Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell hasn’t lost confidence in his offensive line, even though he admits their performance has been uneven.
Detroit’s offense has struggled throughout the season, and much of that inconsistency can be traced back to issues up front. The ground game has been unreliable, and quarterback Jared Goff is on track to be sacked 34 times—his highest total since his first year with Detroit in 2021.
Some regression was expected after a challenging offseason. The Lions saw All-Pro center Frank Ragnow retire and Pro Bowl guard Kevin Zeitler depart in free agency. As a result, they’ve been leaning on young players: rookie Tate Ratledge at right guard, second-year Christian Mahogany at left guard before his injury (now Kayode Awosika), and veteran Graham Glasgow returning to full-time center duties for the first time since 2022.
Their struggles were on display again against the Philadelphia Eagles. Goff faced steady pressure and couldn’t find rhythm, and the run game managed only 3.5 yards per attempt.
But Campbell believes the unit can stabilize as the Lions push for the postseason over the final seven games.
“I’ve got faith in these guys,” Campbell said. “The more reps they get together, the better they’ll sync up, and we’ll lean into what we do best.”
The line has shown flashes of strong play. Detroit has allowed zero sacks in four of its ten games, and the rushing attack has surpassed 150 yards four times.
Campbell also acknowledged that he could’ve adjusted his approach in the loss to Philadelphia to better support the line.
“Every matchup is different,” he said. “Looking back, there are a few things I wish I’d handled differently in how we attacked their front. I’m always running through different ideas in my head—different ways to help our guys.”
Up next are the New York Giants. Though sitting at 2–9, they feature a defensive front capable of causing problems, with players like Brian Bruns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Dexter Lawrence, and Abdul Carter.
Even so, Campbell’s faith remains steady.
“At the end of the day, I believe in this group,” he said. “They’re talented, they work well together, and they just need to tighten up their consistency.”
