heads to Buffalo for Week 2. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Detroit for Detroit Lions news, analysis, film breakdowns, predictions and daily coverage throughout the 2026 season. Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For more LIONS coverage: Facebook: Instagram: Twitter/X: TikTok: 0:00 Lions Week 1 Winners & Losers 0:42 Derrick Barnes 1:26 Jahmyr Gibbs 3:07 Tay Martin 4:52 Aidan Hutchinson & Rock Ya-Sin 5:47 Jameson Williams 7:54 Christian Mahogany 8:55 Isaac TeSlaa 9:56 Kelvin Sheppard & the Lions Defense 11:21 Don't Overreact to Week 1 #detroitlions #lionsnation #lionsfootball #detroitlionsnews

Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For more LIONS coverage: Facebook: Instagram: Twitter/X: TikTok: The Detroit Lions open the 2026 NFL season against the New Orleans Saints, and Mike Payton sees one HUGE matchup advantage that could determine this game. New Orleans allowed 49 sacks last season, and that could be a major problem against a Lions defensive line that is deeper and more dangerous than it was a year ago. Aidan Hutchinson is going to command plenty of attention, but Mike believes Detroit has multiple other players who can take advantage of one-on-one opportunities, including D.J. Reader, Derrick Moore, Alim McNeill and others. But that's not the only thing that will decide Lions vs. Saints. New Orleans also has a defense capable of making Detroit uncomfortable. The Saints were fourth against the pass and third on third downs last season, and they are capable of disguising coverages and forcing quarterbacks into mistakes. That means Jared Goff and the Lions offense cannot afford to get impatient. If Detroit can't hit the explosive plays it wants, Mike believes the Lions need to be willing to take the underneath throws, get the ball to Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs, stay ahead of the sticks and avoid turnovers. The biggest key to the game could be early-down efficiency. Detroit cannot afford to repeatedly find itself in third-and-long against the Saints defense. The Lions need to get the running game going, stay in manageable situations and avoid the self-inflicted penalties and negative plays that can derail drives. Mike also gives his official Lions vs. Saints prediction, including his score and his biggest individual player predictions. His final prediction: Detroit Lions 31, New Orleans Saints 20. Mike is also predicting at least two sacks for Aidan Hutchinson, 100+ receiving yards and a touchdown for Amon-Ra St. Brown, and a big rushing performance from Jahmyr Gibbs. Who wins Lions vs. Saints? Let us know your prediction in the comments. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Detroit for Detroit Lions news, analysis, predictions, game breakdowns and everything you need throughout the 2026 season. 0:00 Lions vs Saints Prediction Lab 1:22 Where can the Lions beat the Saints? 4:08 What can get the Lions beat? 7:00 What decides Lions vs Saints? 10:29 Mike Payton's official prediction 10:50 Mike's player predictions #DetroitLions #OnePride #Lions #NFL #LionsVsSaints

HOW TO ENTER: 1. Visit and make sure A to Z Sports is checked 2. Comment GO LIONS below! If selected, you must be able to verify that A to Z Sports was selected as a preferred source. A to Z Sports Giveaway Terms & Conditions: ***** The Detroit Lions have a lot of talent heading into the 2026 NFL season, but three under-the-radar statistical trends could have a huge impact on how good this team actually is. Mike Payton breaks down three numbers that the Lions need to improve if they want to get back to being one of the NFL's toughest teams to stop. First is third-down conversion rate. The Lions converted just 38.8% of their third downs last season, a major drop from the 47.6% they posted in 2024. Mike explains why that decline quietly damaged Detroit's offense and why getting back into the 40% range could make a major difference. Next is red-zone efficiency. Detroit converted 62.5% of its red-zone opportunities last season, down significantly from 69.4% in 2024. The Lions were still one of the NFL's most explosive offenses, but too many potential touchdowns turned into field goals instead. Finally, Mike looks at the number that could be most important for the defense: rushing yards allowed. The Lions went from allowing just 91.1 rushing yards per game in 2023 to 103 in 2024 and 114.5 in 2025. Mike explains why Detroit needs to get back into the top five in run defense and why stopping the run is more important than simply adding more sacks. If Detroit can improve its third-down offense, become more efficient in the red zone and get back to stopping the run, Mike believes the Lions could be extremely difficult to stop in 2026. Which of these three numbers do you think matters most? Let us know in the comments. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Detroit for Detroit Lions news, analysis, game breakdowns, roster updates and everything you need throughout the 2026 season. 0:00 3 stats that could change the Lions' season 1:11 Why aren't we talking about this? 1:51 The Lions' third-down problem 3:26 Detroit's red-zone problem 5:05 The defensive stat nobody is talking about 6:16 The Lions MUST stop the run 7:44 What the Lions' run defense looked like in camp 9:06 Why these 3 stats matter Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For more LIONS coverage: Facebook: Instagram: Twitter/X: TikTok: #detroitlions #lionsnation #lionsfootball #detroitlionsnews

