Detroit Lions’ defense will fail test against explosive Atlanta Falcons

It’s been 22 years since the Detroit Lions enjoyed back-to-back winning seasons behind Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders.

Detroit, a 9-7 playoff team in 2016, is off to a 2-0 start this season behind quarterback Matthew Stafford and a defense that has forced five turnovers and produced six sacks while allowing only 33 points.

But the Lions’ surprising defense delivered against two suspect teams in the Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants and their aging quarterbacks, Carson Palmer and Eli Manning.

Detroit will face a much more difficult test at home Sunday in trying to slow reigning NFL MVP Matt Ryan and the explosive Atlanta Falcons in this week’s only matchup of 2-0 teams.

“The minute you start talking about what you think you’ve gotten done in this league, you end up getting your ears kicked in,” Lions coach Jim Caldwell said this week after talking about how Detroit’s defense has improved.

The Falcons’ offense got back on track in Sunday’s 34-23 win over the Green Bay Packers that helped christen Atlanta’s new Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Falcons should be able to keep things rolling on the fast track at Detroit’s Ford Field and cover the 3-point spread.

Ryan (40-for-58, 573 yards, two TDs), running back Devonta Freeman (121 yards rushing, three TDs) and receivers Julio Jones (nine catches, 174 yards) and Mohamed Sanu (11 catches, 132 yards) are capable of breaking out.

Stafford has thrown six TD passes this season, but the Lions’ early stretch of success ends here. Detroit doesn’t have the firepower to keep pace with Atlanta, one of 10 road favorites this week in the NFL.

Four more plays for Week 3 (home team in CAPS):

Chiefs (-3) over CHARGERS: Kansas City (2-0) is the only NFL team to win, cover and go over the total in its first two games. Look for the Chiefs to cash their third winning ticket at the StubHub Center, where the Chargers (0-2) lost their second straight game Sunday on a late kick that Younghoe Koo couldn’t convert. We’ll ride the hot hands of Kansas City coach Andy Reid, Alex Smith, Kareem Hunt and Travis Kelce against a franchise that is 5-17 against the spread in its last 22 at home.

Ravens (-4) over Jaguars: Baltimore’s defense has forced 10 turnovers and given up only 10 points, as the Ravens have won and covered their first two games. Baltimore, which has won nine of the last 12 meetings with Jacksonville, should feast on Jaguars mistake-prone quarterback Blake Bortles before going out for some fish and chips in London.

TITANS (-2½) over Seahawks: Seattle needed a fourth-quarter touchdown — its only one of the season — to barely beat a 49ers team, 12-9, that surrendered 41 to the Rams on Thursday night. Tennessee scored on its first five possessions of the second half in a 37-16 win at Jacksonville.

Dolphins (-6) over JETS: This is a play against New York, which is 0-2 ATS after getting outscored 66-32 in trips to Buffalo and Oakland and giving up a league-worst 370 rushing yards. That bodes well for Miami — riding a 14-6-1 ATS run against the Jets — and running back Jay Ajayi, who ran for 122 yards and two TDs in a 19-17 win over the Chargers.

Last week: 2-3 against the spread

Season: 4-6.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com. Follow @tdewey33 on Twitter.