The Detroit Lions are four games into the season, and their defense already looks capable of wasting another year of a roster built to contend. A 2-2 record leaves plenty of time to recover, but the way Detroit lets opponents move the ball should concern everyone in the organization.

Sunday night’s 32-26 loss to the Carolina Panthers was the latest warning. The Lions cannot keep asking their offense to overcome a defense that struggles to tackle, cover receivers, and get off the field. If this continues, another missed postseason is a realistic outcome.

According to Booner Sports, Detroit ranks last through Week 4 in points allowed, yards allowed, and passing yards allowed. The Lions also sit 32nd in third-down defense, allowing a 52.8 percent conversion rate, and have surrendered conversions on all five fourth-down attempts against them.

The Detroit Lions defensive rankings in the NFL through Week 4:

32nd in PPG Allowed
32nd in YPG Allowed
32nd Passing YPG Allowed
32nd in 3rd Down Def (52.8%)
32nd in 4th Down Def (5/5 allowed)
Most First Downs Allowed (113 – next highest 96)

Changes NEED to be made. #OnePride pic.twitter.com/5lCEprkqKW

— Booner (@boonersports) October 5, 2026

The first-down numbers are just as troubling. Detroit has allowed 113, with the next-highest total at 96. Opponents are extending possessions, keeping the defense on the field, and repeatedly giving themselves opportunities to score.

These are connected failures. Missed tackles turn manageable gains into first downs. Coverage breakdowns erase otherwise promising defensive snaps. A third-down stop becomes another fresh set of downs, and eventually the offense is walking back onto the field needing to answer another scoring drive.

Carolina exposed those problems with an attack Detroit never consistently controlled. Tetairoa McMillan caught 14 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns, while Chuba Hubbard rushed for 122 yards and two scores. Bryce Young threw for 329 yards as the Panthers repeatedly found ways to punish the Lions.

They did that without Jalen Coker, who was inactive with a quadriceps injury. Detroit still could not prevent McMillan from taking over. That should spark serious questions about both the execution and the adjustments being made.

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Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard deserves the most immediate scrutiny. A defense sitting at the bottom of this many categories requires more than patience and promises. Whether the answer involves personnel changes or different coverage calls, Sheppard needs to show that he can identify the problems and correct them.

Dan Campbell carries responsibility, too. He revived a franchise that desperately needed direction, raised expectations, and made Detroit relevant again. That matters, but it cannot become a permanent shield against criticism when the team falls short of the standard he helped establish.

The Lions should be pursuing a Super Bowl. Instead, they are trying to determine whether their defense can give them a reasonable chance to beat ordinary opponents. They have done little through four weeks to justify treating them as the NFC North’s team to beat.

Campbell’s job should not hinge on one ugly September and an early October loss. But if Detroit misses the playoffs again because the same defensive failures persist, the conversation will become harder to dismiss. Supporting his coordinator must come with evidence that the approach is working.

The upcoming schedule provides a chance to respond. Detroit visits the Arizona Cardinals next, then has a bye before consecutive divisional games. That stretch gives the staff both a game to establish progress and time to address deeper issues before results become especially consequential.

The Arizona contest cannot become another shootout the Lions hope to survive. Detroit needs to be better at tackling and to force third-down stops. Winning while allowing another opponent to march down the field would leave this problem unresolved.

There are 13 games remaining, so this season is salvageable. But the turnaround needs to begin now. Campbell has already shown he can change Detroit’s expectations. If he cannot fix the defense threatening those expectations, the pressure will eventually reach beyond Sheppard.