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          NFL Nation

          A by the numbers understanding of the Lions' defense

          • Michael Rothstein, ESPN Staff WriterOct 14, 2014, 06:00 PM ET
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              Michael Rothstein is a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta Falcons. You can follow him via Twitter @MikeRothstein.
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          Through six weeks, the Detroit Lions have put together one of the better defensive performances in recent memory.

          The Lions are in the top 7 in almost every defensive category, and while numbers can tell only part of what is going on with Detroit, it does lead to some pretty impressive comparisons.

          “It’s definitely hard work and dedication we put in,” defensive end Jason Jones said. “It means a lot to us. It means a lot to be number one out of 32 teams.”

          The Lions are doing this without their starting middle linebacker, Stephen Tulloch, and two of the original cornerbacks on their roster, Bill Bentley and Nevin Lawson, all of whom are out for the season.

          Yet the Lions are first in seven categories and they might give an idea of where this defense stacks up over the past five seasons. Here’s a by-the-numbers look at those spots with statistics culled from ESPN Stats & Information.

          The stat: QBR

          • The number: 23.5

          • What it means: Dominance of quarterbacks. The Lions’ defense is the only team in the NFL to have a defensive QBR under 40 (No. 2 is San Diego at 41.9).

          • Historical comparison: If it keeps up, it’ll be the best in the NFL since 2009, when the Jets held opposing quarterbacks to a 21.9 QBR. That defense was tops in the NFL. That Jets team made the AFC title game.

          The stat: Yards per game

          • The number: 270.7

          • What it means: Nick Fairley said if the defensive line played to potential, teams couldn’t run or pass on them. So far, that seems accurate. The next-closest team is San Francisco, allowing 287.2 yards a game. They are the only teams under 300 yards a game.

          • Historical comparison: The 2009 Jets again – a team that allowed 252.3 yards per game. A lot of top defenses of recent years, including last year’s Seattle defense, were in the same area as Detroit is right now.

          The stat: Yards per play

          • The number: 4.49

          • What it means: Like yards per game, the Lions are far ahead in this area. They are the only team under 4.7 yards per play. Miami is second at 4.7 and only four NFL teams are under 5 yards a play.

          • Historical comparison: Seattle last season. The Seahawks held opponents to 4.42 yards per play. Then there’s those 2009 Jets again, which held teams to 4.24 yards a play. That’s insane.

          The stat: Passing yards per game

          • The number: 197.17

          • What it means: This could be tough because the Lions have faced a couple of passing-challenged teams in the Jets and Vikings. If this number is close to similar after facing New Orleans and Atlanta, then this might be the most impressive stat of all.

          • Historical comparison: Average among top units. Seattle allowed 172 yards passing per game last year and two other teams, New Orleans and Houston, were also under Detroit’s number.

          The stat: Sacks per attempt

          • The number: 9.7 percent

          • What it means: Quarterbacks don’t like facing the Lions. Three teams are above 9 percent – the Lions, Kansas City and the Jets. Of those three, Kansas City has blitzed a little less than Detroit. Both have sent five-plus rushers way less than the Jets, though.

          • Historical comparison: Average among top defenses in this number. Four teams were at 9.7 percent or better last season (and none were Seattle).

          The stat: First downs per game

          • The number: 16.8

          • What it means: Besides stalling drives, the Lions are one of three teams to allow less than 18 first downs a game. The other two? Dallas (17) and San Diego (17.2). The combined record of those two teams? 10-2.

          • Historical comparison: If it holds, the Lions would be the first team to hold opponents under 17 first downs a game since 2011, when five teams – Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Jacksonville, Baltimore and Houston – did it. Of those five, four had winning records. The other was Jacksonville. Prior to 2011, at least a couple teams every year managed this.

          The stat: Points allowed per game

          • The number: 13.7

          • What it means: So far, it has bailed out Detroit’s offense and special teams. The Lions are the only NFL team allowing less than 15 points a game and one of three – San Diego (15.2) and Baltimore (16.2) – keeping teams under 20 points a game.

          • Historical comparison: This is a biggie. The last team to hold an opponent under 14 points a game for a season was the 2008 Steelers (13.9). Before that, the 2006 Ravens (12.6). That Steelers team won the Super Bowl. The Ravens made the playoffs. In 2005, the Bears held opponents to 12.6 points and in 2002 Tampa Bay held teams to 12.2 points. Three teams managed under 14 points a game in 2001: the Bears, Eagles and Steelers.