NFL Week 3: Detroit Lions Keys To The Game Vs. Baltimore Ravens

The Monday Night showdown featuring two teams with one‑and‑one records, fresh off blowout wins and both loaded with playmakers.

Sep 21, 2025

Lions safety Brian Branch put up season stat line not seen by a DB this century

Two juggernauts will meet under the Monday night lights at M&T Stadium on September 22nd, 2025 with a 8:15PM EST. The Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens meet in a matchup that will test discipline, creativity, and execution on both sides of the ball. This article will dive deep into the defensive game plan as seen by Will Rock.

Lamar Jackson vs. Detroit’s Rush Plan

Baltimore’s week two tape showed a Ravens offense in rhythm vertically. Lamar Jackson is delivering explosive air‑yard touchdowns. Delivering on a 23 & 24 yard end zone strikes to Deandre Hopkins & Devontez Walker. While still punishing undisciplined defenses on the edge. His current comfort level on throws of 10+ air yards — combined with his designed and unscripted run threat — stresses both edge integrity and second‑level fits for linebackers.

The Mandate For Detroit:

Keep rush lanes disciplined.
Force on‑schedule throws.
Avoid the wide arc on the edge opening the c-gap
One mistimed blitz or over aggressive call can turn into a chunk play or quick six.

Amazing grab by Deandre Hopkins here for a 23-yard touchdown.

Lamar’s quick release is the key here. Hopkins is one-on-one to the outside. The safety starts late not knowing which side to pickup. This is exactly why the single high safety look for the Lions on Monday Night is a potential major edge to the Ravens.

If Kelvin Sheppard sticks with too much man, the Lions will lose at their own game. These offenses are almost identical minus the duality of Lamar Jackson. The Lions should know this offense well and have a great defensive plan, as long as it is not man heavy.

Another end zone shot this time to Devontez Walker for 24-yards

Notice the lack of interior pass rush and how quickly Jackson is able to deliver this ball down field. The Lions DBs must be able to stay in phase with Walker & Bateman, or expect much of the same result on Monday night. I believe a cover 4 match with QB spy would work well here

How The 4‑3 Quarters‑Match + Spy Handles It

Deep Routes: In Quarters‑Match, the safeties and corners read the #2 receiver. With both WRs vertical from tight splits, the safeties will likely match them early — corners stay on #1 verticals, safeties take #2 verticals. This gives you four deep defenders on two verticals — good for preventing the deep shot if the match rules are executed cleanly.

Flats: The TE’s flat route to the right is the Sam LB’s responsibility in zone drop. The RB’s release to the left flat is the Will LB’s zone — in this design, the Will is also the QB spy.

Stress Point: if the Will widens too far to cover the RB, the spy leverage on the QB is reduced. If he stays tight to spy, the RB can be open in the flat unless the DE peels off (which you don’t want vs. Lamar). In this case Garrett was already too deep and was not in any position to cover the RB anyway.

QB Run Threat:

The spy still works here — if the QB sees the verticals covered and flats taken away, he may try to run. The spy is in position to close.

One can hope that Kelvin Sheppard does not try to get too aggressive here and sticks with too much man converge with a single high safety.

Scramble‑Drill Explosives

Baltimore’s receivers — Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and DeAndre Hopkins — excel at breaking deep when Lamar extends plays. In Week 2, Jackson averaged 10.7 intended air yards per attempt (NFL average: 7.9). He’s finding 2.9 seconds to throw, which means if the pocket collapses unevenly and escape lanes open, second‑reaction shots become inevitable.

Key Point: Collapse the pocket evenly, without creating escape alleys. Make Lamar throw on time. The Lions defense needs to focus on casting a wide net, work together as a hive defense. As Dan Campbell puts it, “population to the football.”

Watch how Hopkins works the scramble drill perfectly. Works inside when he notices Lamar start his scramble. Turns outside to give Lamar an option and then turns upfield hauling in a 42-yard deep shot for a touchdown that started as a 9 yard intermediate crossing route.

Play‑Action Boot Game

John Harbaugh’s staff loves to fake outside zone and roll Lamar opposite. If the backside edge doesn’t stay home, he has a free edge with run‑pass options. In Week 2, Baltimore used play action on 30% of snaps, and Lamar pushed the ball 20+ yards downfield on over 20% of pass plays.

Add in the RPO menu — and Derrick Henry’s downhill threat — and the Lions must be ready for horizontal stretch followed by vertical strikes.

Contain Game Plan for Detroit’s Defense

Two‑edge discipline is non‑negotiable. Aidan Hutchinson and Al‑Quadin Muhammad must keep their outside shoulders free, forcing Lamar back inside.
Interior rushers like DJ Reader and Tyleik Williams must mirror Lamar’s drop and collapse the pocket at his depth — not deeper — to avoid creating step‑up lanes where Lamar can find the outlet or deep shot.
Spy assignment: Against Lamar, too much man coverage is a recipe for disaster. Kelvin Sheppard should keep a linebacker or safety forward as a delayed spy once the post‑snap read confirms pass. Jack Campbell or a rolled‑down Brian Branch can serve as the safety net if edge contain breaks.

