Can Kelvin Sheppard fix the Detroit Lions defense against the New York Jets? Joe Chapp and James Nahikian break down the Lions-Jets Week 3 matchup and the changes Detroit must make on defense.

The discussion covers Detroit’s blitz and coverage problems, third-down and red-zone failures, communication breakdowns and whether the defense should return to more man coverage. Joe and James also examine Geno Smith, Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson, Blake Miller vs. David Bailey and the best offensive approach for Jared Goff and the Lions.

Plus: betting-line movement, early sharp action, game predictions and why this could be a prove-it game for Kelvin Sheppard.

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Odds and betting percentages were current at the time of recording.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to the Detroit Lions News Podcast 00:57 Fallout from the Buffalo loss 05:59 Why the Jets game is a defensive litmus test 09:23 Lions defense by the numbers 17:52 Man coverage, zone coverage and blitzing 21:26 Has Detroit’s defense been overworked? 28:34 Is another cornerback really the answer? 32:36 Using the pass to establish the run 38:19 Packers concerns and the NFC landscape 43:49 Is the Jets defense really elite? 44:58 Blake Miller vs. David Bailey 50:09 How Detroit should attack New York 53:52 The Jets’ ball-control formula 55:26 Detroit’s third-down and red-zone crisis 59:53 Is Kelvin Sheppard’s job under pressure? 1:08:11 Lions-Jets prediction 1:08:21 Betting line and sharp-money discussion 1:11:20 A referendum game for the defense 1:11:59 Detroit’s NFC North opportunity 1:15:17 Final thoughts

The Detroit Lions improve to 2-1 with a 31-24 win over the New York Jets.

Joe Chapp breaks down Jahmyr Gibbs’ huge three-touchdown performance, Jared Goff’s efficient afternoon, Detroit’s five-sack defensive effort and the improvements the Lions showed after a difficult start to the season.

We also discuss Christian Izien’s impact at safety, Blake Miller’s strong performance, the Lions’ improved pass protection and the defensive concerns that remain after New York scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.

Topics include:

• Jahmyr Gibbs: 99 rushing yards, 65 receiving yards and 3 total TDs • Jared Goff and Detroit’s passing offense • Lions offensive line and Blake Miller • Detroit’s 5 sacks and 7 QB hits • Christian Izien and the Lions secondary • Kelvin Sheppard’s defensive adjustments • Detroit’s red-zone defense • The Jets’ fourth-quarter comeback • What the Lions need to improve before facing Carolina

Detroit Lions News Podcast covers Lions news, analysis, previews and postgame reactions throughout the 2026 NFL season.

00:00 Lions Beat Jets 31-24 — Postgame Reaction 01:26 Detroit Wins Time of Possession & Controls the Game 03:09 Jahmyr Gibbs Takes Over — 3 Total Touchdowns 05:24 Lions Defense Shows Progress 06:55 Kelvin Sheppard & Second-Half Defensive Concerns 08:45 Red Zone Defense Still Needs Improvement 09:55 Christian Izien’s Huge Game at Safety 12:47 Ennis Rakestraw & Lions Secondary Step Up 13:53 Jets’ 14-Point Fourth-Quarter Comeback 14:21 Gibbs Scores the Go-Ahead Touchdown 15:48 Jared Goff’s Efficient Performance 16:29 Blake Miller Shuts Down David Bailey 17:51 Lions Stop the Jets’ Run Game 18:53 Looking Ahead to Panthers on Sunday Night Football 21:55 Why Detroit’s Defense Still Needs Time 22:59 Jared Goff Joins Elite NFL Company 23:38 Skyler Gill-Howard Gets Offensive Snaps 25:20 Final Thoughts on Lions 31, Jets 24

The Detroit Lions lose 41-31 in Orchard Park, and the defense is now allowing a touchdown on 67% of opponent drives since halftime of Week 1 — 10 touchdowns on 15 drives. We go through the full stat pack: zero three-and-outs forced, 5.6 yards per rush allowed, James Cook at 6.4 per carry, Buffalo 9-for-12 on third down and 5-for-5 in the red zone. Jared Goff threw for 327 and four touchdowns and it didn't matter.

