# Stephen A. Smith worried about Lions despite OT win

> The ESPN analyst says Detroit's defensive collapse in a 31-30 comeback loss to New Orleans is a red flag for playoff contention.
- Title: Stephen A. Smith worried about Lions despite OT win · Newsweek
- Summary: The ESPN analyst says Detroit's defensive collapse in a 31-30 comeback loss to New Orleans is a red flag for playoff contention. A team's ability to close…
- Keywords: detroit lions, stephen a. smith, nfl, week 1, new orleans saints, defense, dan campbell, super bowl contention, overtime win, Stephen, Smith, worried
- Source: Newsweek — https://newsweek.com/sports/nfl/stephen-a-smith-very-concerned-about-lions-despite-week-1-win-12452547
- Author: Andrew Gould
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: detroit lions, stephen a. smith, nfl, week 1, new orleans saints, defense, dan campbell, super bowl contention, overtime win
## Lions barely hold on in OT
Detroit beat New Orleans 31-30 in overtime after blowing a 21-0 third-quarter lead at Ford Field. The collapse has Stephen A. Smith questioning the team's readiness.

> I'm very, very concerned about them. You were up 21-0. You gave up that lead.
## Defense gave up 469 yards
Saints quarterback Tyler Shough threw for 410 yards and New Orleans converted more than half their third-down attempts. Smith called the defensive performance unacceptable.

> I'm looking at you giving up 469 yards. Detroit's defense is a huge, huge concern for me.
## Coordinators' departures hurt Lions
Detroit lost offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. The offense still ranks fifth in yards, but the defense fell to 29th last season.
## Smith questions playoff hopes
The ESPN analyst says Detroit needs to prove it can compete again after losing coordinators. A couple years ago, people thought the Lions could win it all.

> They got to show us that they can be what we thought they were a couple of years ago.
## Buffalo matchup is crucial test
The Lions travel to Buffalo for Thursday Night Football against the Bills on Prime Video. Smith says Detroit needs this win more than Buffalo does.
## Key takeaway

A team's ability to close out games matters more than the final score, especially when defensive breakdowns are this severe.