The Lions’ dominant victory over Carolina is what elite teams do against struggling squads with young quarterbacks like Bryce Young at home.
Remember the “bad old days” when the Lions were routinely carved up by mediocre and/or young quarterbacks? Or when an injury or two would throw the Lions completely out-of-whack?
Certainly, a strong case can be made the Lions are far from ranking among the NFL’s elite. They didn’t even make the playoffs last season.
Yet, it looks like the Lions are on their way. They have won 12 of their last 15 games dating back to last season, and it’s becoming increasingly clear there is nothing flukey about it.
Sunday’s victory presents more evidence. It was a game the Lions were expected to win easily, and they did so methodically.
It was more proof of the effectiveness of general manager Brad Holmes’ roster building, and the capability of head coach Dan Campbell and his staff to develop young players.
The Lions’ drafts, and in the case of cornerback Jerry Jacobs, undrafted free agent signings, have provided both quantity and quality.
Aidan Hutchinson is exceptional. His spectacular one-hand interception quelled any real hope for the hapless Panthers. Offensive tackle Penei Sewell leads a meat-grinding ground attack that perfectly suits running back David Montgomery.
Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and cornerback Brian Branch, while not first-round draft picks like Hutchinson and Sewell, are similar caliber young players. Neither participated Sunday, though, because of injury.
Did it matter?
That’s where the quantity comes in. The Lions have excellent depth, and their coaching staff is astute at coming up with Plan B.
No St. Brown? OK, that meant leaning more on rookie tight end Sam LaPorta. He responded with two touchdown receptions. Quarterback Jared Goff, who was again steady as it goes, routinely spread the ball to eight different receivers.
With Jahmyr Gibbs out, the Lions just continually hammered Montgomery inside. Is there any doubt at this point, by the way, whether he is an upgrade from Jamaal Williams?
The Lions entered this season counting heavily on veteran safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, each highly-celebrated free agent acquisitions. They have hardly played. Still, the Lions have overcome.
It’s a sign the Lions, although they remain a work in progress, have been constructed the right way. They are, at minimum, already very good.
And they just might be elite much sooner than anticipated.