3 Adjustments Detroit Lions Must Make in Week 3 Matchup with Broncos

The Detroit Lions are 0-2.

How many times have you read that this week along with a stat saying Detroit has barely better than a 1-in-10 chance of making the playoffs?

Don't fret, Lions fans. Michael Salfino of the Wall Street Journal has your back:

"

Since the NFL instituted a 16-game season in 1978, there have been 31 other teams to start 0-2 after winning at least 11 games the year before. Eight of these teams, roughly 26%, bounced back and made the playoffs despite the rough start. By comparison, 6.6% of teams that started 0-2 after winning four or fewer games the year before made the postseason.

"

Yes, he's saying there's a chance. However it will be completely wiped out if the Lions don't make three huge adjustments ahead of their matchup with the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

Make the Outside Linebackers the First Priority on Every Play

This rule goes without exception. There will never be a time during the game that Detroit can allow Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware to run free, even if the play rolls away from them.

They're too fast for that:

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This speed and bend around the edge is going to cause the Lions alot of trouble. Lucas and Reiff need to pl... https://t.co/9ohpRs9Ymc

— Nick Pursel (@Nick_Pursel) September 20, 2015"

Miller and Ware have menaced opposing quarterbacks through the first two weeks, piling up three sacks, eight quarterback hits and 16 hurries, per Pro Football Focus.

The Lions did receive some good news this week that should help. Starting right tackle LaAdrian Waddle will reportedly start, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, which would give Cornelius Lucas a much-needed night off.

Waddle's return, however, might be akin to setting a broken leg with a Band-Aid. Left tackle Riley Reiff has been only slightly better than Lucas, giving up 10 quarterback pressures so far, which is the worst such mark on the team:

Player	Sacks	QB Hits	Hurries
Cornelius Lucas	0	1	7
Travis Swanson	0	0	3
Riley Reiff	1	1	8
Manny Ramirez	0	1	2
Larry Warford	0	2	2
Laken Tomlinson	0	1	1

Brandon Pettigrew's health is of equal concern. The former first-rounder missed practice again Thursday, which casts his availability in doubt for a second straight game.

"

Matthew Stafford practicing without a problem for second straight day. Ziggy Ansah back. No Levy or Pettigrew

— Kyle Meinke (@kmeinke) September 24, 2015"

Detroit missed him terribly last week. With nobody to help on the outside, Everson Griffen and Brian Robison battered Matthew Stafford so effectively that I started to question if I could still enjoy watching football. 

The Lions desperately need their tight ends to help with pass protection this week. Stafford is a much better quarterback than he's shown this season, or so we'll continue to assume until he sees some protection.

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Set the Edge

Peyton Manning is also incredibly disturbed by pressure, which is probably why his completion percentage is down eight points and his passer rating has plummeted to 74.2. His patchwork offensive line consisting of Orlando Franklin, rookies and backups hasn't worked out one bit:

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#Peyton Manning is on pace to be pressured & hit almost 70% more than he was last year, according to QB-pressure stats compiled by PFF

— Sportsfeedia.com (@sportsfeedia) September 21, 2015"

So why are we talking about setting the edge?

Because this will be the gateway for pressure. Detroit must be able to unleash Ansah on rookie Ty Sambrailo and will need obvious passing downs to do so. It helps that Detroit needn't fear Manning taking off for first downs like Teddy Bridgewater.

The Lions struggled mightily to contain Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings. Many of the team's 199 yards came as the result of an overplayed hand by a defensive end or cornerback, with Peterson bouncing off his interior linemen and racing outside.

Therefore, Devin Taylor must be on the active roster this week. Darryl Tapp (6'1", 270 lbs) and Phillip Hunt (6'1", 258 lbs) are too small to handle this duty. And with Caraun Reid back, Detroit should be stouter in the middle than it was with Jermelle Cudjo, which makes the outside contain vital to stuffing Denver's zone-blocking rushing attack.

Leon Halip/Getty Images

Adapt

If nothing else, the coaching staff must adapt to the changing scenarios playing out on the field. The thought of offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and head coach Gary Kubiak in a chess match is scary, although the latter has cooped up Manning in his offense. 

Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com quotes Kubiak saying he'll "stay committed" to the offense he's "been doing...for a long time," which is always a great reason for continuing something. Or it's the definition of insanity. 

Kubiak could be playing coy, though. Sigmund Bloom of FootballGuys.com seems to think the Broncos will use a different approach after two rough offensive outings:

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Imagine we won't see much of the Kubiak system again this year. Would be great news for Manning/Thomas/Sanders https://t.co/0yqhIStOmA

— Sigmund Bloom (@SigmundBloom) September 18, 2015"

Obviously, Detroit has had its difficulties producing points as well, with a total of 10 offensive points (except for garbage time) in its last six quarters. Lombardi's unit has seen success when he lets Stafford wing it around, but he's been reluctant to cut the quarterback loose.

Plenty of that caution can be blamed on protection concerns. The offensive line has been brutal. However, there are other issues holding the offense back, like a willful avoidance of creativity:

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Lions have called pass on 39 (98%) Theo Riddick's 40 snaps this season. Sneaky tricksters.

— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) September 24, 2015"

Lombardi must do a better job of disguising his intentions. Let Ameer Abdullah run the ball two consecutive plays up the gut with Theo Riddick lined up in the pistol behind Stafford. At least do something to knock the other team on its heels.

Because the current scheme is transparent. Every time the Vikings stuffed an outside-zone run last week, the Lions were lined up in a variation of the I formation. Maybe it's nothing. Or maybe it's a tell.

Either way, Detroit can't continue to say everything will be all right. This home opener is as close to a must-win game as possible for this time of year, because a loss here could start to tear the locker room's fabric.

All advanced statistics, grades and positional rankings are courtesy of Pro Football Focus.

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.