A classic football saying is “Any given Sunday”. The Detroit Lions are currently the epitome of that, as they're on an unlikely winning streak. Now they face the Kansas City Chiefs.
After tying with the Arizona Cardinals in week 1, Detroit knocked off both the Los Angeles Chargers and the Philadelphia Eagles. Both are presumed playoff teams, and the Lions are not.
Both times Detroit was a significant underdog, and both times they emerged with a victory. But week 4 brings an even bigger challenge, as Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs come to town. Despite their winning ways and their (oddly) undefeated record, the Lions will learn their place on Sunday.
In order to determine if the Lions can hang with the Chiefs, we have to look into their two victories. In Week 2 during their showdown with the Chargers, their win was more a case of the Bolts shooting themselves in the foot.
Chargers kicker Ty Long missed two field goals in the third quarter, and Philip Rivers tossed a game-sealing interception with under two minutes to go. Eliminate the Chargers mistakes, and the Lions would have taken a loss.
Detroit only won this game because of sloppy play from their opponent. Credit to Detroit for capitalizing, but this one should've been a Los Angeles victory.
The Lions' Week 3 victory was only slightly different from Week 2. They again benefited from undisciplined play from their opponent, and they again made the most of it. The Eagles were suffering from butterfingers when they played Detroit, and it cost them the game.
There were eight total drops by the Eagles receivers, and one of them came in a crucial moment. Rookie pass-catcher JJ Arcega-Whiteside let the game winning catch drop through his fingers. The Lions again escaped by the skin of their teeth against a team that seemingly couldn't get it together.
Those two wins are all well and good, but they don't mean much. The Chiefs are one of the most disciplined teams in football, especially on offense. There won't be many drops, fumbles, or missed kicks. Penalties will be few and far between.
Without these little boosts from the opposing team, the Lions will undoubtedly struggle. Stopping the Kansas City offense is pretty much impossible, and it'll definitely show. Detroit simply doesn't have the talent to contend with upper-echelon teams when the opponent plays disciplined football.
Sunday's game will be one-sided, but it won't be for the home team. An easy victory will come for the Chiefs, and they'll advance to 4-0.
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