Forget last week, says Aaron Glenn. "Those games happen in this league." Look at Detroit's defense this season. It's still one of the top units in the NFL.
"Listen, we know who we are," Glenn said Thursday. "Man, last year we were the last-ranked defense and we’re a top-10-ranked defense this year. That’s a really huge improvement. So as far as knowing who we are, we know we have the capabilities to go out there and play really, really good ball."
The Lions' defense was torched last week, only to be bailed out by the offense in the team's 41-38 win over the Chargers. Justin Herbert had one of his best games of the season in throwing for 323 yards and four touchdowns and the Lions never had an answer for receiver Keen Allen. After being limited to one field goal on their first four drives, the Chargers turned their last five into touchdowns. It was an offensive clinic from the second quarter to the end of the game.
Still, Glenn has a point. Through 10 weeks, the Lions rank ninth in the NFL in total defense, up from dead last a year ago, buoyed by the third-ranked run defense, up from 29th. They also rank seventh in third down defense, up from 30th. Based on recent history, their defense is championship caliber. The last five Super Bowl winners ranked 11th, 17th, 6th, 17th and 21st in total defense. Combined with their No. 2-ranked offense, the Lions are indeed a threat.
"So many people get caught up in, ‘This is what happened in this game, against a really good quarterback' and all hell breaks loose. Well, no, it didn’t. Guys, we’re still a pretty damn good defense. We’ve played some good defense this year and man, get that out your head from everything that you’ve seen, what you read. Just understand what we’ve done and what we’re doing and focus on that.”
The biggest area of concern for the Lions is the pass rush. While they've generated pressure for most of the season, ranking third in QB hurry rate, they haven't gotten home as much as they'd like. They have 18 sacks in three games, and just three in their six others. They were shut out last week for the third time this season, as big a reason as any why Herbert was so productive.
The Lions declined to add any defensive help at the trade deadline, when several pass rushers were on the move. Asked if Detroit's defense has the personnel it needs, Glenn said, "We play football. And it’s not like you’re going to go out and get Deion Sanders right now."
"Listen, the guys that we have have put us in a position. We’re a top-10 defense. So I don’t even look into that. I think that’s one of the stupidest things you can think about," said Glenn.
The Lions did add to their edge rushing department this week by signing veteran free agent Bruce Irvin, who has 55.5 sacks in 11 NFL seasons. It will tale Irvin some time to get into game shape having not played a snap since the end of last season, but he has the athleticism and know-how to give the Lions a boost.
"He’s been around for a long time," said Glenn. "He’s a good pass-rusher, so we’re going to utilize that. We’re going to utilize the brain, we’re going to utilize the pass rush as much as we can. We just have to get him in shape and get him ready to go.”
Asked if Irvin's attitude can bring an edge to the Lions' defense, Glenn said, "Well, we have an edge, too. You don’t become a top run defense without an edge."
That run defense will be put to the test on Sunday. The Bears come to Detroit with the fifth-ranked rushing offense in the NFL, including a quarterback in Justin Fields who has given the Lions fits with his legs. Fields, set to return Sunday after missing the past four games with a thumb injury, rushed for 279 yards in two games against Detroit last season. What did Glenn learn about Fields in those games?
"Yeah, don’t let him do that. I mean, that’s simple. Again, we talk about it as much as we can and listen, our guys fight their butts off to make sure he doesn't, but this guy is an elite, elite athlete," said Glenn. "It doesn’t matter who you are. The thing is, we have to do a good job of making sure we have population to the ball."
It figures to be a much different game than last week for Detroit's defense, whose primary charge will be containing Fields and running backs D'Onta Foreman and Khalil Herbert, if the latter returns from injured reserve. Despite the Bears' 3-7 record, Glenn said "they’re really playing well on tape, I’m just telling you. I wouldn’t say their record really is a true measure of who this team is."
"It’s going to be a challenge for us and we know that," said Glenn. "We know what Foreman brings to the table, we know what Herbert brings to the table and we damn sure know what the quarterback brings to the table, so we’ve just got to be good in those areas.”
As for last week, it was a bad data point in a mostly positive scatterplot for Detroit's defense. The Lions are leaving it behind them, and looking ahead.
"Again, this is not peewee football, fellas," said Glenn. "This is the NFL, so things happen. And man, you fight your ass off every week to make sure it doesn’t (happen again). And our guys do a damn good job of that."