Part of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson's job is to try and forecast every week how he thinks opposing defenses might try to attack his offense based on what they've put on tape.

It's nothing new for Johnson, who's been leading Detroit's offense since 2022, but one thing he's been seeing lately is the subtle difference opposing defenses are giving him on gameday because of wide receiver Jameson Williams.

"Defenses don't want to single him out because he will make them pay," Johnson said of Williams' speed impacting how defenses challenge Detroit's offense. "They're not as fast as him, it's as simple as that."

Williams has four games with at least 75 receiving yards through the first five games of the season and already has three receptions of 50-plus yards, which is tied with Alec Pierce (Colts) for the NFL lead. Williams' 22.8 yards per reception average is second in the league.

"I think early on in that (Dallas) game last week, they had the philosophy to play more two high to limit guys like Jameson and you saw what our run game did early on in that game," Johnson said.

"Then they start coming down and Jamo gets some great access looks in man-to-man and he's able to take advantage of it. So, we played the game of how much attention are they going to pay to him and the moment they give too much to him, we'll go the other way, but the moment they single him up, we'll try to make them pay."

Johnson has the perfect offensive line and consistent run game to take that kind of approach, not to mention the plethora of other skill weapons in the passing game in Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, and an emerging Tim Patrick, to counter most anything opposing defenses want to throw at the Lions.

It really can't be understated how the emergence of a consistent deep threat in Williams has made this Detroit offense so much better in 2024.

"I really don't think it matters," Williams said Thursday about the different coverages teams are playing to try and limit him. "We just scored 40 points back-to-back."

Williams said he and quarterback Jared Goff spend extra time after practice every week working on those deep routes and it's to a point now that if they both see single coverage and Goff has time, Williams knows he's coming his way and he expects a big play or a touchdown every time.

INJURIES ON DEFENSE

The loss of Aidan Hutchinson has been one of the big storylines for the Lions coming out of the Dallas game, but the Lions also lost veteran defensive tackle Kyle Peko in that game to a season-ending pectoral injury.

"Peko's been one of those just kind of silent producers for us," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said this week. "Does all of the dirty work and he's the one who frees up Alex (Anzalone) and Jack (Campbell) and (Malcolm Rodriguez) Rodrigo and those guys to make the plays that they make. He held down the fort until (DJ) Reader got back and then he's a rotational guy, so we hate it for him. We're going to miss him too."

Expect Levi Onwuzurike and rookie Mekhi Wingo to see increased reps to try and fill the void. Detroit could opt to elevate Chris Smith or Pat O'Connor from the practice squad this week to help with their numbers inside along the defensive line.

PICK YOUR POISON

Detroit is currently the only NFL team to have four different players each with 250 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns this season – Jahmyr Gibbs (452, 4), David Montgomery (445, 6); Williams (397, 3) and St. Brown (289, 3).

"I wish we could have more plays," Johnson said. "So, Seattle, I think we only had 50 plays, and then last week we only had about 60. I wish we had 70 or more each game so that we can get even more guys included into the plan. But they're doing a great job going out there and executing."

This is the first time Detroit has ever had four players with 250 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns through the first five games of any season.

JEFFERSON VS. DETROIT

Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson has 1,073 receiving yards in eight career games against Detroit and his 134.1 average yards per game against the Lions is the second highest of any player against an opponent (minimum five games) in NFL history, according to NFL Research, trailing only Hall of Famer Terrell Owens' career 142.0 receiving yards per game average against the Chicago Bears.

EXTRA POINT

Minnesota has only trailed for three minutes, 26 seconds combined in their first five games this season, the least amount of time in the league by more than 38 minutes (Chargers, 41:55).