Final Drive: Kelvin Sheppard’s defense proves sky’s the limit for Lions in second half

DETROIT — In the aftermath of the Detroit Lions’ 24-9 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night, much of the focus has been on the patchwork secondary, which saw several defensive backs take their first NFL defensive snaps.

But as we spin this victory forward, it’s hard not to think primarily about the job done by defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, and the success that the Lions’ front seven allowed its secondary to have, and how much of a difference-maker defensive tackle Alim McNeill was in that effort, and what all of this might look like when the cornerbacks and safeties get healthy in the back half of the season.

After Week 7, the Lions’ defense is sixth in Expected Points Added (EPA) per play, sixth in EPA per rush, seventh in EPA per pass, ninth in quarterback press