Chiefs vs. Lions: 4 Second-Half Adjustments Detroit Must Make

As the second half winds down, the Detroit Lions lead the Kansas City Chiefs 14-3.

But this game has been nowhere near as dominant as that score would suggest. I don't imagine Jim Schwartz is going to head to the locker room and congratulate his team on a perfect first half.

There is plenty to work on to protect this lead. The Lions have actually played a mistake-ridden first half and are fortunate to be leading right now.

Here's a few things Schwartz may have the team address at halftime to keep that lead intact.

Shore Up the Run Defense

This has to be priority No. 1 for the Lions at halftime.

After giving up only 59 rushing yards to Tampa Bay last week, the Lions gave up more than that on the Chiefs' first drive. Matt Cassel didn't even need to pass the ball to get Kansas City in field goal range.

Even with the early injury to Jamaal Charles, the Lions have been gashed on the ground all day. They need to shore that up and make Cassel beat them.

Protect Matthew Stafford

Despite some decent offensive production early, Matthew Stafford has gotten hit all day. Even on the Lions' first possession, pressure forced Stafford into an ill-advised interception.

The Chiefs secondary has stepped up and knocked down a couple of passes, but the pressure has kept him from getting into a groove all day.

I don't know if the Lions want to hold in some additional protection, but Stafford can't keep being hurried and pressured.

Improve Tackling

The Lions are swarming to the ball today, but over-pursue seems to be the buzzword of the day.

Multiple times today, Lion defenders have been in the vicinity to make the play, but failed to break down, allowing the offensive player to run right by.

Aggressive defense is a good thing, but so is making a tackle. 

Stay Home on the End-Around

Normally, the end-around is a gadget play. Teams don't typically run it more than a time or two per game.

With the kind of pressure the Lions have brought up the middle, the Chiefs seem to be countering it with a steady diet of reverses. The Lions will want to keep an eye on it in the second half, because the Chiefs have turned the play into a huge gain every time they've tried it.