HOW TO ENTER: 1. Visit and make sure A to Z Sports is checked 2. Comment GO LIONS below! If selected, you must be able to verify that A to Z Sports was selected as a preferred source. A to Z Sports Giveaway Terms & Conditions: ***** Mike Payton is admitting when he was WRONG about the Detroit Lions. After spending the entire summer watching Lions training camp and preseason, Mike is looking back at the players he didn't believe would make the team and the players he still believes he was right about. Mike admits he got several players wrong, including Sione Vaki, Brock Wright, Ennis Rakestraw, Eric O'Neal and Myles Frazier. Sione Vaki is the first player Mike revisits. He admits he put too much emphasis on Varkey's injury history and didn't give enough credit to the value Dan Campbell and the Lions placed on his special teams ability. Mike also explains why he initially questioned Brock Wright's place on the roster before realizing how much Detroit values him. Then there's Ennis Rakestraw, who Mike admits he jumped the gun on after an up-and-down training camp and multiple minor injuries. Mike now believes he underestimated how much potential the Lions still see in Rakestraw. Mike also discusses Eric O'Neal and Myles Frazier, including why he believes Frazier simply needs more development and why Detroit decided to keep O'Neal on the 53-man roster. But Mike isn't willing to admit he was wrong about everything. He still believes the Lions will eventually bring in another quarterback to compete with Josh Dobbs, and he's doubling down on his belief that Jackson Meeks will become an important part of Detroit's offense. And then there's Greg Dortch. Mike explains why Dortch's release remains one of the most shocking Lions roster decisions he's seen, why he doesn't believe Amon-Ra St. Brown's comments explain the decision, and what he thinks the Lions may have been thinking when they chose other players instead. Which Lions player did Mike get the most wrong? And which of his takes do YOU still think he's wrong about? Let us know in the comments. Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For more LIONS coverage: Facebook: Instagram: Twitter/X: TikTok: #detroitlions #lionsnation #lionsfootball #detroitlionsnews