Plus: the pass rush wasn't the problem (19 pressures), the coverage numbers by corner, Larry Borom's night in place of Blake Miller, and why the Jets game with Aaron Glenn on the other sideline is the real test.

0:00 Lions lose 41-31 1:20 10 touchdowns on 15 drives 7:20 Stop saying it's talent 10:20 The 1981 Colts comparison 16:45 Two-game defensive splits 25:50 The blitz problem 32:30 James Cook, 6.4 per carry 35:45 Aaron Glenn and the Jets trap game 41:00 Zero three-and-outs 42:45 Panthers, Bengals, historic comps 51:10 James's tweet 54:50 Pass rush pressure numbers 55:10 Coverage report by corner 57:15 Borom and the offensive line 58:45 Wrapping up

Lions 31, Saints 30 in overtime. Up 21-0 and it nearly got away — but the problem wasn't who everyone thinks it was.

James was at Ford Field. We go through the third-quarter snap chart, Tyler Shough's second half, Jahmyr Gibbs' workload, the Pacheco news, and what Kelvin Sheppard has to fix before Thursday night in Buffalo.

0:00 Intro: Saints at Ford Field, Bills on a short week 1:47 The Q3 snap chart — where the game turned 3:04 Tyler Shough's second half 4:41 James at Ford Field: 21-0, then the turn 6:15 Missed opportunities: the drops, the reverse, the holding call 6:58 The 4th-and-12 blitz that kept it alive 7:39 How they somehow stopped the 2-point try 8:52 BREAKING: Pacheco back surgery 10:14 The backup running back problem behind Gibbs 15:28 O-line: Ratledge, Bartch, and Blake Miller's debut 16:34 Chase Young never lined up over Miller 19:55 Tomlin on why defenses started slow league-wide 22:56 26 pressures: the front seven showed up 24:49 Linebackers and the banged-up secondary 26:08 Rapoport: 12-week timeline on Pacheco 26:42 "Offensive jitters" — is the offense actually fine? 31:29 Jameson Williams vs. Kool-Aid McKinstry 32:51 4-for-5 in the red zone and the new OT rules 37:10 LaPorta and Brock Wright in the run game 43:36 Campbell on Gibbs' workload: drink a lot of Gatorade 46:04 This is a Gibbs game: the Buffalo mismatches 49:12 To the defense — what the All-22 showed 51:34 Kellen Moore outclassed Sheppard 56:30 Blitz rate, 86 snaps, and the run defense 1:04:04 13 personnel and 75% under center 1:05:37 Three takeaways 1:09:59 Run it out of shotgun 1:14:34 Bills preview: Josh Allen and the MVP case 1:16:52 The hardest game on the schedule 1:21:23 Wrap and Thursday plans

Detroit survives 31-30 in overtime after building a 21-0 lead and giving all of it back. Full postgame breakdown of Lions vs. Saints in Week 1.

The defense held New Orleans to 111 yards in the first half, then gave up 284 over the final 25 minutes — including 8.3 yards per play in the fourth quarter. The offense opened with 121 yards in the first quarter and managed 40, 77 and 61 the rest of the way. Third down was 5-for-13, with Detroit averaging over six yards to go in the two quarters they scored three points in.

What went right: 165 rushing yards, 14 points off two takeaways, five sacks, no interceptions from Jared Goff, a nine-minute edge in time of possession, and a 10-play, 70-yard overtime drive without a single third down.

Then it's Buffalo on Thursday — a four-day turnaround, Jahmyr Gibbs coming off 34 touches, Detroit's first-ever primetime meeting with the Bills and the first game at the new Highmark Stadium.

Plus: Christian Mahogany's scan, TJ Lang's defense of Kelvin Sheppard, and Dan Campbell's postgame.

