Heading into the 2013 bye week, the Detroit Lions sit at 5-3 and currently hold the final NFC playoff spot. Stars like wide receiver Calvin Johnson and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh have lived up to expectations halfway through the season, but what about the secondary? Or the offensive line?
Here is a position-by-position look at how the Lions have performed through the midway point of the 2013-2014 season.
Quarterback
Coming off a breakout campaign in which his 5,000-yard season led the Lions to their first playoff appearance in 12 years, Matthew Stafford regressed in 2012 and opinions about the former No. 1 overall pick wavered in Detroit. As a 24-year old, Stafford resorted all-too-often to using his unique sidearm motion and his passing touchdowns decreased by more than half.
Thanks to a record-breaking season from Johnson, Stafford's passing yards were still near the top of the league (4,967), but the team's struggles were largely due to the fact that the starting quarterback had as many turnovers as touchdown passes.
This season, Stafford has put all the struggles behind him. He trails only Peyton Manning in NFL passing yards with 2,617 and sits in fourth with 16 passing touchdowns. Most importantly, Stafford has learned how to take care of the football in his fifth professional season. With just six interceptions through eight games, the 25-year old is on pace to shatter his previous season-low of 16 (2011).
Stafford is well on his way to establishing himself as an elite young quarterback in the NFL. His fourth quarter throws in Detroit's comeback win over Dallas were fit into windows that few other quarterbacks could convert. Yes, it helps to have weapons like Johnson and running back Reggie Bush, but Stafford has been impressive regardless.
Grade: A
Running backs
The biggest offseason signing for the Lions in 2013 was bringing Bush in to resurrect a long-dormant rushing attack. In two seasons with the Miami Dolphins Bush averaged over 1,000 yards rushing per campaign and provided a receiving threat out of the backfield. He seemed like a perfect addition to the Lions offense.
So far, he has been.
Bush has gained over 500 yards on the ground in the first half and revamped the Detroit ground attack that suffered 
through four years of Kevin Smith. Bush is ranked ninth in the NFL in rushing yards and third among running backs in receiving yards. The ability to run the ball or dump it off to Bush on screens has made the Lions offense much more versatile.
Joique Bell has taken over the responsibility of power back, planting 2011 second-round draft pick Mikel Leshoure firmly on the bench. Bell has consistently converted on short down opportunities for Jim Schwartz and leads the team with four rushing touchdowns. The duo has given the Lions their best rushing attack since Barry Sanders wore the powder blue.
Grade: B+
Wide receivers/Tight ends
Detroit's receiving core took a big hit when Nate Burleson suffered a broken arm in the freak pizza-car-crash incident, and as a result two of the team's top four receiving leaders are running backs. Kris Durham, however, has stepped in as a viable second option to Johnson down field, and his former college roommate Stafford has connected with him for 310 yards midway through the season.
Undrafted rookie Joseph Fauria has also been a crucial breakout target for Stafford in 2013. The tight end has caught five 
touchdowns so far, second to Johnson in the receiving category. In fact, Fauria's five catches in the endzone is more than he has outside of it (3).
Fellow tight end Brandon Pettigrew has rebounded nicely from a fumble-ridden campaign in 2012-2013, catching 26 passes for 225 yards and just one fumble. Pettigrew is a big third down target for Stafford down the middle of the field.
Then there's Johnson, whose record-breaking 329-yard performance against Dallas was just the latest episode in an unbelievable career. Johnson leads the NFL with 117.3 receiving yards per game and is fifth with seven receiving touchdowns. His 12 catches for 20 or more yards is second to only Baltimore's Torrey Smith. Megatron is undeniably the top receiver in the world and makes an otherwise average receiving core around him look very good.
Grade: A
Offensive line
Perhaps the most improved unit from last season is Detroit's offensive line. A team that hadn't had a 1,000-yard rusher in several years is well on its way to breaking that streak with Bush.
The line hasn't just been strong in creating running lanes, but has played a complicated passing offense perfectly. Scott Linehan's play-calling has featured a multitude of running back and wide receiver screens that require complex blocking schemes for the linemen. Dominic Raiola, Corey Hilliard and Riley Reiff have done an excellent job adapting to these schemes and Bush and Bell have been a dangerous receiving combo as a result.
Stafford's excellent first half can be partially attributed to the strength of this group. In his third full year as Detroit's starter, Stafford has been sacked less than any other quarterback to start every game this season (10). The security allows Stafford to remain comfortable in the pocket, knowing it's only a matter of time before Johnson or Bush break open.
Grade: A+
Defensive line
After spending the fifth overall pick to draft defensive end Ziggy Ansah, the Lions' combination of Suh, Ansah and Nick Fairley figured to be one of the most fearsome defensive lines in the NFL.
So far, it hasn't turned out that way.
Though the group has shown flashes of greatness, Detroit is just 28th in the NFL with 13 sacks of opposing quarterbacks. Suh (3.5) and Ansah (3.0) have led the way in the sack category, but the inability to get to the quarterback consistently has crippled a thin secondary and put the Lions at a mediocre 20th in the league in scoring defense.
On the ground, the Lions are 26th in the NFL in defending the rush and 29th in opponents' yards per attempt. Though they have forced five fumbles (6th), only two of them have been recovered for turnovers.
Penalties have also been a major issue for this unit, as Suh and Willie Young rack up personal fouls and offside calls week by week.
Grade: C
Linebackers
Two of the defensive leaders on Detroit's roster are Stephen Tulloch and DeAndre Levy, who have combined for 128 tackles and six tackles for loss. While both linebackers have had great first halfs, they specialize in very different aspects.
Tulloch has been the most effective non-defensive line pass rusher. His presence in the backfield, while only resulting in two sacks, has kept opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable all season.
Levy, on the other hand, has been too busy catching passes from quarterbacks to tackle them. His four interceptions is tied for the most in the NFL, and the seven passes defended ranks fifth among linebackers. Levy is perhaps the strongest pass-defending linebacker in the NFL and has been a much-needed compliment to a questionable secondary.
Grade: B+
Secondary
Though defensive backs Chris Houston and Louis Delmas are both healthy for the first time all season, the Lions secondary has struggled to slow down the pass. Detroit has given up the fourth-most yards through the air this season behind three teams (Denver, Dallas and Philadelphia) that run hurry-up offenses and put their defenses at a statistical disadvantage.
Houston, Delmas and Glover Quin have combined for five interceptions and one fumble recovery, but youngsters Darius Slay and Bill Bentley have struggled to adjust to the athleticism of NFL receivers.
The low sack total isn't doing the secondary any favors, but this unit still needs to be better if the Lions want to seriously contend for an NFC North title.
Grade: C
Special teams
Ageless wonder Jason Hanson's retirement resulted in the acquisition of veteran placekicker David Akers, who has done a nice job replacing the franchise's leading scorer. Akers is 12/15 in overall field goal attempts and 2/2 from beyond 50 yards.
Punter Sam Martin, despite botching a late fourth quarter punt to lose the game against Cincinnati, has been one of the best in the NFL. His 48.5-yard average is fourth in the league, while his net punting average of 46.3 is the best.
On the other side of the ball, Michael Spurlock has been much better than Stefan Logan in returning kicks and punts, averaging 24.3 yards on kickoffs and just under seven yards on punts. Most importantly, he secures the football.
Grade: B
Detroit certainly has the talent to contend with any team in the NFL this season, and the easiest remaining schedule in the league has it poised for a playoff push. The heroics of Stafford, Johnson and Bush will keep the offense rolling, and if the defense can conjure up more pressure, the Lions could become the favorites to win their first division title since 1993.
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