Michael Rothstein, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Lions Morning Roar: Defense by the numbers

At the midway point of the season, we're going to take a look at the Detroit Lions' defensive numbers, which have been a major factor in the team's 6-2 start to the 2014 season.

Here are Detroit's defensive rankings (courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information):

Defensive QBR: 34.9, second in the NFL.

Yards per game: 290.4, first in the NFL.

Yards per play: 4.80, third in the NFL.

Rushing yards per game: 74.0, second in the NFL.

Yards per rush: 3.25, first in the NFL.

Passing yards per game: 216.38, fifth in the NFL.

Net yards per attempt: 6.20, fourth in the NFL.

Interception percentage: 3.2, fifth in the NFL.

Sacks per attempt: 8.2 percent, seventh in the NFL.

First downs per game: 18.5, fourth in the NFL.

Third-down conversion rate: 32.0 percent, second in the NFL.

Fourth-down conversion rate: 42.9 percent, T-12th in the NFL.

Yards per punt: 43.49, third in the NFL.

Net punting yards: 39.89, 11th in the NFL.

Red zone efficiency: 52.4 percent, 11th in the NFL.

Goal-to-go efficiency: 90 percent, T-28th in the NFL.

Time of possession: 27:06, fourth in the NFL.

Points allowed per game: 15.8, first in the NFL.

And now, a look around the Interwebs in search of Lions news:

  • Inside Cassius Vaughn's interception vs. Atlanta. Midseason Review: Secondary, linebackers.

  • Ryan Broyles may not play a lot the next few weeks, writes Dave Birkett in the Detroit Free Press.

  • Midseason grades from Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News.

  • The knee injury to Nick Fairley is the biggest one yet in a year full of them for the Lions, writes Justin Rogers of MLive.

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