It's an odd-numbered game for Lions, so Steelers expect to get best shot Sunday

Defensive coordinator Keith Butler has noticed a trend in the Detroit Lions’ games this season that has him concerned when the Pittsburgh Steelers face the NFL’s only winless team Sunday at Heinz Field.

“They have played well, then had an off day, played well and had an off day,” Butler said. “They had an off day (last game) and also have had a bye week. I think we’re going to get their best football.”

In the 0-8 Lions’ even-numbered games, they have lost by 18, 10, 23 and 38 points, including a 44-6 defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles two weeks ago. In the Lions’ odd-numbered games, they have lost by eight, two, two and nine points.

In three of their four road games, the Lions have led in the third or fourth quarter. They were beating the Green Bay Packers at halftime, had a fourth-quarter lead at the Los Angeles Rams and held a one-point lead in the final minute at Minnesota before the Vikings got a 54-yard field goal at the buzzer.

“Everybody is good,” Butler said. “It happens they are 0-8. They had a chance to win a lot of games. We’re going to get their best game, there’s no doubt in my mind.”

Even though he has never played for the Lions, inside linebacker Joe Schobert knows what it’s like to be the Lions. As a rookie in 2016, he was a member of the Cleveland Browns team that started 0-14 before getting their only win. In 2017, the Browns went 0-16. Last year, he was with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who won their opener before losing the next 16 in a row.

“The more the losses stack up, the more badly you want to win your first game of the season,” Schobert said. “I expect coming off a bye they are going to be giving us their best shot.”

In their 28-19 loss to the Rams, the Lions successfully converted an onside kick after scoring a touchdown on their opening possession. Later, they were successful on a fake punt.

“They were pulling out all the stops,” Schobert said. “I would expect nothing less and for them to try to win a football game by any means necessary.”