The first two weeks of the season have been disappointing for Detroit Lions fans.

They faced off against the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, teams they had defeated in last year’s playoffs, at their home stadium, Ford Field, which was filled with enthusiastic crowds. This time, however, they were fortunate to end up with a split.

In their opener, the Lions squandered a 17-3 lead against Matthew Stafford and the Rams but managed to force overtime and secure a win without Stafford having a chance to touch the ball.

In their second game, Baker Mayfield outperformed Jared Goff, leading to a 20-16 loss for the Lions.

They now stand at 1-1 and are preparing to face the Arizona Cardinals, who recently dominated the Rams with a 41-10 victory.

Lions coach Dan Campbell acknowledged the challenges posed by the Cardinals.

He pointed out that the team is unconventional in their play on both sides of the ball.

Campbell highlighted the threat posed by Kyler Murray, who now has Marvin Harrison Jr. as a target. “When he gets out and runs around, he’s dangerous,” Campbell said.

“Now they’ve got him a weapon to throw to.”This poses a potential issue for a Lions defense that has struggled against top receivers in their first two games.

Cooper Kupp of the Rams had 14 catches for 110 yards and a touchdown, while Tampa Bay’s Chris Godwin had seven receptions for 117 yards. Rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold has been penalized three times for pass interference, all within the 5-yard line

.However, the Lions have a major asset in defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, who recorded 4 1/2 sacks against a weakened Tampa Bay offensive line.

Hutchinson’s performance is crucial, especially since the Lions have had difficulties dealing with mobile quarterbacks. Baker Mayfield, for example, had four rushes for 35 yards and a touchdown.

Campbell trusts Hutchinson to make critical plays before quarterbacks can escape the pocket. “Every time I watch him, it gets better and better,” Campbell said.

“He’s just a force. He’s relentless, he’s powerful and he’s explosive.

”Despite the Lions’ decision to abandon the run game—Jared Goff threw 55 passes—Jahmyr Gibbs managed to accumulate 106 yards on 13 carries and seven receptions. Goff’s performance resembled his struggles from 2021 rather than the consistent playmaker he had been over the past three years.

He averaged just 9 yards per completion and was lucky not to have been intercepted several times.

On the Lions’ final play, needing a touchdown from the Tampa Bay 26-yard line, he threw a short pass that was incomplete

.Punter Jack Fox had a modest statistical performance, averaging 33.5 yards on two punts, but successfully pinned Tampa Bay inside the 20 on both attempts. He also completed a 17-yard pass to Sione Vaki on a fake punt.

Arnold, after being penalized for pass interference twice against the Rams, was flagged again on the Lions’ 5-yard line early in the game against Tampa Bay.

Fortunately, a sack by Hutchinson helped limit Tampa Bay to a field goal. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St.

Brown caught 11 of 19 targets for 119 yards but limped off the field with a leg injury in the final moments.

Campbell indicated that it was a soft-tissue injury and expects St. Brown to be ready for the game against the Cardinals.