For the third straight game to start the 2024 season, the Detroit Lions defense has allowed 20 or fewer points. Yes. Pinch yourself, Detroit. This defense has the makings of a really strong unit.

And even though details will certainly have to be clarified over time, you have to be satisfied with the current status so early in the year. Especially considering where they were last year and how many new faces are in the starting lineup this season.

It takes time for a defense to solidify, especially at the back. Secondaries, much like an offensive line, require excellent communication to perform at a consistently high level. Failing to communicate properly or not understanding your mission can lead to major problems. These two factors are likely to be the culprits when you hear speakers refer to an incident of “failed reporting.”

However, if you have a good security game, errors can sometimes be fixed. They know the last line of defense is secure. As I said above, there is still a lot of football ahead of us. Still, the early play from Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch is really encouraging.

After a 20-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3, the Detroit Lions’ young safety tandem both had big days at the office. Let’s take a look at the All-22 film and look at some of the plays Joseph and Branch made during the Lions’ Week 3 win over the Cardinals.

First-and-10 at the Arizona 22 with 5:52 left in the second quarter.

We’ll start with the end zone view of a snapshot from midway through the second quarter. Arizona is in a condensed formation with quarterback Kyler Murray in shotgun. They try to implement a power concept (watch the guard and tight end pull) on the right side of their formation, but thanks to defensive tackle DJ Reader is an immovable force inside and linebackers Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Jack Campbell fit in Because he is perfectly positioned, there is no place for running back James Conner to run.

Branch quickly realizes what’s happening and quickly heads out, attacking the backfield and helping get Conner to the ground to make a tackle for loss. Branch can really do everything you’d expect from a safety at a really high level, but his ability near the line of scrimmage was outstanding from the moment he entered Detroit.

Second-and-3 on the Detroit 36. 13:11 left in the third quarter.

To me, that’s kind of the beginning when Murray and Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon started getting impatient. Aside from their first offensive series of the game, they didn’t run the ball well at all against the Lions, leaving them with only one viable option to cut into the lead Detroit had built.

On the first series of the second half, as Arizona flirted with field goal range, the Cardinals’ offense rushed to the line, hoping to catch the Lions’ defense off guard. And although Joseph and rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold weren’t fully ready before the snap, they got into position to put rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. in his place. Despite the defense’s glare, Murray uncorked a home run ball to his receiver.

It’s a decently thrown ball from Murray, but since it’s no closer to the end of the end zone, Joseph is able to easily track the ball and bring the ball to the plate for his second interception of the young season.

First-and-10 at the Arizona 35 with 3:10 remaining in the third quarter.

A little later in the third quarter, the Cardinals suffered another series of losses on their own side of midfield. They are manned by 11 players (one running back, one tight end, three wide receivers) and to counter, the Lions have four downlinemen, three off-ball linebackers and a single-high safety in Joseph.

Before the snapshot, Murray calls for movement at the top of the screen. The receiver in motion releases the ball inside the Branch slot, forcing cornerbacks Carlton Davis III and Branch to switch on the fly.

Davis III was now assigned to cover wide receiver Michael Wilson while Branch covered receiver Greg Dortch. Wilson makes a try and gives Dortch room for an out-back towards the edge of the field.

Branch turns around and for a moment Dortch actually creates some space. Unfortunately for Arizona’s offense, that space was short-lived. Branch immediately closes the distance and can help with the ball. If this style of play upsets you, then maybe you too are a soccer nerd.

Third-and-13 at the Arizona 32 with 2:28 left in the third quarter.

Just two plays later we have another big play from both safeties. With another chance to get off the field, the Lions are in a 3-3-5 formation (three down linemen, three linebackers, five defensive backs) to counter the Cardinals’ four-wide formation.

Linebacker Jack Campbell ends up being the fourth pass rusher while the rest of the defense (except Arnold at the bottom of the screen) falls into coverage. Everything is covered and both Aidan Hutchinson and Levi Onwuzurike force Murray out of the pocket and to the left.

I love how stubborn Arnold remains with his task and how Joseph realizes that this is now a puzzle exercise and reacts accordingly. All of this leaves Murray with no choice but to throw one to the sideline.

Branch and Joseph actually collide near the sideline while both chasing the ball. An interception would have been nice, but at the end of the day I’m just glad there are a few ballhawks back there patrolling the secondary for the Lions.

Judging by Joseph’s reaction at the end of the clip, I’m sure he would have liked another game with two interceptions. I would say that there is always next Monday evening for something like this.

First-and-10 at the Arizona 44 with 12:38 left in the fourth quarter.

Even though Branch has only been in the league for a little over a year, I feel like we’ve seen him make plays like this time and time again. Working from an empty set, Murray quickly gets the ball to Wilson in the slot, hoping his receiver can do something after securing the catch.

From a pre-snap perspective, this isn’t a bad idea on Murray’s part. Just look where Branch is right before the ball is snapped – a full 10 yards from the ball.

Instead, Branch is on him in an instant and wrestles Wilson to the ground, giving him a 1-yard gain. This way you can quickly diagnose and cover the issue. Beautiful second-year defensive back representative.

Fourth-and-11 at the Arizona 48 with 11:12 left in the fourth quarter.

Things are looking up again in the fourth quarter. The Cardinals are becoming more and more desperate as time goes on. Now, in a four-and-long situation, Arizona is back to the 11-man lineup with tight end Trey McBride in the slot at the top of your screen.

Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn opts to send six rushers to Murray while his secondary is staffed across the board with Branch as the single-high safety. That’s the beauty of having a pair of safeties that have overlapping skill sets. It can be Branch or Joseph up high or in man coverage in the slot, and both can do both jobs very well.

Joseph finds himself in one-on-one coverage with McBride, who takes a dig past the first-down marker. Murray is looking for his tight end the entire time, and even though McBride had a decent route run, Joseph plays things perfectly. McBride tries to get physical with the safety at the top of his route, but Joseph hangs on to him and is able to deflect the pass before McBride has a chance to convert.

Third-and-10 at the Arizona 28 with 8:50 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Finally, we have a good example of the connection between a strong pass rush and sticky coverage on the back end. Nothing too fancy from the Lions – Joseph is the single-high safety up front while everyone else is in man coverage.

The Lions again rush the six, with linebackers Jack Campbell and Malcolm Rodriguez rushing out of the second level. Hutchinson immediately hits the right tackle’s hands and thanks to his quick win, Murray gets rid of the ball in a hurry.

Branch is exactly right and the ball lands harmlessly on the grass again. Sometimes a defensive coordinator can catch a quarterback or play caller slipping, and other times a rusher simply wins his one-on-one and coverage is difficult.

The sample size is still rather small, but at this point I think we can safely say that Aaron Glenn has the skills to play defense the way he has always wanted to since arriving in Detroit in 2021 – physical and direct.