The Lions set a franchise record against the Bears in the 52-21 victory on Sunday at Ford Field.
Detroit averaged 8.8 yards per play – the most in the team's history. The Bears’ defense allowed explosive plays on the ground and through the air. It was a performance that would make any defensive player sick.
But for veteran defensive lineman Grady Jarrett, the game film serves as a reminder of what the team expects from itself.
“It was not something that we just are sweeping it under the rug,” Jarrett said. “So we’re going to address that and the thing is it’s actually inexcusable and it’s not up to the standards of what this defense is going to be. And this will be a defining moment. We’re going to make sure this defines us in the right way by season’s end and not let that happen again.”
Jarrett not holding back after Bears' rough day at the office
Those are strong words from one of the team's captains, but what transpired at Ford Field on Sunday can't happen again unless the Bears want to be blown out of another football game.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff threw for 334 yards and five touchdowns on 23 of 28 pass attempts. The Bears’ defense failed to sack Goff on the day.
Jarrett provided some potential answers on how the pass rush can get home, starting next week against the Dallas Cowboys at Soldier Field.
“I think converting to the pass quicker, like the play action passes, watching some of the deep developing routes, there was something like run action to pass late and we were as a group a little sticky on blocks and just sitting back a little too long before we converted,” Jarrett said. “Maybe should take a couple of shots a little earlier to try and get through the gap so we could get to the quarterback.”
Any and all adjustments need to be implemented for this defense to start playing like a unit that can help the Bears win football games and not the opposite way around.
And Jarrett explained why he is confident that defensive coordinator Dennis Allen can help make that happen for the team.
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“Just what he stands for man,” Jarrett said. “Well first, the love and the work that he put into being a really good football coach. Livin’ and breathe football, and he has high standards for what he expects from us as players, not only on the field but how we go about our business daily whether it’s in the meeting room, the weight room and I mean knowing what everybody has got to do as a whole and how it all works together is something that I’ve always been super, super impressed with him and every team that he’s coached and stuff like that. They always have played with a tenacious mindset. So we’ve just got to get everybody to adopt that mindset and do what we need to do because the standard has been and I really, really believe in what he’s asking us to do and how he wants us to play the game.”