“Detroit probably more than anyone has a depth of plays and personnel they can go to on fourth down,” Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores said. “But that’s kind of a leaguewide trend. There’s a lot more fourth-down attempts than five, 10 seasons ago. It’s not just it’s third down and it’s over, which historically that’s what it’s been.”
You can say that again. In 2014, NFL teams went for it on fourth down 451 times in a 16-game schedule. Through 16 games this season, the Lions have gone for it 701 times, an increase of 250. And their success rate (57.3%, 402 of 701) also is better than 2014 (45.9%, 207 of 451).
What makes the Lions particularly dangerous on fourth down? Let us count the ways …
1. Play-calling diversity from offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
One of the league’s hottest head coaching candidates, Johnson is 10-for-13 when running the ball on fourth-and-1 or 2, and 8-for-11 when passing the ball on fourth-and-1 to 5 this season.
“It’s hard to find tendencies with them,” Cashman said. “Ben Johnson does a really good job giving you certain looks where you’re expecting certain plays, but then he gives you something totally different.”