7 takeaways from the Lions' loss to the Packers
The Detroit Lions have a lot of problems. For a third straight week they have come out and played an ugly game of football. They were able to win two of those games. That didn't happen on Thanksgiving though. The Lions got manhandled the entire day and lost 29-22 to the Green Bay Packers. As […]
The Detroit Lions have a lot of problems. For a third straight week they have come out and played an ugly game of football. They were able to win two of those games. That didn't happen on Thanksgiving though. The Lions got manhandled the entire day and lost 29-22 to the Green Bay Packers.
As always, I have thoughts on this game. These are those thoughts:
What is happening?
I just don't know what's going on with this team. In the last three games the Lions defensive regression has been unreal. The Lions offense as been bad with turnovers too. They turned the ball over four times against the Bears and then come out and turned the ball over three times against the Packers. It's been insane to see this team with all these issues.
The Lions just can't keep doing this every week if they hope to get that number one seed. Even more, they can't keep doing this if they hope to win in the playoffs. Seven turnovers in the last two games and a defense that can't seem to stop anyone.
Goff Report
Jared Goff is stacking bad games right now and it's affecting the Lions. He threw three interceptions against the Bears and then fumbled three times against the Packers. The Lions just can't afford this type of play from Goff. He was able to buckle down and get the job done in Week 11, but he couldn't do it against the Packers.
Goff finished the day going 29-44 for 332 yards and two touchdowns.
Offensive Line
This group was missing Jonah Jackson in this game, but they've been missing guys all year and have maintained themselves as the best offensive line in the NFL. On Thursday they got beat up all day long and could not stop the pressure headed towards Goff was lucky to just get sacked three times in this game.
He got rushed out of the pocket multiple times and it really affect the Lions offense. You have to hope that the Lions can get Jonah Jackson back for Week 13 so they can once again have their best offensive line out there.
Jack Harlow
That was really bad and I think Jack probably knew it was bad too. He mumbled the back half of his second song. Ford Field was incredibly quiet except for a few people. My wife almost fell asleep. Maybe it was turkey, but I think it was Jack's show that had very little energy. He started whispering at one point too. That was the halftime show I've ever seen.
Aggression
I'm not going to knock Dan Campbell too hard here. the aggression has largely worked for him and the Lions this season and during his entire tenure. he shouldn't move away from it either.
With that said, it was the wrong time to be aggressive in this case. The Lions missed on a fake punt deep in their own territory and it cost the Lions a touchdown. The defense had begun to find a way to stop the Packers offense. You have to trust them in that moment when it's just a one score game.
In terms of missed fourth downs, it's appropriate to do it when they were doing it, they just didn't execute.
Rodrigo
This was something to cheer for on Thursday. The Lions have been using Malcolm Rodriguez as a fullback in Jason Cabinda's absence. He's mostly just been used as a lead blocker during that time, but on Thursday he caught his first career reception. That's cool.
Jamo
Another good thing from the day is Jameson Williams. He had just two catches for 51 yards, but the Lions continue to up his usage and that trust is building. He had a big 38 yard reception in this one.
