Lions lose two key defensive players just as they face tough stretch of games

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Lions are 2-1 thanks to a defense that has made up for a shaky start from what was expected to be a high-scoring offense.

The Lions are averaging just 18.7 points in regulation and have scored only three points in the fourth quarter. That's why, eight months after their run to the NFC Championship game, they are lucky to have any wins. They needed a late field goal to force overtime in a 26-20 Week 1 victory over Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams.

They lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2, then held on for an ugly 20-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Jared Goff threw an apparent pick-6 late in the game, but the officials ruled the two-minute warning came before the snap.

That defense has been crucial, and that's not likely to change with games coming up against Seattle, Dallas and Minnesota.

On Monday, fans found out the Lions will go into those games without two key members of that defense.

Coach Dan Campbell announced that defensive end Marcus Davenport will miss the rest of the season with an elbow injury and linebacker Derrick Barnes will miss a “significant amount of time” with a knee injury.

“We're still getting second opinions on Barnes, and those will be coming in for a while,” Campbell said. “He's going to be down for a little while to heal, but is he going to need surgery?”

Davenport, a free agent signing from the Vikings, has played an important role as the No. 2 defensive end alongside Aidan Hutchinson. His ability to pressure quarterbacks meant offensive coordinators couldn't focus entirely on stopping Hutchinson.

Levi Onwuzurike, who can play defensive tackle and end, will get a lot of reps in Davenport's spot, as will third-year end Josh Pascal.

“This is going to be big for (Paschal),” Campbell said. “He's going to take a load over there. He continues to grow and we're going to need him to step up.”

Barnes has been Detroit's best linebacker, and there's no obvious candidate to replace him on the strong side. Ben Niemann did it on Sunday, but he has spent most of his time at the other linebacker spots.

“We have a lot of depth, and we trust every player,” Campbell said. “It's going to hurt losing Barnes, because he's playing at a high level, but if it has to happen, the linebacker room gives us faith, because all those guys can play.”

That will be important in the tough stretch coming up.

The Lions haven't scored as much as they need to, but the run game has picked up where it left off last season. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs have combined for 438 rushing yards and another 130 receiving. They've scored five of Detroit's seven touchdowns.

NFL teams have been throwing shorter passes this season, thanks to the resurgence of two-deep coverages, but the Lions have taken it too far. Goff has completed 59 passes to his top five receivers — Gibbs, Montgomery, wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams and tight end Sam LaPorta — but they have been caught an average of just 4.9 yards past the line of scrimmage.

Jack Fox is averaging 49.5 yards per punt with a long of 68, and has pinned the opposition inside the 20 eight times. He punted five times against the Cardinals at an average of 49.4 yards and Arizona's average starting position was their own 8.

After finally flashing his big-play ability in the first two games of the season, Williams touched the ball twice against the Cardinals for 2 yards. He needs to become a deep threat that opens up St. Brown underneath.

The Lions lost several players on Sunday, although Davenport and Barnes were the most serious injuries. Playmaking safety Brian Branch is in concussion protocol, LaPorta sprained an ankle, defensive tackle Alim McNeill hurt a shoulder and cornerback Terrion Arnold sustained a knee injury. All are listed as day-to-day, and they could benefit from an extra day of rest before Monday night's game against the Seahawks.

3 — The number of consecutive years the Lions have lost to the Seahawks. In a fluke of scheduling, this will be the third straight season the teams play at Ford Field in the first four weeks of the season — Detroit lost 48-45 in Week 4 in 2022 and 37-31 in overtime in last year's Week 2.

Figure out a way to slow down the Seattle offense. The Seahawks have averaged 45.3 points in their three recent victories over Detroit, with Russell Wilson and Geno Smith going a combined 75 of 100 for 884 yards, eight touchdowns and no interceptions.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) rushes for a first down as Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis III (23) defends during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) is hit by Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) reacts to his interception of a Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray pass during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch (32) breaks up a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Greg Dortch (4) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Detroit Lions head coach Dave Campbell talks to the media after an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Meghann Fahy and Eve Hewson, two of the stars of Netflix's whodunit “The Perfect Couple,” have news for you if you want to call them breakouts: They've been working in this business for more than a decade.

