I heard this cherry-picked stat from an ESPN talking head and double-checked: it turns out to be slightly false, as Titans are #32 and the Lions are #31 in defensive EPA/play since Week 7.

The Titans are a bad team and are 1-3 in that stretch.
The Lions are a good team and are 3-1 in that stretch.

The Lions were #7 in defensive EPA/play from Week 1-6 before the Baltimore debacle. At just past the mid-way point of the season, our defense must return to that average/good level to finish the season and into the playoffs. With James Houston and CJGJ not likely to return until late December (at the very best), what do y’all think are the biggest factors in improving the defense?

For reference, the 2022 Detroit Lions started Weeks 1-10 at #32 in defensive EPA/play and improved Weeks 11-18 to #21 defensive EPA/play.

Weeks 7-11: at BAL, vs LVR, at LAC, vs CHI