Detroit Lions: 7 Players To Keep Your Eye on in Week 2

If the Detroit Lions are going to build on their early success with a Week 2 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, they’ll need some outstanding individual efforts.

The Lions' Week 1 dismantling of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road was the first step in justifying all of the preseason hype, but its meaning will be diminished if Detroit can't bring home a win this week.

Although the Chiefs are not the all-around team that the Bucs are, some of the individual matchups will prove more challenging for the Lions. Detroit will look for its studs to step up and deliver a victory in the home opener.

Matthew Stafford

Matthew Stafford was terrific against Tampa Bay, picking apart the Bucs secondary with surgical efficiency. He hooked up with eight different receivers, and connected on nearly 73% of his passes. Save for one mistake, which Aqib Talib took to the house, Stafford was as advertised.

But one game does not a season make. Stafford has shown plenty of flashes throughout his career. His problem has been consistency.

This week, the Chiefs are an easy target. With Eric Berry out, the Kansas City secondary is crippled.

This is exactly the type of situation in which Stafford must flourish. There’s no reason that he shouldn’t put up an even better performance in Week 2, and there’s no reason that the Lions shouldn't enter Week 3 at 2-0.

Look for Stafford to throw for over 300 yards, along with at least two touchdowns.

Calvin Johnson

Carlos Monarrez and Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press are reporting that, though Calvin Johnson has missed practice this week due to an ankle injury, he fully expects to take the field on Sunday.

Good news for the Lions, not so much for the Chiefs.

With safety Eric Berry out, the Kansas City secondary is depleted. Brandon Flowers is already over-matched trying to contain Megatron, but with Berry injured, the Kansas City defense will be putty in Johnson’s hands.

Against Aqib Talib, one of the best corners in the NFL, Calvin Johnson caught six passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns. Johnson may not equal his TD production from a week ago, but he will certainly top 100 yards receiving this Sunday.

Stephen Tulloch

In Week 1, Stephen Tulloch was a revelation for the Lions. He flew voraciously from sideline to sideline, racking up 4 solo tackles, including a sack of Bucs QB Josh Freeman.

In Week 2, Tulloch will be faced with a much more difficult challenge.

Jamaal Charles is the straw that stirs the drink for the Kansas City Chiefs. He is shifty, slippery and explosive, the type of back that can go the distance any time he gets his hands on the ball.

While the responsibility won’t reside completely with Tulloch, he will be a key in the Lions’ plan to contain Charles. The rest of the Detroit defense will do their best to funnel Charles back to the inside, where Tulloch will undoubtedly be waiting to wrap him up.

Tulloch is one of the better tacklers in football, and he’ll have to be every bit of that on Sunday.

Jahvid Best

Jahvid Best is a powder keg, an explosion waiting to happen.

In Week 1, he just couldn’t find a spark.

Best turned 25 touches into 114 total yards against Tampa Bay. An average of nearly 4.6 yards per touch is solid, but it’s far from explosive.

Though he wasn't able to go the distance, Best did prove that he's healthy. Just the fact that he can handle 25 touches in one game is fantastic news for the Lions.

The Chiefs have a solid front seven, but if Best is able to break into the secondary, Kansas City doesn’t have a player with the speed and tackling ability to track him down.

Once again, the Lions will make every effort to feed the ball to Jahvid Best. Once again, he’ll get his 20-25 touches, but this time he’ll take one the distance. 

Chris Houston

Chris Houston was outstanding in Week 1 against Tampa Bay, leading the team in tackles, knocking down three passes and intercepting another. Still, Houston will have his work cut out for him in Week 2.

While Dwayne Bowe is as overrated as they come in fantasy circles, that doesn’t change the fact that at 6’2” and 220 pounds, he presents some serious problems for opposing cornerbacks. Bowe has three inches and over 40 pounds on Houston.

Analysts have rightly called out the Detroit secondary as an Achilles heel since the start of preseason, but if Houston can establish himself as a shutdown corner, the Lions D would be without a weakness.

Given his history, I’m not optimistic. Bowe’s production will depend directly on his quarterback’s health, but if Cassel is able to play at least one half, he will top 60 yards receiving and find his way into the end zone.

Jeff Backus

Jeff Backus and the rest of the offensive line did an outstanding job against the Bucs. Matthew Stafford was not touched in Week 1.

It was an excellent start, but things will get tougher in Week 2.

The Bucs don’t have an outside pass rusher the caliber of Tamba Hali. Hali has adjusted seamlessly to his new position as an outside linebacker, and is flourishing as a rush specialist.

For much of the game, Hali will be matched up against Backus. The Lions may look to use backs and tight ends to chip on the Chiefs' top pass rusher, but in many cases, Backus will be responsible for containing Hali on his own.

Assuming that Backus is fully recovered from the partially torn chest muscle that he suffered in the offseason, he should be able to contain Hali and keep Stafford's jersey clean.

Ndamukong Suh

“My prediction? Pain.”

I’d imagine that if asked about this week’s matchup with the Chiefs, specifically about Matt Cassel, Ndamukong Suh might quote Clubber Lang.

The Kansas City quarterback is nursing some sore ribs coming into Week 2. The Lions' defensive line, led by Suh, can already smell blood in the water.

The Chiefs have an above average offensive line, but even so, the Lions will make it a priority to get to Cassel early and often. Suh has already shown a mean streak, and I wouldn’t expect any mercy for Cassel.

Suh was able to hit Josh Freeman once in Week 1, but wasn’t able to record a sack. That will change in Week 2. Suh will sack Cassel at least once, and I’d be surprised if the Chiefs QB is able to finish the game.