Key Player Matchups – Defense

Aidan Hutchinson vs. Lamar’s Escape Lanes

Aidan Hutchinson’s inside counter could open the C or D gap for Lamar to roll into finding a big play scramble or shot downfield. Aidan must rush “half‑man,” keep outside leverage, and collapse gradually. The half-man rush reduces the surface area for the blocker to absorb the rush by using an outside or inside shoulder technique to shade the blocker and force the ball carrier to the inside.

Against most QBs, collapsing the pocket as fast as possible is the goal and considered a “WIN.” Against Lamar, a pass‑rush “WIN” that opens a lane is actually a pass rush “LOSS.”

Key Matchup: Hutchinson (Edge) vs. Rosengarten (RT):

I am expecting Lamar to drop deeper in this game to lure Hutchinson to take a wider arc. This can go wrong in a hurry if Aidan is getting too vertical to Jackson’s drop. Rosengarten has one job with #97, push & steer his inside shoulder outside to force Aidan deeper by widening the arc. This will allow Jackson to escape through the C or D gap.

Over‑pursuit is deadly. Muhammad, Hutchinson and whomever else is lined up at edge on Monday night must set a hard edge to funnel Lamar inside.

Designed QB Runs & Read‑Option

Baltimore will run zone‑read, power‑read, and QB counter. If edges crash too hard, Lamar keeps and hits the perimeter. Contain forces the give to Henry, letting Detroit’s LBs fit downhill.

Key Matchup: Jack Campbell (LB) vs. Derrick Henry (RB)

Campbell must close creases early to keep Baltimore behind the sticks and out of their best RPO/play‑action shots.

Jack is one of the better linebackers in the league, with size that is not prototypical in the today’s game. This is a matchup that gives an edge to the Lions. Jack will be key in containing Henry from breaking bigger runs allowing hats to collect to the ball.

Why the DBs Are Critical vs. Lamar

Lamar Jackson is at his most dangerous when:

His first read is open — he can deliver on time with rhythm.
Coverage busts happen late — he extends and hits a deep shot.
Defenders lose leverage — he tucks and runs into vacated space.

If Detroit’s secondary can deny the first read and stay plastered in scramble situations, Lamar’s internal clock stretches. That extra beat gives the pass rush and spy time to close, forcing throwaways or sacks.

Key Matchup: A.Robertson (NB) vs. Zay Flowers (WR)

Flowers is Baltimore’s jitterbug — dangerous on whip routes, crossers, and YAC plays. Robertson must trigger downhill on short throws disrupt timing at the stem and tackle in space. Pattern‑match in man when Flowers goes vertical can limit YAC. Forcing Baltimore into longer 2nd/3rd downs.

Terrion Arnold vs. Rashod Bateman (WR)

Bateman thrives on intermediate digs and deep outs to punish soft zones. Arnold’s job is to stay disciplined in zone‑match rules — no jumping short routes that open the seam. Holding up without bracket help frees safeties to cap Lamar’s deep shots. Tight coverage here removes a key intermediate option Lamar uses to beat zone.

DJ Reed vs. DeAndre Hopkins (WR)

Hopkins still wins with body positioning and contested catches. Reed must disrupt timing at the line and squeeze routes to the sideline. Reed’s press technique will be tested in red‑zone iso looks. Physical press coverage here forces Lamar to hold the ball if his trusted iso target isn’t open.

Kerby Joseph (FS) vs. Lamar’s Deep/Intermediate Throws

Joseph’s range and angles are the contingency plan when rush lanes break and Lamar extends. Must overlap on posts and crossers when Lamar extends. His range is the safety net when verticals develop late. If Joseph takes away the “shot” over the top, Lamar is forced to check down or run into traffic

Brian Branch – The X‑Factor vs. Everybody

Brian Branch’s versatility is tailor‑made for a Lamar Jackson matchup. He’s one of the few defensive backs in the league who can legitimately line up in the slot, roll down into the box, or rotate deep — all without tipping coverage pre‑snap. That flexibility is gold against a QB who thrives on diagnosing leverage and exploiting mismatches.

Why Branch Matters vs. Lamar

Slot Disruption – Against Zay Flowers or Rashod Bateman in reduced splits, Branch can jam and re‑route, throwing off the timing of Lamar’s quick game.
Run‑Fit Support – Branch is one of Detroit’s most reliable tacklers in space. When Baltimore runs zone‑read or QB counter, he can fold into the C‑gap or scrape outside to force the give to Derrick Henry.
Delayed Spy / Robber Role – On passing downs, Branch can show flat or hook responsibility, then trigger late as a spy once Lamar breaks contain. This “safety net” role is exactly what you’ve been calling for — it closes the escape hatch if edge contain breaks.
Disguise & Rotation – Branch’s ability to rotate from nickel to deep half or quarter coverage post‑snap can bait Lamar into holding the ball, buying the rush an extra half‑second.

Rocks Final Take:

This is a winnable game for the Detroit Lions. The defense is the key to the entire night being a success on the road against one of the best teams in the league. The Lions need this win for many reasons, but most importantly to leave with some confidence in the defense. Playing smart, physical, disciplined and contained defense, while keeping Lamar Jackson in the pocket is the only option. The offense should have no issues putting up points against the Ravens defense.

*Part 2: The Offensive Keys - Comes Out 9.21.2025