The Detroit Lions defense is still a work in progress in 2018. Two new starting linebackers, two new starting defensive linemen and one continually injured star defensive end. Despite the changes, the weakness from 2017 has carried over into this season.
After former Lions defensive tackle Haloti Ngata went down with an injury early in 2017, the teeth of the defense in the trenches disappeared. Teams ran at will against the Honolulu blue. With Ngata now playing for the Philadelphia Eagles, the hole he left last year remains.
Sunday’s game versus running back Ezekiel Elliot and the Dallas Cowboys shed a brighter light on the lack of run defense in this Detroit Lions unit.