HOW TO ENTER: 1. Visit and make sure A to Z Sports is checked 2. Comment GO LIONS below! If selected, you must be able to verify that A to Z Sports was selected as a preferred source. A to Z Sports Giveaway Terms & Conditions: ***** Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For more LIONS coverage: Facebook: Instagram: Twitter/X: TikTok: Week 1 is just days away, training camp is over, preseason is over, and Mike Payton is making his FINAL game-by-game prediction for the Lions' 2026 season. After everything Mike saw during training camp and the preseason, where will Detroit finish? Mike has the Lions going 12-5 and winning the NFC North. The season begins with a Week 1 matchup against the New Orleans Saints at Ford Field. Mike expects Detroit to start the season 1-0 before traveling to Buffalo for what he believes will be the Lions' biggest early-season defensive test. From there, Mike has Detroit beating the Jets, Panthers and Cardinals before entering the bye week at 4-1. The Lions then return home to face Green Bay before taking on the Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins and AFC champion New England Patriots in Germany. Mike has Detroit winning all four games and entering the Tampa Bay matchup at 8-1. That's where Mike has the Lions taking their first loss since Buffalo. Detroit then beats Chicago on Thanksgiving, Atlanta and Tennessee before dropping a road game to Minnesota. The Lions bounce back against the Giants, but Mike has Detroit losing to the Bears in Chicago in Week 17. The final game of the regular season is against Green Bay at Lambeau Field. Mike expects Detroit to already have the NFC North secured by that point and believes the Lions could rest their starters, resulting in a Week 18 loss. That leaves Detroit at 12-5 and headed to the playoffs as NFC North champions. Mike also explains why he believes the Lions' schedule sets up well, why Detroit could potentially have a strong advantage heading into the second half of the season, and why he still believes this is a team capable of winning the Super Bowl. Do you agree with Mike's 12-5 prediction? Drop your 2026 Lions record prediction in the comments. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Detroit for Detroit Lions news, analysis, game predictions, roster breakdowns, and everything you need throughout the 2026 NFL season. 0:00 Mike's FINAL Lions prediction 1:03 Lions jersey giveaway 2:05 Week 1 vs. Saints 3:25 Week 2 at Bills 5:46 Week 3 vs. Jets 7:49 Week 4 at Panthers 8:26 Week 5 at Cardinals 9:50 Week 7 vs. Packers 10:51 Week 8 vs. Vikings 12:01 Week 9 at Dolphins 13:13 Week 10 at Patriots 14:47 Week 11 vs. Buccaneers 15:50 Week 12 vs. Bears 17:58 Week 13 at Falcons 19:29 Week 14 vs. Titans 20:27 Week 15 at Vikings 21:19 Week 16 vs. Giants 22:28 Week 17 at Bears 23:19 Week 18 vs. Packers 23:49 Final record: 12-5 #detroitlions #lionsnation #lionsfootball #detroitlionsnews

HOW TO ENTER: 1. Visit and make sure A to Z Sports is checked 2. Comment GO LIONS below! If selected, you must be able to verify that A to Z Sports was selected as a preferred source. A to Z Sports Giveaway Terms & Conditions: ***** The Detroit Lions are officially moving from training camp and preseason into Week 1 preparation, but Brad Holmes' end-of-summer press conference revealed several important storylines surrounding this roster. Mike Payton breaks down the biggest takeaways from Brad Holmes' comments, including the Lions' wide receiver situation, the mystery surrounding Greg Dortch, Terry Arnold's situation, Isaiah Pacheco's timeline, Detroit's improved pass rush, and the impact of this rookie class. Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For more LIONS coverage: Facebook: Instagram: Twitter/X: TikTok: The biggest question remains at wide receiver. The Lions only currently have four wide receivers on their 53-man roster, and Dan Campbell suggested Detroit could continue exploring options either internally with players like Tom Kennedy, Dominic Lovett, and Lucky Jackson, or externally through free agency. Mike explains why the Greg Dortch situation remains one of the strangest roster decisions of the offseason. Mike also discusses Terry Arnold's situation and whether Detroit did enough to replace him. While some fans questioned the move, Mike explains why he believes the Lions may have actually improved through addition by subtraction while still acknowledging the depth questions at cornerback. The health of Isaiah Pacheco is another major storyline. Detroit has confidence in its running back room, but there is still no clear timeline for when Pacheco will return after dealing with injuries throughout training camp. The biggest positive takeaway? The Lions appear to have accomplished their offseason goal of adding more pass rush juice. Mike breaks down how additions like D.J. Wonnum, Derrick Moore, Skyler Gill-Howard, and the return of Alim McNeill have changed Detroit's defensive identity heading into the season. Plus, Mike explains why this rookie class feels different than previous Lions draft classes and why Detroit appears ready to ask young players to contribute immediately as a contender. What was your biggest takeaway from Brad Holmes' press conference? 0:00 Brad Holmes' biggest Lions takeaways 0:30 Lions jersey giveaway 1:03 The Lions aren't done at wide receiver 2:37 Did Detroit make the right Terry Arnold decision? 5:00 Isaiah Pacheco's uncertain timeline 6:15 The Lions finally fixed their pass rush 8:32 Skyler Gill-Howard and the rookie class impact 9:46 Final thoughts before Week 1 #detroitlions #lionsnation #lionsfootball #detroitlionsnews