Detroit Lions Bold Prediction of the Week: Two picks for the defense

The Detroit Lions defense is bad—that much we know for certain. After placing one of their better players in Jarrad Davis on injured reserve this week, expect things to get worse. Last week, when Davis was out for only a few plays, things did not go well.

After making this mistake too many times, I’m not going to throw out a bold prediction that the Lions will stop the opposing offense. It simply doesn’t happen. They’re likely going to get shredded and will inevitably give up a lead late in the game. Facing an error-prone quarterback like Jameis Winston, however, may allow them to capitalize on turnovers at the very least.

Bold prediction of the week: Lions defense gets two interceptions off of Jameis Winston

The Lions defense only has five interceptions on the entire year. They have been much better in producing fumbles (looking at you, one-punch Coleman) but in the air they’ve failed to capitalize on bad throws or tipped balls.

Jameis Winston may be just what the doctor prescribed to fix that. Winston has 23 interceptions in just 13 games this season. Winston started the season looking much better than his old self, with only five interceptions in the first five games, but then hit a rough patch with a five-interception performance in Week 6. In his last five games, he has a whopping 11 interceptions.

The change in the defensive lineup may help too. Amani Oruwariye took over Rashaan Melvin’s starting cornerback spot opposite Darius Slay last week, and perhaps he’s the spark the Lions defense will need to get more their hands on more footballs.

That’s really all there is to it. The Lions defense, is bad, but is Jameis Winston worse? Or as I phrased it on twitter, a stoppable force meets a movable object. Which one wins?