Lions Chase Energy in Munich as Pass Protection Falters
Detroit acquires a veteran safety to bolster its defense while the offense struggles to protect its quarterback ahead of a transatlantic trip.
By Abigail Brooks ·
The Detroit Lions left Allen Park on Monday with a new safety and a clear directive to prioritize on-field performance over transatlantic logistics.
Head coach Dan Campbell told reporters that the team will practice at its facility on Wednesday and Thursday before flying to Munich. That schedule provides roughly 48 hours for the roster to adjust to the time difference before kickoff. Campbell said the focus remains on the New England Patriots, a team he described as good but prone to costly turnovers. "The team with the most energy has got a good chance of winning this game," Campbell said.
To address defensive needs, the Lions acquired Andre Cisco from the New York Jets. Cisco, a 2021 third-round pick out of Jacksonville, has started four games this season. He previously made 59 starts for the Jaguars. Campbell noted that Cisco is athletic, versatile, and already familiar with the Lions' defensive vocabulary. The move aims to strengthen a pass defense that has held opponents to 21 points or fewer in four straight games, a feat Detroit has not accomplished since 2016.
The defense dominated Sunday's 19-9 victory over Miami. The Lions limited the Dolphins to 182 total yards and 77 on the ground. They kept Miami out of the end zone and recorded three sacks. Chuck Clark intercepted a pass in the third quarter, which set up a field goal. Jake Bates converted all four field goal attempts and one extra point, accounting for 13 of the team's 19 points. Bates, a third-year kicker, has now made 16 of 17 field goal attempts and all 23 extra points this season. He is the first player in franchise history to score at least seven points in each of the first eight games.
Offensive line issues persist. Jared Goff was sacked four times against Miami, marking the second consecutive game of heavy pressure. Rookie Miles Frazier struggled at left guard after replacing Christian Mahogany. Mahogany was benched for disciplinary reasons despite not allowing a sack in 197 pass-blocking snaps this season. Campbell said he spoke with Mahogany on Monday morning and that the ball is in the guard's court regarding his status for the next game.
The Lions' streak of 30 consecutive regular-season games with at least one touchdown pass by Goff ended in the Miami loss. That was the longest such streak since Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City achieved 31 straight games from October 2019 to October 2021.
Detroit will face New England in Germany. The Patriots have lost two of their last three games, allowing 45 points to Green Bay and 30 to Chicago during that stretch. The Lions arrive in Munich without reporting new injuries from Sunday, though they remain without center Cade Mays, cornerback D.J. Reed, edge rusher DJ Wonnum, and linebacker Jack Campbell.
