Playoff road map for 0-2 Detroit Lions: Replace Ndamukong Suh
Detroit's hopes of stringing together back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since the mid-1990s have taken a hit. Here's how the Lions can rebound from their 0-2 start.
*Commit to the running game: The Lions entered the season poised to improve their anemic ground attack but rank 31st in the NFL with a 53.5-yard average. Detroit is trying to solve the problem by getting explosive second-round pick Ameer Abdullah more heavily involved with Joique Bell sliding down the depth chart.
*Find a new defensive identity: The post-Ndamukong Suh era has gotten off to a horrid start. The Lions were abused in the air by San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers (404 passing yards) and on the ground by Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson (134 rushing yards). The imminent return of weak-side linebacker DeAndre Levy (hip) should help plug some holes but he isn't a fix-all solution.
