When it rains, it pours for the New England Patriots. Mike Vrabel's team will face the Detroit Lions in Germany, but they will be without several key soldiers when they take the field at Allianz Arena on Sunday morning.
Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson will miss the game, and Corey Kiner will get the start. Obviously, that doesn't bode well against a run defense that ranks eighth in the league, allowing just 94.1 rushing yards per game.
However, as intimidating as that number might be, it's also a matter of contest. Yes, the Lions' front seven is stout, but they haven't had to deal with the running game as often because the Lions are so vulnerable in coverage.
Corey Kiner can prove the Lions' run defense hasn't been battle-tested yet
Teams don't run against the Lions because they rank dead last in pass defense, allowing 260.9 passing yards per game. That's despite going up against guys like Geno Smith, Kyler Murray, and Jacoby Brissett this season.
In reality, their run defense is actually pretty vulnerable; James Cook ran for 135 yards and one touchdown, and Chubba Hubbard tormented them with 122 rushing yards and two scores. They give up 4.0 yards per attempt.
A.J. Brown is questionable for the game, and the Patriots' wide receiver corps hasn't always stepped up this season. Even so, Drake Maye should have a field day against one of the most beatable secondaries in football and arguably the worst starting cornerback duo among contenders.
But with Josh McDaniels likely looking to make Maye's life easier after a rough outing against the Green Bay Packers, the Patriots shouldn't be afraid to put the ball in Kiner's hands. He might not be James Cook, but he's an underrated downfield runner with great vision and acceleration, two things the Lions have struggled against.
Moreover, he's pretty much playing with house money. Expectations are high, but the opportunity is too good to pass up, as doubts already exist about TreVeyon Henderson's status as the team's future ball carrier.
The Patriots will always be high on Stevenson and will keep leaning on him when he's healthy, but some of Henderson's carries could be up for grabs if Kiner does well. He has the vision, and he can get on the field early and often if he improves in pass protection, arguably his biggest weakness.
The Lions can't stop anyone, and while their offense will test Christian Gonzalez and company, the Patriots should have plenty of scoring opportunities in Munich. The running game has been a concern all season, but the stage is set for Kiner to prove he can be more than a depth piece against an overrated run defense.
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