DETROIT LIONS—Drew Petzing acknowledged Thursday that his running game needs more explosive gains and consistent production, a correction made urgent by an alarming road split. The Lions have rushed for just 112 yards across losses in Buffalo and Carolina, despite entering the season with Jahmyr Gibbs established among the NFL’s most dangerous offensive weapons.
At Ford Field, the same offense has accumulated 296 rushing yards in two victories, creating a 92-yard-per-game difference between home and road production. That gap challenges the assumption that Detroit’s ground-game struggles simply reflect insufficient talent or an inability to create positive runs.
Sunday’s visit to Arizona places Petzing opposite Cardinals defensive coordinator Nick Rallis, his former colleague for three seasons, with Detroit entering at 2-2. The matchup will test whether Petzing can restore a credible rushing threat without depending on a favorable scoreboard or another high-volume passing performance from Jared Goff.
THE RUSHING DECLINE IN NUMBERS
Detroit has 408 rushing yards on 98 attempts through four games, averaging 102.0 per contest and ranking 20th in the league. The Lions have generated 12 runs of at least 10 yards, eighth-most, but only one run of 20-plus yards and none reaching 50.
The home-road contrast is sharper than the season average: 63 carries for 296 yards at home, compared with 35 carries for 112 yards away. Those samples produce 4.7 yards per attempt at Ford Field and 3.2 on the road, where early deficits have repeatedly reduced rushing opportunities.
Against Carolina, Detroit managed 46 rushing yards while Goff threw for 412, illustrating how passing volume can mask an offense struggling to control down-and-distance. Gibbs accounts for 353 of the team’s 408 rushing yards, so the issue extends to how consistently Detroit creates productive opportunities beyond its featured back.
