Detroit Lions vs. New England Patriots: What Are Experts Saying About Detroit?

After a disheartening loss, are the experts still on board with the Detroit Lions as they prepare for the New England Patriots?

Perhaps the better question should center on whether these folks know what they're talking about.

Despite last week's defeat, the Lions still have six games to play and are in line for the second seed in the NFC. Not everyone remembers that the season didn't end in Glendale. 

So let's check out what people had to say about the Lions this week and then mercilessly determine if the opinions match the facts.

A Single Serving for Suh

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

There are people who know how to build a solid computer, and then there was Steve Jobs. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is generally revered on that level. 

Yet, much like Jobs, Belichick has the ability to raise eyebrows with his statements, such as this one via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press:

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As much as you try to double anybody, say Suh, sometimes you can't because the guy you would have doubling him has to block a blitzer in pass protection," Belichick said in transcripts provided by the Patriots. "They create some single matchups like that.

"

His point is easy to understand. Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin likes to give an offense a multitude of formations and follow with blitzes from creative angles. That strategy requires free offensive linemen to account for a surprise attacker or two, meaning the Pats can't focus solely on Suh.

However, one has to wonder if he'll change his tune after seeing how that worked for Miami. Suh crushed the Dolphins' first two offensive plays, forcing them to ditch their single-blocker-on-Suh approach.

The starting interior trio of center Bryan Stork, Dan Connolly and Ryan Wendell hasn't given up a single sack this year, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). But that doesn't mean those three can stare down a menace like Suh individually and neutralize him consistently.

Secondary Is a Primary Concern

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

Detroit's defense deservedly gets buried in praise as the best defense both yards- and points-wise. That doesn't mean anyone should overlook New England's defense, though.

As Chris Morgan of CBS Detroit points out, the Patriots have a stud of their own.

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At least this shouldn’t be as difficult of a game for the Lions’ offense. The Patriots are middling on defense, and they’ve had some issues in terms of injuries. However, they also have Darrelle Revis, perhaps the best defensive back in the NFL. He will likely match up with Calvin Johnson, and he could shut him down, at least to some degree. That would leave Golden Tate available, though, and he will need to bounce back after a bad game against the Cardinals.

"

Morgan does hit on the marquee matchup, but the Patriots secondary is the strength of the defense because there is more depth than meets the eye. 

Former Seahawk Brandon Browner is a behemoth corner at 6'4" and 221 pounds. His size allows him to match up well with tight ends, and he can make life difficult for Golden Tate with his long reach and 26-pound weight advantage.

Additionally, Devin McCourty, Logan Ryan, Patrick Chung and Kyle Arrington have all earned positive grades both overall and in coverage, per PFF. Detroit's inability to run the ball could force the Lions to play into New England's defensive strength, meaning points could be hard to come by again.

Growing Pains

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

The offense was the healthiest it had been in months last week. And the result was six points.

It's important to note that Arizona's athletic secondary made things difficult on the outside, and the constant blitzing overstressed the offensive line. It's also imperative to Golden Tate that everyone knows the offense is working toward a solution, as he told Michael Rothstein of ESPN.

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We’re still doing a lot of growing,” Tate said after an event at the Microsoft Store in Troy, Michigan. “We’re still trying to figure out the type of team, of offense that we want to be. We’re learning and the good news is we still have a long ways to go but we’re still sitting 7-3 with a really bright future.

“I think we can stay healthy and stay motivated and keep grinding, it’s all going to work out. We’re still learning and figuring things out.

"

One way to look at this is the offense has nowhere to go but up. Another is to wonder if offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi is the right parent to foster the unit to maturity.

We don't know yet. There may be some truth to Tate's statement. However, the next slide carries a much bigger question that needs to be answered before this offense gets off the ground.

Walk the Line

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Golden Tate's suggestion that health and familiarity both with the scheme and the returning players are the offense's issues has some credence. However, Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com pinpointed the real cause for the unit's trouble in his weekly column with Mike O'Hara.

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Everything starts upfront. Lombardi’s scheme is progression-based and that means Stafford has to have time to make the progressions. Yes, he can be quicker with his reads. Yes, receivers can do a better job separating from defenders earlier in routes. Yes, Lombardi can call a game that features shorter routes and quicker reads. But it all starts upfront.

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Bingo.

The offensive line has been pedestrian in every phase of the game. They get little to no push in the running game. Of Joique Bell's 85 yards against Arizona, 79 came after contact, as he often had to evade tacklers in the backfield.

Twentyman suggests that the offense could be tailored to skirt around the line's issues, but he illustrates how it would handcuff the offense. The line creates scenarios where the offense is limited to making short plays, much like the defense does to opponents.

No quarterback can accurately deliver the ball when he's consistently under duress. No running back will top 100 yards with unwanted visitors in the backfield.

It's that simple. And unfortunately, it may not be fixable with the current players on the roster. Lombardi's scheme requires more athleticism than this group has to offer.

Bleacher Feature

AJ Mast/Associated Press

Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport takes the temperature of the best our site has to offer each week for his expert roundup. Often, he features one of the writer's rationale while laying out the matchup and which team was chosen.

This week, Mr. Davenport quoted NFL Lead Writer Ty Schalter's explanation for his pick:

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Brady’s shaky performance against Indianapolis gave the Colts an opening, but the Colts’ poor tackling did them in. The Lions have the defense to both hassle Brady and stop the run, but they can’t get anything going on offense. Hard to pick against the Pats at home in late November, especially when they’re as hot as they’ve been.

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It's hard to fault the panel for picking arguably the best team in football. The Patriots stand atop the AFC and look primed for their sixth Super Bowl trip in 13 years.

Still, there are some cracks in the armor, as Schalter suggests. But that's all you'll get out of me today. Check back Friday morning for a complete preview of Detroit's toughest test of the season.

Brandon Alisoglu is a Detroit Lions Featured Columnist who has written about the Lions on multiple sites. He also co-hosts a Lions-centric podcast, Lions Central Radio. Yell at him on Twitter about how wrong he is @BrandonAlisoglu. 

All advanced stats, grades and positional rankings are courtesy of Pro Football Focus and require a subscription.