In a closely contested Week 2 matchup, the Detroit Lions were unable to replicate their comeback victory from the previous week against the Los Angeles Rams, losing a nail-biter to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a final score of 20-16.

Analyzing the Lions' performance, Pro Football Focus (PFF) provides valuable statistics to gain insight into the team's gameplay and what can be expected in the upcoming weeks. PFF's premium data, along with NFL Pro's innovative advanced statistics, offer football fans a comprehensive understanding of the game.

One particular aspect of the Lions' offense that proved frustrating to witness was their reliance on the screen game. With the Buccaneers applying pressure upfront and disrupting the middle of the field, Detroit attempted to counter by incorporating an abundance of screen passes. However, their strategy fell short, with quarterback Jared Goff ranking 27th out of 28 qualifying quarterbacks in Week 2 for yards per attempt on screen passes, averaging only 1.0 yard. Goff completed four out of five screen passes for a total of 5 yards, while his average depth of target was -4.5 yards, illustrating the limited effectiveness of this approach.

Notably, the Lions' second-to-last drive showcased the detrimental consequences of their screen-focused strategy. Faced with a first down at the Bucs' 13-yard line, trailing by 4 with just 1:17 remaining on the clock, Detroit's decision to utilize short passing plays resulted in a loss of yardage. The sequence of passes saw the Lions go from a manageable third-and-9 situation to a more challenging third-and-14 scenario. Such tactics proved detrimental and reminiscent of turning the game difficulty to the highest level for no apparent reason.

As for the running game, head coach Dan Campbell explained the Lions' heavy reliance on the passing game, noting their desire to create opportunities for the run. However, the team's overall effectiveness in rushing was evident when given the chance. Detroit averaged an impressive 5.1 yards per carry on their 27 rushing attempts throughout the game. Excluding Goff and Jameson Williams' rushing plays, running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs combined for 119 yards on 24 carries, with an average of 4.9 yards per carry.

Despite their efforts, the Lions ultimately fell short in their battle against the Buccaneers. The close nature of the game proved the team's resilience and determination, but they were unable to deliver a repeat performance of their Week 1 heroics. As the season progresses, it will be crucial for the Lions to find a balanced offensive approach that maximizes their strengths and minimizes the shortcomings highlighted in their matchup against Tampa Bay.

Overall, the statistics provided by Pro Football Focus shed light on the Lions' gameplay, allowing fans to delve deeper into the intricacies of the team's performance. With ample room for improvement, Detroit will undoubtedly analyze these numbers to better their strategies moving forward in the weeks to come.