0:00 Lions 31, Saints 30 — Week 1 Is The Ultimate Liar 1:50 The Box Score vs. What Actually Happened 4:00 The Positives: Run Game, Takeaways, Clock 5:10 What Changed At Halftime? 111 Yards To 284 7:30 The Offense By Quarter: 121, 40, 77, 61 9:40 Goff's 5.3 Yards Per Attempt, Jamo's Rough Day 11:20 34 Touches For Gibbs — Is That Sustainable? 15:40 The Drive Charts: Why The Defense Was Gassed 18:00 Petzing vs. Morton, And The Bills Measuring Stick 20:40 Was New Orleans Actually Good? 24:15 TJ Lang Defends Kelvin Sheppard 27:35 Mahogany Scan Update 28:30 Looking Ahead: Thursday Night In Buffalo 30:30 Critical Questions Before Week 2 33:00 Comments And Close

Joe Chapp and James (Section344Lions) lock in their 2026 Detroit Lions predictions: record picks, X-factors, eight bold predictions, every division standing, a full playoff bracket and a Super Bowl pick. Then a full Week 1 preview of the New Orleans Saints at Ford Field.

Week 1 has matched the Lions' playoff fate in all five Dan Campbell seasons. Lost the opener in 2021, 2022 and 2025 and missed the playoffs. Won it in 2023 and 2024 and made it. The Lions offense has averaged 18 points in its last three openers.

CHAPTERS 0:00 Live intro + MAC trophy talk 2:55 Seahawks-Patriots and "next man up" 6:10 Record predictions and X-factors 7:09 Why Jameson Williams is the X-factor 10:47 How James got to 12-5 14:14 The schedule edge in a tight NFC North 17:05 Packers-Vikings Week 1 and the bottom of the schedule 21:31 Chapp's 8 bold predictions 22:59 James picks his bold predictions 27:23 Fan bold predictions 31:35 What held the 2025 offense back 36:04 The defense: explosives and run D 37:15 Offensive line: Glasgow out, Juice Scruggs in 40:53 AFC standings predictions 44:15 NFC standings predictions 48:12 AFC playoff bracket 50:48 NFC playoff bracket 55:37 Super Bowl pick: Lions vs Broncos 57:06 Saints preview: the line and the injury report 1:00:01 Week 1 offense: 18 points a game 1:03:06 Week 1 and Campbell's playoff record 1:05:44 Matchups that decide it: Olave, Hutchinson, Gibbs 1:07:57 Jared Goff vs Brandon Staley's Cover 3 1:11:57 Where the money is: public vs sharps 1:13:26 Tyler Shough scouting report 1:14:27 Left guard: Ben Bartch vs Christian Mahogany 1:16:26 Kelvin Banks Jr. vs Aidan Hutchinson 1:17:00 Score prediction 1:19:29 Gibbs' fantasy pick + the guard rotation 1:24:16 Why Week 1 matters before Buffalo 1:26:07 The Bills' brutal schedule 1:27:58 Wrap-up

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The Detroit Lions set their initial 53-man roster on August 26, 2026, and the biggest surprise was who was not on it: wide receiver and punt returner Greg Dortch, who signed with the Buffalo Bills practice squad within a day. Joe Chapp and James break down the full 53, the 14-man practice squad that dropped live during this episode, why cornerback Ennis Rakestraw made the roster over more productive options, and what the Lions still have to fix before week one.

WHAT HAPPENED ON CUTDOWN DAY Detroit kept five running backs and only four wide receivers. Tyler Conklin and Greg Dortch were both released. No Lions player was claimed off waivers by another team. Troy Reeder signed with the New York Jets practice squad. The initial Detroit practice squad came in at 14 players, two short of the 16 allowed.

THE PRACTICE SQUAD, AS ANNOUNCED Luke Altmyer, Joe Bachie, Amarius Brown, Devin Cochran, Thomas Gordon, Lucky Jackson, Tom Kennedy, Anthony Lucas, Mason Miller, Chris Smith, Ben Stille, Nick Whiteside, Tyree West, plus linebacker Amen Ababgbemega. Eric Hunter, Tyler Conklin and Greg Dortch did not make it.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN THIS EPISODE Why did the Detroit Lions cut Greg Dortch? Who returns punts for the Lions in week one? Should Ennis Rakestraw have made the 53-man roster? Is this the best front seven of the Brad Holmes era? Who wins the NFC North in 2026? Why does Jared Goff get sacked less than almost any quarterback in the league when pressured?

