Detroit Lions: Why the Running Game Must Perform in Week 17

Kevin Smith has occasionally provided the type of balance that the Detroit Lions offense so desperately craves.

The passing game in Detroit is certainly elite.

In fact, it ranks fifth in the NFL with 287 yards per game, while quarterback Matthew Stafford has thrown for 4518 yards and 36 touchdowns this season.

That being said, the Lions still need a running game in order to find consistent success.

Detroit has won each of their last three games in which Smith has garnered at least 15 carries.

They are winless in the three games in which he has under 10 carries.

Playoff defenses will simply be too good to allow the Lions to beat them through the air for four quarters.

In meetings this season with the playoff-bound Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints, Matthew Stafford attempted a minimum of 44 pass attempts.

Stafford and Calvin Johnson are clearly the Lions' offensive bread and butter, and still need to perform well for the Lions to have continued success.

However, production must be found out of the backfield as well and Week 17 will solidify this theory.

The Lions have their second crack at the Packers and while Green Bay may or may not rest starters, Detroit still has a great opportunity to see how Smith handles a heavy workload against a great defense.

Trying to out-throw Aaron Rodgers on Thanksgiving Day proved to be a flawed plan as Rodgers passed for more yards and touchdowns than Stafford on 12 fewer attempts.

This time around, the opportunity is ripe to showcase the balance that this offense has the capability to possess, but has been so reluctant to utilize.

Detroit still has playoff positioning to work for, and perhaps for the first time this season, putting the workload on the running game is the best way to do that.