Bill Belichick often says that in the NFL, it’s a lot harder to stay on top than to get to the top.

The Detroit Lions haven’t had much practice at defending higher turf. Until they won the NFC North crown last year, they’d captured only two divisional races in the Super Bowl era.

But in contrast to the 1984 and 1992 Lions, who finished last or next-to-last in defense of the divisional title, the 2024 Lions haven’t contracted altitude sickness.

Detroit stands an NFC-best 10-1 after Sunday’s 24-6 road victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

How have the Lions avoided a falloff?

Their leaders understood that if you’re not working to get ahead, you’re falling behind.

Several offseason moves by general manager Brad Holmes have improved the team. None was better than his signings of DJ Reader, a defensive tackle, and Jake Bates, a kicker.

Reader pushed Colts blockers backward Sunday to again bolster a Lions front that has weathered a season-ending injury to star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson in the season’s fifth game. The 30-year-old Reader worked well Sunday alongside two 24-year-old standouts from last year’s team: end Josh Pascal and tackle Alim McNeil. The trio’s consistent penetration enabled Detroit’s D to extend its streak to nine quarters without a touchdown allowed.

Can Reader reprise his success with the Bengals that helped Cincinnati reach the Super Bowl three seasons ago?

Minus Hutchinson, he can expect to draw extra attention. But Holmes, who played on North Carolina AT&T’s defensive line, has assembled enough talent for the Lions to muster powerful bull rushes and work effective stunts. The rotation now includes end Za’Darius Smith, another physical player. Despite the pressure to offset Hutchinson’s exit, Holmes didn’t appear to get gouged in the trade for Smith this month. He sent the Browns a fifth-round pick and sixth-round pick, getting a seventh-round pick.

The $845,00 salary Holmes paid to Bates, meantime, was like an investment in Motown Records when it was getting started.

One more metaphor from decades ago: the 56-yard field goal Bates kicked Sunday in the Indianapolis dome resembled some freakish athletic feat a la Herman Munster in one of his inane TV episodes.

Bates’ drive would’ve been good from 66 yards.

The NFL rookie now has made all 16 of his field goal tries. From 50 yards and beyond, he’s 5 for 5 with a pair of game-winners.

Scouting trips to see Bates were a snap for Holmes and Dave Fipp, the La Jolla High School graduate and former San Diego pole vault champion who oversees the Lions’ special teams.

Bates was with the UFL’s Michigan Panthers, who play in the same Detroit dome that houses the Lions.

Because of Bates, the Lions can count on gleaning three points once they cross midfield.

Facing fourth-and-5 at the Colts 38, Lions coach Dan Campbell enlisted him with 10 minutes to play. The 56-yard kick increased the lead to 18 points, a coveted “three-score” margin. Last year’s Lions, lacking such a kicker, tried only two kicks of 50-plus yards, making one.

Even without Hutchinson, who had three sacks in last year’s postseason, the Lions are better than last season. The defense is stouter up front. The secondary is more equipped to play man defense.

The offense has improved via the refinements of several holdovers, reflecting well on four assistants with ties to the University of San Diego, San Diego State or the Mission Valley-based Chargers.

Running back Jahmyr Gibbs has built on his bright rookie season. Jameson Williams, another speedster, has improved on short routes and as a blocker. Jared Goff has completed more than 70 percent of his passes, and entered Sunday with an NFL-best 9.2 yards gained per pass attempt.

Embracing the underdog role worked well for Campbell early in his tenure.

But Belichick is right. It’s more difficult to stay on top. That make these Lions more impressive, so far, as they’ve gone 8-1 as betting-line favorites, losing only in Week 2 to the Buccaneers.

It will take more of the same for the Lions to win the NFC’s top seed, which brings the conference’s only first-round bye. Close behind them, at 9-2 are Kevin O’Connell’s Vikings, their final opponent. And they’ll face the Bills (9-2) next month.

Originally Published: November 24, 2024 at 5:40 PM PST