If it was easier, I’d dig through my blogs from last season, to find one I’d written about the Lions’ defense giving up big plays. I’m sure I wrote one or two on the subject, but let’s start anew.

This Lions defense should be better that they are playing. One of their goals is to prevent chunk plays. It was their downfall in Thursday’s 45-24 loss to New England.

Of the Patriots’ 53 offensive plays, 11 of them were for 15 yards or longer. Four of those were passing touchdowns of 79 yards, 26 yards, 22 yards and 16 yards. Tom Brady is good, but the Lions defense helped him to a perfect passing record of 158.3, only the second of his career.

Unacceptable.

Much of the blame can be placed on the shoulders of cornerback Alphonso Smith who had an atrocious day and, to his credit, afterward pointed the finger at himself for losing the game.

“They went after him. He didn’t play his best. He’s played very well for us this year. He made a lot of plays for us. But this game wasn’t one of his best games. It was probably a lot of things but one of which was trying to do too much,’’ coach Jim Schwartz said.

Smith was eventually benched, but the damage was done.

Still it was not all on him. You win as a team and lose as a team.

(Follow me on Twitter @PaulaPasche.)