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Intro & 53-Man Roster Gymnastics 01:47 - Practice Squad Gymnastics & Early Additions 02:44 - Ben Bartsch, Mason Miller & Offensive Line Depth 08:21 - Ennis Rakestraw Jr. Roster Debate & Coverage Metrics 10:10 - Comparing Rakestraw to Historical Draft Pick Trends 13:15 - Secondary Depth: Amarius Brown & Keith Abney 19:26 - BREAKING: Greg Dortch Signs with Bills Practice Squad 20:09 - Why Cut Dortch? Speculating Dan Campbell & Roster Roles 24:03 - Jacob Saylors Preseason Breakout & Running Back Room 25:47 - Isiah Pacheco Injury Concerns & RB2 Outlook 27:37 - Defensive Line Standouts: Skylar Gil-Howard & Eric O'Neill 32:00 - Front 7 Deep Dive: Is This Brad Holmes' Deepest Group Yet? 32:29 - Linebacker Room: Jack Campbell's Rise & Devin White's Role 37:32 - Troy Reeder Disappointment & Linebacker Cuts 41:06 - Trevor Nowaske's Versatility & Sam Linebacker Role 45:24 - Greg Dortch to Buffalo Reaction & WR Depth Concerns 51:17 - NFC North Overview: Packers, Josh Jacobs & Off-Field News 53:41 - Vikings Quarterback Situation & Defensive Concerns 55:01 - Bears Offensive Line Losses & Caleb Williams' Bad Throw Rate 1:08:04 - Jared Goff vs. Caleb Williams: Pressure & Sack Metrics 1:09:57 - Interior D-Line Pressure: Alim McNeill & Tyleik Williams 1:17:55 - Calvin Sheppard's DC Growth & Play-Calling Dynamics 1:23:20 - Lions 2024 Unlucky Metrics: Fumble Recoveries & Penalties 1:29:38 - Injury Luck & Super Bowl Contender Trends 1:30:38 - BREAKING: Official 14-Player Practice Squad Announced 1:30:50 - Analyzing Practice Squad Additions: Whiteside, Stille & Kennedy 1:31:27 - Notable Omissions: Greg Dortch, Tyler Conklin & Eric Hunter 1:37:58 - Final Thoughts & Season Opener Outlook

Detroit Lions 53-man roster projection — we built the full roster live on the show with one preseason game left. Plus takeaways from the Washington game, stock up / stock down, and the center problem nobody is talking about.

Joe Chapp and James (@Section344Lions) go position by position on the Detroit Lions roster: Juice Scruggs locking down the center job, Cedric Wilson landing on IR, Jackson Meeks playing his way onto the team, the backup quarterback battle between Josh Dobbs and Luke Altmyer, and the linebacker logjam that comes down to one open spot.

⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro — James kicks a field goal at Ford Field 02:54 Washington takeaways: Juice Scruggs is the starting center 04:38 Cedric Wilson to IR and Jackson Meeks' case for a roster spot 08:48 What losing Kendrick Law actually cost this team 11:23 Defending Juice Scruggs against the Twitter reaction 14:46 The safety and nickel picture is changing 17:54 PFF grades and the defensive line depth 22:33 Is this defense deeper than the offense? 24:34 The backup QB reality: Josh Dobbs vs. Luke Altmyer 32:09 Stock Up / Stock Down — six players each 41:17 Luke Altmyer's pressure numbers say a lot 42:58 Building the 53: quarterbacks and running backs 46:32 Receivers and tight ends — do you keep four or five? 48:52 The offensive line and the left guard spot 50:19 The center problem and who's available elsewhere 55:18 Defensive line: who makes it 58:30 The linebacker logjam 1:02:09 Cornerbacks, safeties and specialists 1:06:53 The last two spots on the roster 1:15:21 The final 53, position by position 1:19:52 Preseason finale: what actually matters 1:23:44 Around the league: the Colts QB mess 1:25:16 The 2027 QB class and the JJ McCarthy question 1:28:05 Wrap