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NFL Analyst Says the Lions Could Soon Be Back on Top of the NFC North if This Defense Holds Up
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- NFL Analyst Says the Lions Could Soon Be Back on Top of the NFC North if This Defense Holds Up
Fifteen points is the fewest the Detroit Lions have allowed all season, and they held the NFL's last unbeaten team to that number Sunday at Ford Field. John Breech of CBS Sports gave Detroit a B+ in his Week 8 grades for every team after the 19-15 win over Minnesota , and his conclusion reached well past one afternoon: if the defense looks anything like this going forward, the Lions could soon be back on top of the NFC North.
That's a big if for a unit that entered the weekend with what Breech called the league's worst pass defense through seven weeks. Kyler Murray finished 17 of 29 for 210 yards with two touchdown passes and an interception, and he was sacked three times, once each by Jimmy Rolder, Alim McNeill and Skyler Gill-Howard.
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D.J. Reed swung the first half
Nov 1, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (27) runs against Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed (4) during the fourth quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images
Detroit trailed 7-3 and had done little against Brian Flores' blitz-heavy defense when D.J. Reed picked off Murray with 1:47 left in the second quarter. Jake Bates turned it into a 37-yard field goal with two seconds left, cutting the halftime deficit to 7-6. Reed, whom we pegged as part of the fix for this defense, later broke up a fourth-and-5 throw to Jordan Addison at the Detroit 25 to end an 11-play drive. He finished with three pass breakups before leaving with a hip injury.
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"It took all phases, but it needed to start in two phases and that was our defense and (special) teams," Lions coach Dan Campbell said after the win .
Minnesota's defense held up its end for a while. Andrew Van Ginkel sacked Jared Goff 2.5 times, Eric Wilson added a sack among his 11 tackles and James Pierre handed Goff his first interception of the season. Then Jahmyr Gibbs wore them down, carrying 23 times for 153 yards, and CBS has 63 of those yards coming in the fourth quarter. Breech noted Gibbs is the first player since 2011 with 150 rushing yards against a team that entered 6-0 or better. His 30-yard touchdown run put Detroit up 12-7 late in the third quarter, and three carries for 35 yards on the final drive set up Jameson Williams' 7-yard touchdown catch with 4:35 left. PFF graded Gibbs at 82.9 for the game, and Reed's 88.2 led every Lions defender.
Health will decide how long it lasts
Nov 1, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) reacts after linebacker Jack Campbell (not pictured) was injured during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
Minnesota sits at 6-1, with Detroit and Chicago at 5-2 in the NFC North standings and the Lions holding the head-to-head win. Ten days ago, another analyst called this defense too problematic to chase the Vikings. Breech's take also depends on health. Linebacker Jack Campbell was taken to a hospital with a neck injury, while Brian Branch, D.J. Wonnum, Rolder and Reed all left with injuries of their own.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Nov 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