Fahy made her TV debut in 2009 in an episode of “Gossip Girl.” Hewson's first big film role was in 2011's “This Must Be the Place.” They do concede, however, that it's recent TV roles — “The White Lotus” for Fahy and “Bad Sisters” for Hewson — that have led to new frontiers of opportunity.

Susanne Bier, who directed “The Perfect Couple,” says both Fahy and Hewson are “going to be big stars.”

“They certainly have proper, profound star quality, Both of them in very different ways,” Bier says. “Both are incredibly creative, incredibly smart, and also have a impressive insight as to who they are. You can be a great actor or actress and not necessarily really know who you are yourself. And they do.”

Hewson, 33, whose dad is U2 front man Bono, may have grown up in a famous family but she's now in demand in her own right. She will next be seen in a second season of “Bad Sisters, ” out in November. She's in Noah Baumbach's next film, alongside Adam Sandler, George Clooney and Riley Keough. She's also been cast in Steven Spielberg's next production and is set to star opposite Murray Bartlett in a racing series for Hulu.

Fahy, 34, is in production on a limited series with Julianne Moore and Milly Alcock called “Sirens,” written by Molly Smith Metzler (“Maid”) for Netflix. She also has two films in the can with Josh O'Connor (“The Crown,” “Challengers”) and Brandon Sklenar (“It Ends With Us”).

The two actors spoke candidly with The Associated Press about this phase of their careers. This interview has been condensed for clarity and brevity.

HEWSON: It’s actually really fun to experience because even when we were in Cape Cod shooting “The Perfect Couple,” I would go to the local shop to get my groceries and little old ladies would follow me down the aisle and be like, “Excuse me. Are you that girl from that ‘Sisters’ show?” Who knew that they were watching it? It doesn’t change my life, so it doesn’t bother me, but when someone comes up to me and says that they love the show, especially when it’s someone unexpected, I’m like, “Oh, cool.”

FAHY: It’s not happening so much to me that it feels like a huge imposition or anything. I feel like I’ve been really lucky. A lot of the people that I’ve met who have been a fan of “The White Lotus,” or whatever, they’re really sweet people. And, I think, part of why we do this is because we want to tell stories that people can connect to and play out scenarios for themselves. So I think it’s always really nice.

FAHY: Part of it feels really nice because you work really, really, really hard for a really long time — maybe that’s not how it happens for a lot of people — but I feel like we’ve both been doing this for a minute. So, of course, it feels really good. but I try not to like dwell on any of it. I try to acknowledge it and be like, “Oh, that’s so nice.” And then just kind of keep going.

HEWSON: You hear so many stories of people who were like, “I walked into my first audition and I just became a star.” Or, there’s this element of being an actor where people don’t want to tell you how hard they work. They want it to look like it’s really easy. But we've been doing this for a long time. People just don’t really tell those stories. It's usually about the one that was found on the street.

FAHY: Yeah. You took 15 years to become an overnight success.

FAHY: Yeah, but I always think that nobody ever knows who I am. It’s always very embarrassing. I embarrass myself in those moments. I don’t always feel like I fit in those rooms.

HEWSON: What’s nice is, I’ve spent so long going into a room and people just being like, “OK,” and act like they’re just not getting it. I know at least like I have work that people understand, what I’m doing a little bit more so they get me as an actor.

FAHY: It’s like a different level of respect.

Meghann Fahy poses for a portrait to promote "The Perfect Couple" on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Meghann Fahy poses for a portrait to promote "The Perfect Couple" on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Meghann Fahy poses for a portrait to promote "The Perfect Couple" on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Eve Hewson poses for a portrait to promote "The Perfect Couple" on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Eve Hewson poses for a portrait to promote "The Perfect Couple" on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Meghann Fahy, left, and Eve Hewson pose for a portrait to promote "The Perfect Couple" on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Meghann Fahy, left, and Eve Hewson pose for a portrait to promote "The Perfect Couple" on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Meghann Fahy, left, and Eve Hewson pose for a portrait to promote "The Perfect Couple" on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)