41.4: Opponents were just 12-for-29 on fourth down (41.4 percent) against Detroit’s defense last year. Only Minnesota (37.1) allowed a lower conversion percentage.
72.9: Detroit’s defense had the lowest passer rating allowed in the red zone last year.
86: Rushing first downs allowed by the Lions in 2024. That total was the fourth best in the NFL behind only Baltimore (69), Denver (82) and Minnesota (83).
114.4: The passer rating for opposing quarterbacks when targeting Campbell in coverage. It’s one area of his game he needs to continue to develop. Opponents were 35-for-45 passing with 436 yards but only one touchdown.
226: Total number of tackles for Campbell through his first two seasons. Only Campbell, Chris Spielman (278), Ernie Sims (259) and Bennie Blades (202) have recorded at least 200 tackles in their first two seasons in franchise history.
Quotable: “The role that SAM linebacker has, you see it on the game film, he’s stacked off the ball, he’s on the end of the line of scrimmage, he’s walked out in the slot. That’s a lot of different jobs for one player to handle,” senior defensive assistant and outside linebackers coach David Corrao said this offseason.
“It’s a very unique position to play, so therefore in my opinion, that’s a hard position for us to fill with one (backup) player. The idea that you’re going to have a player as unique as Derrick Barnes is with his ability on the edge, his ability to pressure from the middle, his ability to drop in coverage.
“The idea that you would have a second player with that level of skillset that’s sitting behind somebody on the depth chart I don’t see how realistic that is. Somebody with that level of skillset you’re going to want on the field as much as you can.”
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