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Larry Borom, Ben Bartch Struggles vs. Bills Spotlight Lions' Shaky Offensive Line Depth
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- Larry Borom, Ben Bartch Struggles vs. Bills Spotlight Lions' Shaky Offensive Line Depth
The Detroit Lions suffered their first loss of the 2026 NFL season on Thursday night, falling to the Buffalo Bills 41-31 on the road.
Detroit never held a lead against Buffalo, and there are a number of units to blame. However, the poor performance from the offensive line, especially left guard Ben Bartch and right tackle Larry Borom , gave the Lions no chance to pull off a road upset.
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Borom and Bartch were thrust into starting roles on a short week with Blake Miller and Christian Mahogany out with injuries . Detroit likely expected some drop-off in play but couldn't imagine how much of a liability both players would end up being.
Borom and Bartch's Performances Could Lead Lions to Push Panic Button on Offensive Line Depth
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Ben Bartch (78), left, and offensive line coach Hank Fraley after practice during training camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Wednesday, July 29, 2026.
Both Borom and Bartch played all 65 snaps on Thursday and struggled to keep pressure off quarterback Jared Goff . Borom allowed two sacks and 11 quarterback pressures with a 35.3 Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade , while Bartch surrendered six quarterback pressures with a 13.5 pass-blocking grade. Neither was very effective in the run game, either.
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Entering the season, Borom and Bartch were expected to be the Lions' top depth offensive linemen , and veterans Detroit could rely upon. They did the exact opposite in Week 2, and their play should make general manager Brad Holmes explore the offensive line market.
The Lions can't afford to have poor offensive line depth doom them in 2026, especially with the offense still possessing elite talent at multiple positions. If neither Miller nor Mahogany is ready to return next week, Detroit can't go another game starting Borom and Bartch at two key positions up front.
Detroit will look to bounce back in Week 3 against the New York Jets , and hopefully Miller and Mahogany are cleared from their injuries and ready to provide adequate play after the disaster from Borom and Bartch in prime time.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Sep 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
