The Offensive Line Renaissance Might Actually Be Real
Look, I know what you’re thinking. After watching Jared Goff get pummeled 38 times last season, the idea that this offensive line could be elite again sounds like the kind of hopium we Lions fans have been peddling for decades. But hear me out on this one.
Those 38 sacks tell a story, but not the one you think. Twenty-two of them came in just five games. That means the Lions allowed only 16 sacks in the other 12 games when things weren’t completely falling apart.
The Lions went out and signed Cade Mays, drafted Blake Miller, and moved Penei Sewell to left tackle. On paper, that might not look like enough to fix everything. But when you dig into what actually went wrong last season, the path forward gets a lot clearer.
The Five Games From Hell
Let’s break down those disaster games where everything went sideways.
Week 1 against Green Bay saw four sacks with a completely new lineup. Taylor Decker was coming off missing most of camp. Tate Ratledge was playing his first NFL game. Christian Mahogany was making his first real start. Of course it was messy.
Week 5 against Cincinnati was the Giovanni Manu experience. His one and only NFL start went exactly how you’d expect a backup’s first start to go. He allowed two of the four sacks in relief of an injured Decker.
Then came Weeks 7 and 8 against Tampa Bay and Minnesota. Four sacks and five sacks respectively, but here’s the kicker. Pro Football Focus credits the offensive line for just one of those nine total sacks. They put the blame on Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, and Goff himself for the rest.
Week 17 against Minnesota was pure desperation football. Dan Skipper at left tackle. Kingsley Eguakun making his second professional start at center. Sewell playing hurt. What did you expect?
Why This Year Actually Could Be Different
When the Lions’ line was healthy and together, they were solid. Sixteen sacks in 12 games isn’t elite, but it’s workable. Now look at what each starter allowed individually last season.
Mahogany had six sacks allowed, which sounds bad until you remember he was a rookie playing his first real season. Ratledge allowed just two. Glasgow allowed one. Sewell allowed two. Even Decker only allowed two.
The Lions are also catching a break with their schedule. They’re facing some teams that didn’t put up big sack numbers last season. Teams like the Jets with 26 sacks, Panthers with 30, Cardinals with 30. Even the Packers only managed 36 sacks last season.
This isn’t about blind optimism. It’s about recognizing that most of the sack problems came from injuries, inexperience, and a few games where everything that could go wrong did go wrong.
The Miller Factor
Blake Miller isn’t just a draft pick filling a hole. He’s supposed to be the kind of tackle who can anchor while Sewell dominates on the other side. If he can step in and play at even an average level immediately, this line transforms overnight.
Mays gives them depth they desperately lacked. The young guys have a year of experience under their belts. Sewell is back at left tackle.
Could this offensive line be top-five in the NFL? It sounds crazy after what we watched last season, but the pieces are there. The talent is there. The coaching is there.
For once, the path back to elite offensive line play isn’t built on hope and prayer. It’s built on actual roster construction and reasonable expectations that this group can stay healthy.
Am I setting myself up for disappointment again, or is this the year the big boys up front actually protect our quarterback? Let me know what you think below.
