The Detroit Lions have won three of their first four games this season. Amon-Ra St. Brown was relatively discreet in this. But that’s exactly why the Lions are the team to beat in the NFC.

Dan Campbell, head coach of the Detroit Lions, couldn’t hand out enough game balls in the locker room after the 42-29 win against the Seattle Seahawks.

Normally, the player who decided the game, statistically performed best or even broke a record gets the ball.

However, Campbell handed out three game balls after week four. One to offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, whose offense scored 42 points against a previously undefeated Seahawks team. The other two went to wide receiver Jameson Williams, who scored a 70-yard touchdown, and safety Kerby Joseph, who ended the game with his interception in the end zone.

Although the third-year head coach unconventionally created three scoring opportunities for his team, he completely ignored two players: his quarterback Jared Goff and his wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.

This is not a sign that Campbell does not appreciate his two golden boys on offense or that he has become accustomed to their top performances – he simply forgot about them.

“Now I feel terrible for not giving him the ball,” he said at the press conference that followed, when asked about Goff’s NFL record.

Despite Amon-Ra’s slow start: Detroit Lions are the team to beat in the NFC

The fact that the 48-year-old could hand out individual awards left and right shows one thing above all: the Lions are bursting with individual quality. Of course, the Seahawks’ defense was shorthanded. But scoring 42 points even then is impressive. It always is, no matter who you play.

St. Brown also had something to do with it. But only at second glance. With six catches for 45 receiving yards, he didn’t exactly tear down the Seahawks. He added seven passing yards with his touchdown pass to Goff.

With 252 receiving yards and three total touchdowns this season, he has had a rather unremarkable start to the season compared to last year. And yet that is precisely why the Lions are even more dangerous this year.

There is no doubt that St. Brown is the best skill position player on the Lions. So, when the moment is there, he is looked for – but not always found. Especially because the coordinators and players have adjusted better to him.

While the Lions often showed a tendency to cramp under pressure, Goff now distributes the balls at will. St. Brown isn’t open? Then the ball goes to Jameson Williams. Both covered? Then Sam LaPorta is presumably open. All this while keeping an eye on the dangerous running game. You can’t really cover all the heads of this offensive monster.

The fact that St. Brown has now earned a reputation for being best covered is just what the Lions need. This helps his team without him statistically showing up. The defense is a slight weak point, but it has also improved significantly compared to last season.

Who can currently take on the Lions in the NFC? Realistically, no one – at least not if they play like this. The season is still long, but Detroit is increasingly emerging as what everyone wants to be in their conference.

The clear favorite.