The Detroit Lions Begin Preseason with a Loss to the Atlanta Falcons

Lions Fall 27-23 in Hard-Fought Matchup

The Detroit Lions opened their preseason schedule with a 27-23 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Friday night. While the Lions showed some promise offensively, their defense struggled to contain the Falcons' passing attack.

Quarterback Jared Goff led the Lions offense, completing 11 of 18 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown. Running back D'Andre Swift also had a strong performance, rushing for 30 yards on six carries.

The Lions' defense, however, was unable to stop the Falcons' passing attack. Quarterback Marcus Mariota completed 15 of 20 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns.

Despite the loss, the Lions showed some positive signs in their preseason opener. The offense was able to move the ball effectively, and the defense made some key stops.

Lions' Offense Shows Promise

The Lions' offense showed some promise in their preseason opener against the Falcons. Quarterback Jared Goff looked sharp, completing 11 of 18 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown.

Running back D'Andre Swift also had a strong performance, rushing for 30 yards on six carries. The Lions' offensive line was able to open up some holes for Swift, and he was able to find some running room.

The Lions' offense was also able to convert on third downs, going 6-of-12 on third-down attempts. This is a key area that the Lions struggled with last season, so it was good to see them improve in this area.

Lions' Defense Struggles

The Lions' defense struggled to contain the Falcons' passing attack in their preseason opener. Quarterback Marcus Mariota completed 15 of 20 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns.

The Lions' secondary was particularly vulnerable, as Mariota was able to find his receivers open for big gains. The Lions also had difficulty generating pressure on Mariota, which allowed him to sit back and pick apart the Lions' defense.

The Lions' defense will need to improve significantly if they want to be successful this season. They will need to find a way to generate more pressure on the quarterback and tighten up their pass coverage.