The Detroit Lions got absolutely embarrassed on Thursday Night Football. Detroit could not stop Josh Allen all night, leading to a crushing 41-31 defeat on opening night at the new Highmark Stadium. Everyone is taking aim at Detroit's defense after another pitiful showing to start the 2026 season.

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said what everyone is thinking about the Lions' defense after their crushing loss on Thursday Night Football.

“I'm not going to be apologetic about rooting for the brothers to succeed. I don't want Kelvin Sheppard to fail, I want him to succeed as defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions,” Smith said on Friday via First Take. “But let's put it in its proper perspective. In their first two games, they have given up 71 points, 10 touchdowns, 63 first downs, and 915 yards. And we're not through week two of the season. I mean d***, that's very bad. That's very bad.”

Detroit looked powerless to stop Buffalo in the first half. The Bills scored a touchdown on their first four possessions of the game. At that point, the game was already out of reach for the Lions.

The Lions finished the game allowing 446 yards of total offense.

Smith make it clear that Allen and the Bills are one of the best teams in the league. But that doesn't excuse Detroit's pitiful defensive showing in a huge primetime game.

“So we've just got to say y'all got to get it together now,” Smith added. “It's like, we can rave about Josh Allen. Two things can be true. Buffalo can be big-time offensively, but boy did it help to be going up against a cupcake defense that had Aidan Hutchinson looking like he was about to cry. Because he's the only dude out there that seems capable of doing anything on the defensive side of the ball right now.”

Detroit needs to go back in the lab and figure out how to fix their defense. Otherwise, they will be picked on for the rest of the season.

Next up for the Lions is a Week 3 reunion with Aaron Glenn and the Jets.