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Looking at formations: Week 1 vs. Vikings

Every week, we’ll take a brief look at what formations the Lions ran during their last game.

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- This wasn’t surprising Sunday, but Detroit spent a lot of its time in formations with three wide receivers -- or two wide receivers and a tight end in the slot -- with a single running back.

I was able to chart 77 of the Lions’ 80 offensive plays and here’s a quick breakdown of what I saw -- from most common to least. Here’s an unofficial look at what the Lions' offense looked like from the television copy.

Sometimes, understand it is difficult to tell certain players from a television copy.

1 RB/3 WR/1 TE: 19 plays

Shotgun 1 RB/3 WR/1 TE: 17 plays

1 RB/2 WR/2 TE: 6 plays

1 RB/2 WR/2 TE (1 slot): 4 plays

Shotgun 1 RB/2 WR/2 TE (1 slot): 4 plays

Pistol 1 RB/3 WR/1 TE: 2 plays

Shotgun empty 1 RB (wide)/3 WR/1 TE: 2 plays

Shotgun 1 RB/2 WR/2 TE: 2 plays

Shotgun 1 RB/3 WR/1 TE (wide): 2 plays

Shotgun 1 RB/3 WR/1 TE (slot): 2 plays

Shotgun empty 1 RB (just behind OL)/3 WR/1 TE: 2 plays

1 RB/2 WR/1 TE/6 OL: 2 plays

Kneeldown: 2 plays

1 RB/1 WR/2 TE (1 wide)/6 OL: 1 play

1 RB/2 WR/2 TE (1 offset I): 1 play

2 RB (1 slot)/2 WR/1 TE: 1 play

Shotgun 2 RB (1 split wide)/3 WR: 1 play

Shotgun empty 1 RB (slot)/3 WR/1 TE (slot): 1 play

Shotgun 1 RB/2 WR/2 TE (1 slot, 1 wide): 1 play

Shotgun trips left 1 RB/3 WR/1 TE: 1 play

Shotgun 1 RB/2 WR/2 TE (both slot): 1 play

Shotgun empty 3 WR/2 TE (both in slot): 1 play

Shotgun empty 1 RB (wide)/2 WR/2 TE: 1 play

Shotgun 1 RB/4 WR: 1 play