# Lions' defense collapses

Sports · Heat 1.1 / 10 · 3 shows · 31m airtime

On October 22, coverage assessed the Lions' great offense and abysmal defense, the missed chance to add Joey Porter Jr., and Kelvin Sheppard's disastrous press conference. Sheppard had earlier called the perception talk poison and said it is disrespectful to his unit to say somebody has to carry the team, and defended his calls as right even as the Lions blitzed Geno Smith eight times for eight completions, 106 yards and a touchdown. Chuba Hubbard ran for 120 yards and a couple of touchdowns against a Lions defense missing Coker. DJ Reed ranks worst or second worst among about 70 qualifying corners in every stat, and Brian Branch practiced and may play this week.

Page: https://boilpoints.com/point/lions_defense_collapses_3306999647

## Segments

- [Nightcap](https://boilpoints.com/u/nightcap), 2026-10-09, 14:08 to 22:39: **Pushes back on Sheppard's poison remark**. Plays the full clip of Kelvin Sheppard calling the perception talk poison and disrespectful to his unit, then pushes back: the Lions are 32nd in total defense, pass defense, third down and big plays, so it is not perception. A new on-the-record response from the coordinator, read as a failure to take accountability. New angle: Kelvin Sheppard called the perception talk poison and said it is disrespectful to his unit to say somebody has to carry the team.
- [The Herd with Colin Cowherd](https://boilpoints.com/u/theherdwithcolincowherd), 2026-10-09, 18:52 to 21:25: **Plays Sheppard defending his calls**. Plays the tense media exchange with Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, who insists his calls were right after Bryce Young carved up his defense. Colin counters with blitz numbers and worries the defense will hold the team back. New angle: Sheppard defended his calls as right, and the Lions blitzed Geno Smith eight times for eight completions, 106 yards and a touchdown.
- [Nightcap](https://boilpoints.com/u/nightcap), 2026-10-10, 51:36 to 57:11: **Answers the press conference with the stat sheet**. Plays Sheppard's press conference in full and answers it with the stat sheet: last in total defense, pass defense, third down, first-down reception percentage, EPA, big plays and pass touchdowns allowed. A retelling of the poison quote, with Brian Branch's return as the only hope.
- [Nightcap](https://boilpoints.com/u/nightcap), 2026-10-10, 57:11 to 1:00:08: **Adds Branch's practice status to the slide**. Runs through the Lions' defensive collapse and adds a status update on Brian Branch: he practiced and may play Sunday. Frames the slide as a multi-year pattern, from the 45 points allowed to Washington in the divisional round to the blown NFC Championship lead in San Francisco. New angle: Brian Branch practiced and may play Sunday for the Lions.
- [Nightcap](https://boilpoints.com/u/nightcap), 2026-10-10, 1:00:08 to 1:03:50: **Adds Hubbard's 120 yards against Detroit**. Argues the Lions' slow offensive starts let opponents stay balanced, then turns to Sheppard's job security and the Panthers' production. Adds a specific line: Chuba Hubbard ran for 120 yards and a couple of touchdowns against Detroit without Coker. New angle: Chuba Hubbard ran for 120 yards and a couple of touchdowns against the Lions, who were missing Coker.
- [The Right Time with Bomani Jones](https://boilpoints.com/u/therighttimewithbomanijones), 2026-10-22, 26:55 to 30:35: **Cites Reed's cornerback rankings as the problem**. Turns to Detroit's defense: DJ Reed ranks worst or second worst among about 70 qualifying corners in every stat, and the Lions expect Brian Branch back this week. Stays with the season-long picture rather than a single game. New angle: DJ Reed ranks worst or second worst among about 70 qualifying corners in every stat.
- [The Right Time with Bomani Jones](https://boilpoints.com/u/therighttimewithbomanijones), 2026-10-22, 30:35 to 34:34: **Calls Detroit's defense a personnel problem**. Turns to the Lions' defense after a detour on Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson. The verdict is a personnel problem, not Kelvin Shepard's coaching, and the hosts note the zone looks failed too. It stays inside the ground the Lions point already covers.