Only three teams in the NFL have a perfect record intact through three weeks. The defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers and the breakout Buffalo Bills are two. The third, and probably the most unexpected of the three, is the Detroit Lions. Detroit has been abysmal in recent years, winning only eight games over the past three seasons, but the Lions are definitely the NFL's biggest surprise story of 2011.
In their season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Lions managed to pull out a tight 27-20 victory on the road, finally giving their deprived fans something to cheer about. Detroit made an even stronger statement in week two, as quarterback Matthew Stafford threw four touchdowns en route to a 48-3 massacre of the Kansas City Chiefs. On Sunday, the Lions were able to erase a 20-0 halftime deficit against division rival Minnesota to win in overtime, 26-23. This win was monumental to Detroit not only because it solidified the Lions' first 3-0 start since the 1980 season — eight years before Stafford was born — but because it marked their first victory at the Metrodome since 1997.
One of the keys to the Lions' success this season has been the stellar play of Stafford, Detroit's third-year quarterback. Stafford is among the top five in most major quarterback statistics so far this year, including passing yards, touchdowns and completions. As for his quarterback rating, Stafford sits third in the league, trailing only Pro Bowlers Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady.
How has Stafford resurrected what has been to this point a disappointing and underachieving career? The answer may lie within head coach Jim Schwartz's playbook. This offseason, Schwartz simplified the Lions' offensive playbook and installed a no-huddle offense, which has been rapidly spreading throughout the NFL due to the success of the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts, who have seemingly perfected it.
This new offensive game plan has had many positive effects on the way the Lions, and Stafford in particular, have played. Having a simpler playbook is advantageous to an inexperienced quarterback like Stafford, and the no-huddle offense increases the pace of the game, which certainly works in favor of the young and athletic Detroit offense. Most importantly, the new offense has given Stafford the chance to establish himself as a leader on the team while gaining confidence and experience.
In addition to the new offensive strategy, Stafford has benefited from throwing to one of the premier receivers in the league, Calvin Johnson. At 6-foot-5, Johnson is widely known for his pure athleticism and speed, and he has ranked among the top receivers in the league over the past few years. On Sunday, Johnson hauled in seven catches for 108 yards and two touchdowns to lead Detroit to a comeback victory.
Johnson has now caught two touchdown passes in each of the Lions' first three games this season, becoming the first player to do so in the history of the NFL. The only two players beside Johnson to have caught multiple touchdowns in three straight games at any point in a season are future Hall of Famer Randy Moss and the position's gold standard, Jerry Rice. Doubters of Johnson's receiving abilities need only to watch his spectacular, diving, over-the-shoulder 40-yard reception in overtime of Sunday's game, which set the Lions up for a game winning 32-yard field goal.
The duo of Stafford and Johnson, however, hasn't been the only key to Detroit's success. The Lions' defense has allowed only 46 points through three games, good for third in the league behind only the Baltimore Ravens and the Tennessee Titans. Former Titans defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch has been a wrecking force on the defensive side of the ball, racking up three sacks so far. Linebacker Justin Durant has anchored the defense with 21 tackles, while defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has continued to impress, wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks and running backs with two sacks and nine tackles.
The Lions have also been dominant this season in an often overlooked aspect of football, special teams. Detroit's kicker, Jason Hanson, now in his 20th season with the Lions, is a perfect eight-for-eight in field goal attempts, including two field goals of over 50 yards and a 32-yard game-winning boot in overtime against the Vikings. Having a quality kicker like Hanson has allowed the Lions to take more risks offensively, knowing that they can rely on the veteran to consistently hit field goals from long distances.
It's easy to see why Lions fans are excited, even though it's still early in the season. Detroit hasn't supported a winning football team since the 2000-2001 season, and fans haven't been able to cheer on their team in postseason play since 1999. But if Stafford can stay healthy and the young stars of the Lions can continue to play smart, fundamental football, Detroit looks poised to make a postseason appearance, and has the potential to make some serious noise in the playoffs this January.
