Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard got extra defensive about his performance in this past Sunday's loss to the Carolina Panthers.
Sheppard took the lectern on Thursday, ahead of Detroit's Week 5 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals
. But the discussion stretched back to Week 4, where quarterback Bryce Young and the Panthers offense picked apart the Lions defense for 32 points and 445 total yards.When asked about his play-calling from the defeat, Sheppard—very firmly—backed his approach . . .
Kelvin Sheppard on the Lions' lack of success when blitzing: "Those calls were the right calls. Those calls were the right calls." pic.twitter.com/yJP5gALqct
— 97.1 The Ticket: (@971theticketxyt) October 8, 2026
"I think that's ultra disrespectful to my unit to say someone has to carry us," Lions
Defensive Coordinator Kelvin Sheppard responded to a question about the perception that the offense will have to carry the team with the defense ranking last in the NFL pic.twitter.com/N82kIXyvgB
— Alex Crescenti (@alex_crescenti) October 8, 2026
Yikes.
Well, we could give the opposing passer a bit of credit—as he's been able to play through pressure at an extraordinary rate this season.
Despite facing the highest percentage of pressure of any quarterback on his dropbacks (47.2 percent), Young currently leads the NFL in passing yards (1,268), first-down completions (63), completions of 10 yards or more (55) and completions of 25 yards or more (13). He's also first in passing yards under pressure (411) and passing touchdowns under pressure (four).
But unfortunately for Sheppard, Sunday night's shellacking was just the latest in a mounting line of letdowns. Entering Week 5, Detroit has allowed the most yards per game at 423.8—nearly 32 yards more than the next closest defense.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Lions DC reacts intensely when asked about Week 4 loss to Panthers
